One of Australia’s most loved locomotives, the iconic 3801, will be making its first Steamfest appearance in 15 years for the event’s 35th-anniversary celebrations in April.
Australia’s premier festival of all things steam is expected to once again attract tens of thousands of people to Maitland for a program of diverse activities that honour the Hunter’s rich steam and industrial heritage.
“It’s always an excellent weekend at Steamfest and with everything that’s planned, this year will be no exception,” chairperson of the Hunter Valley Steamfest Working Group Cr Peter Garnham said
The 35th Anniversary Rail Program, presented by Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), will be headlined by the return of locomotive 3801, 15 years after its last appearance at Steamfest in 2007.
Alongside 3801, the largest operating locomotive in the southern hemisphere, Beyer-Garratt 6029, will also return to Steamfest with the ARTC Rail program featuring trips to Paterson, Branxton and Newcastle, with the highlight of the program being Sunday’s Great Train Race.
The full lineup of steam locomotives, heritage diesel engines, journeys and rail timetable will be announced in the coming weeks.
Steamfest 2022 will be held in Maitland on the weekend of the 9th and 10th of April. Visit steamfest.com.au for a full program and more event information.
