2017 Year in Review – Wagga Wagga Rail Heritage Station Museum

The new roof for the 1881 Railway Enginemen’s Barracks at 61 Railway Street was completed. It was also known as the Rest House and it is also our clubhouse. The building was used for enginemen and guards for overnight accommodation between shifts
Membership has increased during 2017 by over 15%.
We held our first expo after 10 years. We opened for the weekend with all of our facilities open to the public – The Railway Station Museum, Two Gang Sheds and the Railway Rest House and model trains
We have increased the opening hours of the railway station museum from two days a week to six days a week Monday to Saturday 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.
We also opened the two railway gang sheds at the corner of Railway & Macleay Streets. These buildings include historic photographs, trikes, machinery and tools. Opening from Tuesday to Fridays 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.
The visitor numbers to our museum have increased and this has provided a much-needed boost to our financial bank balance. If you are interested in any railway history and want to look and talk, please call in at the Wagga Wagga Railway Station Museum Monday to Saturday 11:00 – 2:00 pm
Donations have increased significantly due to the increased opening hours and is expected to be in the vicinity of 100% for 2018
The model railway group meets every Wednesday night for discussion and building of a new railway display layout. The group also opens to the public on the first Saturday of each month for displays and talking to any visitors about the model trains
Members of Transport HeritageNSW (THNSW) visited Wagga Wagga in November 2017 and introduced the new Sector Development Officer Margot Stuart. This position is our link for our association to the organising body representing many heritage groups in NSW. The Southern Region includes Wagga Wagga Rail Heritage, Finley, Junee, Ladysmith, Crookwell, Goulburn and Cooma
Remember the 2018 membership fees are now due (still a few weeks). Joining fee $15 (one off only) and Yearly Membership Fee $15 per family
Wagga Wagga Rail Heritage Association is our registered name. Please refer to our facilities as:
- Wagga Wagga Railway Station Museum
- Wagga Wagga Railway Gang Sheds
- Wagga Wagga Railway Model Trains
Our email address is will be [email protected]
Any emails to our current [email protected] address will be forwarded to the new email. So we won’t lose any emails
Our facebook link is com/waggarailheritage
The Wagga Wagga Railway Model Trains group meet every Wednesday from 6:00pm at 61 Railway Street Wagga Wagga. Currently in process is the building of a large DC/DCC layout. It will be great to see this project move along in 2018. The electrics have been connected but the time and effort will be the scenery and buildings etc
Wagga Wagga Rail Heritage Association has applied for several railway trikes from Transport Heritage NSW which will be on loan for five years. More information in early 2018
More photograph interpretation panels (over one metre square) are continuing to be produced for display, particularly in the Station Museum but also the Railway Station waiting room. Our secretary Peter Maxwell is the prime motivator of this project
Our fundraising for 2018 includes the visitor donations, Bunnings BBQ’s, Expo No.2 in November, possible steam train visits, sales of souvenirs
We are continuing to expand our workshop facilities and have recently set up a bench press and equipment for electrolysis (rust removal) for old railway items.
Consultants will be visiting Wagga Wagga in March this year. This is for our Strategic Business Planning that has been set aside for the museums who have precinct Custody Management Agreements with THNSW. This is an opportunity to develop a five-year plan, that will inform more detailed in-house yearly business planning.