Hunter Valley Picnic Train

A few days ago, I got to take a journey on the The Picnic Train through the picturesque Hunter Valley. Riding on a Steam Locomotive has been a lifelong dream and it was amazing to share this experience with my family.

Locomotives and carriages

The train was hauled by Steam Locomotive 5917 with rear support from Diesel 4836 and consisted of six (6) FS Class carriages.

Steam Locomotive 5917 was built in the United States by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1952. Locomotive 5917 entered service on 12 March 1953 through until 16 August 1972. Locomotive 5917 was originally commissioned as an oil-burning locomotive due to a coal shortage in NSW, the locomotive was later converted to traditional coal power. Whilst in service, Locomotive 5917 was mostly used for Freight Haulage with the occasional passenger service.

Diesel 4836 was introduced into service in November 1961 and withdrawn from active service in August 1994. Diesel 4836 was originally used only in NSW prior to commencing interstate work hauling freight, coal and Iron Ore.

The FS carriages were built by Clyde Engineering at Granville NSW between 1935 and 1938. Cars FS 2021 and FS 2082 both entered service in 1936, with FS 2140 following the next year. The cars of this type saw service on many of the over-night mail trains, and also on the prestigious Melbourne Express and the Brisbane Express, both of which usually included one or more of these (sitting) cars in their mainly sleeping-car consists. They were also used on such day-time services as the South Coast Daylight (to Nowra) and the Federal City Express (to Canberra). These cars were all used behind Flying Scotsman when that locomotive toured Australia in 1988-89.

The Journey

The journey started at Maitland Railway Station which is located on the Main Northern Line in New South Wales, Australia. Opening in 1880, the station was previously known as West Maitland Station prior to being renamed to the now Maitland Railway Station in April 1949. The Station contains five (5) platforms and provides Passengers services to NSW’s largest regional town, Newcastle, south to Sydney and Melbourne as well as services to Northern NSW and Queensland.

After departing Maitland, we travelled North passing the nearby Pacific National Support Facility in Greta before steaming towards Singleton which is situated 70km north-west of Newcastle and 197 KM north-west of Sydney. The traditional landowners of the land around what is now Singleton are The Wonnarua / Wanaruah people. The Wonnarua / Wanaruah people have occupied the land in the Upper Hunter Valley for over 30,000 years. The railway first reached Singleton in 1963 forming the end of the line up until the railway was extended in 1969.
After passing through Singleton, we headed further North West towards one of the many active Coal Mines within the Hunter Valley. This is where our train took the Camberwell Loop, a loop used to fill Coal Trains headed for Newcastle Port.

Heading south again, we sat back as the train thundered towards Maitland with steam billowing in the wind and the sound of the train whistle turning heads in local parks, backyards, shops and any other vantage point.

Future Picnic Train journeys

The Picnic Train has some exciting journeys planned for 2022 starting in January with the Hawkesbury River Picnic Train on 26 January and the North West Zepher on 29 January.

The Kiama Picnic train will also return in Autumn 2022