Richmond Vale Railway Museum
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2024}}
{{one source|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox museum
|name = Richmond Vale Railway Museum
|image = SMR30 near Pelaw Main.jpg
|coordinates = {{Coord|-32.857293|151.47582|type:landmark}}
|established = 1979
|location = Leggett's Drive,
Richmond Vale, New South Wales, Australia
|type = Railway museum
|car_park = On site
|website = {{URL|http://www.richmondvalerailwaymuseum.org|Official Site}}
}}
The Richmond Vale Railway Museum operates a railway and museum located at the heritage-listed Richmond Main Colliery south of Kurri Kurri, New South Wales. The museum is a volunteer non-profit organization, formed in 1979 with the aim of preserving the Richmond Vale railway line and the mining heritage of J & A Brown and the Hunter Valley.
History
After the closure of Richmond Main Power Station in 1976, Cessnock City Council acquired the abandoned Richmond Main Colliery together with {{convert|40|acre|ha|1}} surrounding the buildings from Coal & Allied.{{cite web|title=History of the Richmond Vale Railway Museum|url=http://www.richmondvalerailwaymuseum.org/history/index.html|publisher=Richmond Vale Railway Museum}}
In 1979 the newly formed Richmond Vale Preservation Co-operative Society assumed the responsibility for the railway, leaving the development of Richmond Main Park and Mining Museum to be done independently.
Operations
The museum is opened on the first three Sundays of each month and every Sunday during school holidays, and the site consists of the following features:
- Richmond Vale Office
- Museum Display
- Mining Equipment
- Railway Locomotives and Rolling Stock
- former passenger line from Richmond Main Colliery to Pelaw Main Colliery Line.
Preservation
The museum also operates a small number of ex-industrial diesels, and owns a wide variety of ex-New South Wales Government Railways and ex-industrial rollingstock.
Ex-industrial diesels are:
- BHP 34 - built 1954, A Goninan & Co (B/N 3/S1003) (Stored-Operational)
- BHP 42 (Static- privately owned)
- BHP 43 - built 1960, A Goninan & Co (B/N 3456-10/60-007) (Static)
- BHP 53 - built 1963, A Goninan & Co (B/N 9211-4/64-018) (Operational)
- BHP 54 - built 1965, A Goninan & Co(B/N 3835-12/65-020) (Static)
- DR1 ex Commonwealth Railways - built 1954, Ruston & Hornsby (B/N 3279868) (Static)
- Planet Number 54 ex Maritime Services Board Coffs Harbour Jetty - Built 1955, F.C. Hibberd (B/N 3715) (Operational)
- NSWGR Former steam operated now diesel powered 70T crane No. 1073, converted during use with NSWGR - built 1928, Cravens (Operational)
- X215 - built Department of Railways New South Wales Chullora Railway Workshops 1968 (static)
- X217 - built Department of Railways New South Wales Chullora Railway Workshops 1968 (operational)
Rail Motor
- A 1923 Cadillac motor car was converted in 1937–8 to run on rails and its body was altered to carry more passengers. It was then operated as a passenger carrying vehicle for J & A Brown & Abermain Seaham Collieries company officials throughout the Richmond Vale Railway system until 1949. It subsequently saw service with the Sydney Tramway Museum in the Royal National Park, from 1964 until 1972 and is now undergoing restoration at Richmond Vale Railway Museum.
2017 Fire
Following a fire on 13 September 2017, the museum was closed,{{cite web|author1=Giselle Wakatama|title=Asbestos fears at scorched rail museum site|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-14/asbestos-fears-at-scorched-rail-museum-site/8945298|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|date=14 September 2017| access-date=14 September 2017}}{{cite web|author1=Brodie Owen|title=Richmond Vale Railway Museum expects fire damage to surpass $1 million as police investigation rolls on|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/4924941/its-all-bloody-ash-fires-toll-hard-to-bear/|website=Newcastle Herald|language=en|date=14 September 2017| access-date=18 October 2020 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319223800/http://www.theherald.com.au:80/story/4924941/its-all-bloody-ash-fires-toll-hard-to-bear/ |archive-date=19 March 2018}} with the following losses.:{{Cite web|url=http://www.richmondvalerailwaymuseum.org/ |title=STATEMENT FROM THE BOARD OF RICHMOND VALE RAILWAY MUSEUM |publisher=Richmond Vale Railway Museum|access-date=14 September 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-13/fire-threatens-properties-in-richmond-vale/8940622 |title=NSW RFS battles to save homes, as bushfires take hold on hot, windy day | publisher=ABC News| date=13 September 2017 | access-date=14 September 2017}}
- 3 stainless steel passenger cars
- 10 of 16 restored non-air coal hoppers and almost all non-restored wagons
- All of the unrestored general freight vehicles
- Approximately 2.5 kilometres of track
- Damage to number 1 bridge on the link line to Pelaw Main.
The museum reopened to limited rail operation on 4 March 2018 and is gradually restoring damaged track to trafficable condition, with shuttle train services available over restored track. Other elements of the museum's operations remain available on open days as before the fire.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Hunter Region places and items of interest}}
{{Railway lines in New South Wales}}
Category:Closed regional railway lines in New South Wales
Category:Mining museums in Australia
Category:Railway museums in New South Wales