The annual Hunter Valley Steamfest takes place in Maitland in the Australian state of New South Wales. During one weekend per year Australian steam train fans can enjoy several events. The major event on Sunday morning is the Great Train Race, along the four track mainline between Waratah (Newcastle) and Maitland. In this series you can enjoy the steam races from 2023 and 2024. Credits: FoxXproduction

The Great Australian Train Races on the Hunter Valley Steamfest -cover.jpeg

The Great Australian Train Races on the Hunter Valley Steamfest 

2023 & 2024

With the previous 3 races being cancelled due to Covid and floods, 2023 was a special occasion with 4 trains racing, requiring the complete closure of the railway. The following locomotives were filmed: 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: bold;">3801: 4-6-2 &ldquo;Pacific&rdquo; locomotive, built for NSW Railways by Clyde Engineering, Sydney, Australia in 1943;&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: bold;">5917: 2-8-2 &ldquo;Mikado&rdquo; locomotive built for NSW Railways by Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, USA in 1953; </li>
<li style="font-weight: bold;">6029: 4-8-4+4-8-4 &ldquo;Garratt&rdquo; loco built for NSW Railways by Beyer Peacock, Manchester, England in 1954; </li>
<li style="font-weight: bold;">R766: 4-6-4 loco built for Victorian Railways by North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow, Scotland in 1951. This locomotive was originally a broad gauge (1600mm) loco and has been converted to standard gauge (1435mm).</li>
</ul>
Credits: FoxXproduction

The Great Train Race - the 2023 edition

The race returned in 2024 to its usual two trains racing and the following two locomotives were racing against each other: 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: bold;">3526: 4-6-0 loco built for NSW Railways by their own Workshops, Sydney in 1917;</li>
<li style="font-weight: bold;">6029: 4-8-4+4-8-4 &ldquo;Garratt&rdquo; loco built for NSW Railways by Beyer Peacock, Manchester, England in 1954.</li>
</ul>
Credits: FoxXproduction

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The Great Australian Train Races on the Hunter Valley Steamfest

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