Highlights from the
Blue Mountains Steam FunFest

Volunteers of both the Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum and the Steam Tram and Railway Preservation Society (STARPS) hosted the third Blue Mountains Steam FunFest over the weekend of 11-13 July. A total of 41 volunteers combined to deliver the signature event in our calendar.

Complementing the Museum’s displays, 7 volunteers from the Campbelltown Steam and Machinery Museum brought a range of exhibits including operating steam engines. One highlight was the operating miniature live steam traction engine and trailer offering rides within the depot site.

The Valley Heights Steam Tramway offered two train rides for each visitor, one on the 1880s Sydney steam tram and a second on the Valley Heights Mixed, consisting of an 1890s Stephenson 0-6-0 locomotive hauling an S truck and a NSW American suburban carriage.

The event was officially opened by Susan Templeman MP (federal member for Macquarie), Trish Doyle (state member for Blue Mountains), Mark Greenhill OAM (Mayor of Blue Mountains City Council) and THNSW CEO Andrew Moritz. All acknowledged the new visitor space and exhibits we reported last month.

Over the three days, the museum hosted 1243 visitors, an increase from 2024, with 549 of those visiting on the Sunday – a new record for a single day attendance.