Newport Railway Museum
Steam locomotive E 236 and electric suburban carriage 8M on display at the museum
Established10 November 1962
Location26 Champion Road, Newport, Victoria
Coordinates37°51′22″S 144°53′12″E / 37.85611°S 144.88667°E / -37.85611; 144.88667
TypeRailway museum
WebsiteOfficial Site

The Newport Railway Museum is located on Champion Road, Newport, Victoria, near the North Williamstown station.

History

The museum opened on 10 November 1962, after the Australian Railway Historical Society (ARHS) Victorian Division was allocated space at Newport Workshops by the Victorian Railways to develop a collection of key examples of steam locomotives that were then in the process of being replaced by diesel and electric locomotives. By the late 1980s, the early diesel and electric locomotives that had replaced steam traction were themselves nearing end of life, and the museum expanded its collection to incorporate a number of key examples.[1]

Following a safety audit by VicTrack, the landlord and owner of most of the exhibits, the museum closed in February 2010.[2] After various improvements, it reopened in March 2014.

On 16 June 2020, it was announced that the ARHS had withdrawn from the operation of the museum and a new group, Newport Railway Museum Inc., formed by museum volunteers, had entered into an arrangement with VicTrack to take over the Museum site lease.[3]

In 2016, a project was announced to construct a 693 m2 (7,460 sq ft) roof canopy over four wooden passenger carriages and three of the oldest steam locomotives on the site;[4] this project was completed in 2017. In 2019, the Victorian Government announced a project to construct a roof canopy to protect the heritage-listed locomotive H220 Heavy Harry.[5] A 1,112 m2 (11,970 sq ft) structure that covered H220 and several adjacent exhibits was completed in 2020. In announcing the completion of the second roof canopy, Newport Railway Museum stated its intention to continue to construct further roofing over remaining exhibits to ensure their preservation.[6]

The museum's regular opening hours are between 12 noon and 5 pm on Saturdays.[7] During school holiday periods, the museum opens on both Saturdays and Sundays, between 12 noon and 5 pm.[8]

Collection

The museum contains the largest existing collection of Victorian Railways steam locomotives, a wide range of other Victorian Railways rolling stock, and numerous Victorian Railways artefacts. The collection includes:[9]

  • seventeen steam locomotives
  • eight diesel locomotives
  • two electric locomotives and four electric suburban carriages
  • five country/interstate passenger carriages
  • ten freight wagons and two guards vans
  • five railway cranes
  • rail tractors and postal trolleys
  • a signal box
  • an O scale model railway

Steam locomotives

Number Image Type Year built Builder Livery Notes
F 176F class (Steam)1880Phoenix FoundryCanadian Pacific red
T 94T class (Steam)1884Phoenix FoundryTwo-tone greenBuilt as T 265. Renumbered as T 94 in 1924. Modified with flangeless wheels and coupled to W Class tender
Y 108Y class (Steam)1889Phoenix FoundryTwo-tone greenBuilt as Y 395. Renumbered as Y 412 in 1924. Renumbered as Y 108 in 1951
E 369E class (Steam)1892David MunroBlackBuilt as E 494. Renumbered as EE 494 in 1919. Renumbered as EE 369 in 1923. Renumbered as E 369 in 1931
E 236E class (Steam)1893David MunroTwo-tone greenBuilt as E 506. Renumbered as E 236 in 1923
D4 268D4 class (Steam)1910Newport WorkshopsMaroonBuilt as 790. Renumbered 268 in 1923. Renumbered as D4 369
D2 604D2 class (Steam)1912Beyer, Peacock and CompanyMaroon with blue liningBuilt as DD 557. Renumbered DD 580 in 1925. Renumbered DD 795 in 1926. Renumbered D2 795 in 1929. Renumbered D2 604 in 1951
D3 635D3 class (Steam)1912Baldwin Locomotive WorksBlack with red liningbuilt as DD 597. Renumbered D1 597 in 1930. Renumbered D3 635 in 1939
A2 884A2 class (Steam)1913Newport WorkshopsMaroon with blue liningBuilt as A2 848. Renumbered A2 884 in 1929
A2 995A2 class (Steam)1916Newport WorkshopsMaroon
C 10C class (Steam)1922Newport WorkshopsBlack
X 36 / Gerald A DeeX class (Steam)1929Newport WorkshopsBlack
H 220 / Heavy HarryH class (Steam)1941Newport WorkshopsBlack
K 165K class (Steam)1941Newport WorkshopsBlack
N 432N class (Steam)1951Newport WorkshopsJubilee Train - Green and goldLast steam locomotive built by VR's Newport Workshops. Its green and gold livery was applied to N 430 for the 1951 Centenary-Jubilee train
R 704R class (Steam)1952North British Locomotive CompanyBlack with red liningWas displayed at the Festival of Britain in 1951 and retained its commemorative plaques
J 556J class (Steam)1954Vulcan FoundryBlack with red liningWears the historically significant plates of scrapped J559, the last steam locomotive to enter service on the VR

Diesel locomotives

Number / Name Image Type Year built Builder Livery Notes
F 216 / SEC 2F class (Diesel-electric)1952Dick, Kerr & Co.SEC greenRenumbered back to SEC 2
F 211 / Little TrimmerF class (Diesel-electric)1953Dick, Kerr & Co.V/Line Orange & GreyWas SEC 3
B 83B class (Diesel-electric)1953Clyde EngineeringVR Blue and gold
S 308S class (Diesel-electric)1958Clyde EngineeringV/Line Orange & Grey
V 56V class (Diesel-hydraulic)1959Newport WorkshopsThe Met (Trefoil logo)
W 243W class (Diesel-hydraulic)1960Tulloch LimitedVR Blue and gold
W 255W class (Diesel-hydraulic)1960Tulloch LimitedVR Blue and gold
T 367T class (Diesel-electric)1964Clyde EngineeringV/Line Orange & Grey
Y 137Y class (Diesel-electric)1965Clyde EngineeringV/Line Orange & Grey

Electric rollingstock

Number / Name Image Type Year built Builder Livery Notes
8MSwing Door motor1888Newport WorkshopsHeritage red
E 1102E class (electric)1928Newport WorkshopsBlack
L 1150 / R G WishartL class (electric)1953English ElectricVR Blue and gold
795MHarris motor1968Newport WorkshopsVR Blue and gold
187MHitachi motor1980Martin & KingSteel
903MRefurbished Harris motor1983ComengThe Met (Trefoil logo)Converted from Harris 744M

Passenger carriages

Number / Name Image Type Year built Builder Livery Notes
136 ABAB 1st / 2nd Classc.1886RedBody on ground
11 AAAA 1st Class1880Wright & EdwardsRedDisplay car
NormanInspection Car1890Newport WorkshopsRedDisplay car
TorrensSleeping Car1907Newport WorkshopsOverland - Dark green
WimmeraMedical & Vision Test Car1908Newport WorkshopsVR Blue and gold
VRS 231 / Mitta MittaVRS Refreshment Car1939Newport WorkshopsV/Line Mk IIBirthday car

Vans

Number Image Type Year built Builder Livery Notes
ZL 220ZL Guards Van (Long Shank)1875RedBuilt as D 45. Renumbered as Z 45 in c.1910. Renumbered as Z 220 in 1954. Renumbered as ZL 220 in 1960
ZLP 25ZLP Freight / Pass Van1962Newport WorkshopsRedBuilt as ZF 25. Renumbered as ZLP 25 in 1965
VVEY 1VVEY Modular Cabin Van1980Newport WorkshopsWhiteBuilt as ZMF 1. Renumbered VVEY 1 in 1983. Body on ground
VVEY 10VVEY Modular Cabin Van1982Newport WorkshopsWhiteBuilt as ZMF 10. Renumbered VVEY 10. Body on ground

Freight wagons

Number Image Type Year built Builder Livery Notes
IB 5452IB Open Wagon1890Lennon, H., SpottiswoodeRedBuilt as I 5452. Renumbered as IB 5452 in c.1929. Renumbered as HD 5452 in c.1960. Renumbered as IB 5452 in c.1968
H 925H Fixed Wheel Produce Van1893Newport WorkshopsRed
H 958H Fixed Wheel Produce Van1897Newport WorkshopsRed
KR 169KR Rail Transporter1905RedBuilt as I 7460. Renumbered as IA 7460 in c.1935. Renumbered as KR 169 in 1959
UB 56UB Louvre Van1916Newport WorkshopsRedBuilt as U 855. Renumbered as UB 56 in 1934. Renumbered as VLAA 56 in 1981
KR 307KR Rail Transporter1917Newport WorkshopsRedBuilt as I 14911. Renumbered as KR 307 in 1968
No. 15 Oil TankOT Oil Tank1924Newport WorkshopsBP - Black with yellow stripe
RY 600RY Open Wagon1931Newport WorkshopsRedBuilt as IZ 600. Renumbered as RY 600 in 1965
VLBY 114VLBY Louvre Van1954Newport WorkshopsVR RedBuilt as VP 114. Renumbered as VLPY 114 in 1980. Renumbered as VLBY 114 in 1983
VLX 3341964 - VLX Louvre Van1966Newport WorkshopsRedBuilt as VLX 334. Renumbered VLCX 334 in 1979
HZL 211HZL Loco Bogie TransportRed

Other items

Number Image Type Year built Builder Livery Notes
RT 1Rail Tractor1932Newport WorkshopsRed
Ex Geelong Loco Hand Crane
No 2 Steam CraneSteam craneBlack
No 19 Steam CraneSteam craneBlack
No 19 Crane TenderCrane tenderRed
No 36 Steam CraneSteam craneBlack
No 73 Hand CraneHand craneGreen, yellow and black
SEC 37SEC electric loco
Coal Hopper 637SEC coal hopperWhite and yellow
Mary the Match TruckWagonRed
Postal motor trolleyYellow
Way & works trolliesYellow2 trollies
Cordite trucksYellow2 trucks

References

  1. "Museum - About Us". Australian Railways Historical Society - Victorian Division. Archived from the original on 22 July 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  2. "Museum Closure". Australian Railway Historical Society Victorian Division. Australian Railway Historical Society. 2010. Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  3. "Facebook - Newport Railway Museum". Facebook. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  4. "New roof to protect Victoria's historic rail assets". Newsrail. 44 (11): 346. November 2016.
  5. "Wild about Heavy Harry". Maribyrnong & Hobsons Bay Star Weekly. 15 May 2019. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  6. "H220 Heavy Harry finally protected from the elements". Newsrail. 48 (11): 365. November 2020.
  7. "Australian Railway Historical Society Museum". Only Melbourne. Archived from the original on 28 April 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  8. "Newport Railway Museum". Newport Railway Museum Inc. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  9. "Visiting The Museum". Australian Railway Historical Society. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.

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