We’re thrilled to announce the return of FRN 2186 to Sydney after a lengthy hiatus. The former New South Wales Government Railways N-Type buffet car has been undergoing extensive restoration work at the Goulburn Locomotive Roundhouse, including essential external and bogie repairs.
Now back in Sydney, FRN 2186 will undergo further interior improvements to ensure it’s ready to rejoin our operational fleet in the coming weeks.
A huge thank you to our incredible volunteers who dedicate their time and expertise to maintaining our fleet of heritage carriages. Your hard work keeps these pieces of rail history running.
We can’t wait to see FRN 2186 running on our trains again soon.
Sunday 17 December marked a historic day as we officially unveiled the Peter Abba Reserve at Summit Tank Lookout during our Christmas Cockatoo Run. Joined by Peter’s family, we honored the legacy of a beloved Illawarra community figure, Rotarian, and railway enthusiast
Peter Abba (1944-2023) was instrumental in transforming Summit Tank from a disused platform into a stunning lookout enjoyed by thousands aboard the Cockatoo Run since its launch in 1995. His vision and dedication, alongside Wollongong Rotary, made this special place what it is today—a breathtaking stop high on the Illawarra escarpment.
It was our privilege to dedicate this reserve to Peter’s memory, ensuring his contribution lives on for generations of rail enthusiasts and visitors alike.
The Peter Abba Reserve—a fitting tribute to an extraordinary friend of heritage rail.
East Coast Heritage Rail operated their first Dinner Light Train on Saturday 30 November 2024. Guests were greeted on the red carpet at Central Station with a welcome drink. A luxurious 5-course fresh seafood dinner was served as the vintage train glided through Sydney’s northern suburbs and along the picturesque Hawkesbury River at sunset.
The next Dinner Light Train will operate on Saturday 15 February 2025. For Bookings and Full Details click here.
East Coast Heritage Rail ran a very successful return tour to Kandos on Saturday 26 October 2024. Over 200 guests joined the Kandos Express for the very scenic trip over the World Heritage Blue Mountains and onto the old Mudgee country branch line passing through Piper’s Flat, Portland, Ben Bullen, Clandulla and Charbon and through the magnificent Capertee Valley.
Guests had almost two hours in Kandos having the opportunity to visit the Kandos Museum or wander around the historic township as well as enjoying the various lunch options on offer.
Locomotives 42103 and 42105 were the motive power for the day stopping at Clandulla to attach one engine to the rear for the run into Kandos where there are no shunting facilities. This was repeated on the return trip to place the two locos on the front for the run back to Sydney.
Trackwork in the city meant the tour had to start and finish to and from Lidcombe but this did not deter the keen guests who voted the day a most enjoyable success.
Kandos has been an annual destination for our train but due to covid and other factors this was our first trip there for several years. Come and join us again next year!
For the first time in many years ECHR participated in the Transport Heritage Expo held in Sydney over the October long weekend. The event featured a variety of activities at several sites including Steam and Electric Train and Railmotor Rides, Vintage Bus Rides, Steam Boat Rides Central Clock Tower Tours and Heritage Displays. There were a number of static displays at Central Station and ECHR had two of its heritage carriages and locomotive 42105 open for inspection by visitors. A steady stream of visitors took advantage of the opportunity over all three days and our volunteers were kept busy. A number of rail related merchandise items were available for purchase at a stand near our vehicles.
The cat’s out of the bag! For those of you wondering where X54 has been hiding for the past few months, we can reveal that the loco has been undergoing rust repairs and preparation for a new coat of paint at Goulburn Roundhouse.
The preparation work has been spearheaded by our maintenance manager Lorne Brack, who has also used the project to pass skills on to Tracy Harris of Vintage Rail Journeys. Tracy is currently undertaking an apprenticeship in welding and boiler making, and the pair’s efforts speak for themselves!
Lorne and Tracy at work
Rust repairs underway, prior to grinding
Lorne says: “Unlike a new build, restoration in many ways requires greater skill to complete the task. Whilst often challenging, it brings a sense of accomplishment.”
X54 has now been turned out in a unique scheme – the former VicRail ‘Teacup’ livery – and it will be the only operating unit to wear these colours when it returns to service later this month. This striking tangerine and silver scheme was introduced in 1981 as part of a rebranding of Victorian Railways, and quickly gained the nickname ‘Teacup’ after the styling of the VicRail logo. The livery was to prove short lived however, as VicRail morphed into V/Line in 1983, and the latter’s more familiar orange and grey scheme became the norm.
X54 resplendent in its new ‘Teacup’ scheme at Goulburn Roundhouse. Photos: Aaron Hobson
The Teacup livery was somewhat polarising even in its day, and X54’s will be no exception! Our repaint offers the answer to an historic ‘what if’ scenario, as while it was initially intended to outshop the X class locomotives in the Teacup livery, none had been painted by the time VicRail became V/Line, and therefore no X class loco ever wore the VicRail colours – until now! While the break from tradition is sure to turn heads and maybe even ruffle a feather or two, it’s just a coat of paint – even if it’s not your ‘cup of tea’, nothing lasts forever…
Enthusiasts are encouraged to grab their photos while they can, as who knows what the future has in store for X54’s livery… With a few more finishing touches still to come over the next few weeks, X54 is set to make its return to the mainline very soon. ‘Teacup’ is coming to a Cockatoo Run near you – keep an eye out on our website and social media for further announcements!
Whilst in Goulburn, X54’s second cooling fan has also been removed for overhaul. This is one of many components that needs specialist attention in order to ensure the locomotive remains in excellent running order for many years to come. Should you wish to contribute or otherwise assist, please contact us or see our Sponsorship Page.
East Coast Heritage Rail was successful last year in obtaining $2,000 in community funding from the Illawarra branch of the Greater Bank, by securing the largest amount of public votes in the June 2022 round of the Greater Illawarra Community Funding Program. Further information can be found here: Heritage trains on track for greater support | Greater Bank
Brett Rowling and Campbell Ellis accept the cheque on behalf of ECHR
The funds have been used to upgrade carriage lighting from traditional fluorescent tubes and incandescent bulbs to suitable LED replacements. This has included the installation of new LED tubes in MFS2096, and LED globes in MFS2145 and XFS2015.
Greater Bank’s Illawarra Regional Sales Manager, Greg Creagan, noted the vital role which rail has long played in the Illawarra:
“Our coal and steel industries and our port have relied heavily on trains for more than a century, helping make the region what it is today. It’s great to be able to make a contribution to help ensure this important history is not forgotten.”
New LED tubes in MFS2096
Detail of the LED tubes in MFS2096
Upgraded lighting in MFS2145
These upgrades not only provide a longer term greener solution, but also reduce energy consumption from the carriage battery system – allowing lights to continue to burn brightly on our Cockatoo Run! Our new lighting was sourced with thanks to Electrical Products Pty Ltd.
East Coast Heritage Rail is proud to announce the purchase of former Victorian Railways third series X class locomotive X54. We plan to return X54 to operational condition, which will allow us to expand our tour offerings.
Photo: Bob Richardson
X54 was built by Clyde Engineering at their Rosewater plant in Adelaide, and entered service with the Victorian Railways in June 1976. Working on both broad gauge and standard gauge, the X class could be found all over the Victorian Railways system, working both freight and passenger trains. Members of the class on broad gauge could often be found on the Melbourne to Adelaide corridor, working both The Overland passenger train or the ‘Jet’ express goods services between the two cities.
The third series X class were the first Victorian locos to venture into NSW under the ‘through working’ arrangement, and in the early 1980’s could often be seen on interstate express passenger trains such as the Southern Aurora, Spirit of Progress and Intercapital Daylight between Sydney and Melbourne.
When the Victorian Railways restructured in 1983, ownership of the X class passed to V/Line. All remained in Government ownership until 1999 when V/Line Freight was privatised and sold to Freight Victoria, later becoming Freight Australia as their operations expanded in 2000. In 2004 Freight Australia was purchased by Pacific National. As a condition of this sale, X54 was one of two X class locomotives that were gifted to the then newly established Queensland Rail National, to help with their start-up of interstate standard gauge operations. It remained in service with QR National (becoming Aurizon in 2012) up until Aurizon ceased operating intermodal freight in December 2017. It saw use for a brief period in 2018 to support Aurizon’s Hunter Valley coal and grain operations, however it was placed into storage in late 2018 and has not been used since.
We look forward to reactivating X54 and bringing it to you on our future tours – watch this space!
The more eagle-eyed observer on a Redfern train this morning may have noticed the plaza at South Eveleigh looking a little barer than it did yesterday… After more than 20 years of faithful service as both our office and an important part of the South Eveleigh’s rail heritage, it was sadly time to say goodbye to our Sputnik motor carriage C3704 last night as redevelopment of the site by Mirvac has necessitated our relocation elsewhere.
Rest assured the carriage has departed for a peaceful retirement in private ownership on the rural North Coast of NSW, and our operations will continue as normal despite this change. Given our greatly increased use of technology we are now able to operate our tours with less of a physical office presence, and will continue to deliver the heritage rail experiences that we know our passengers love!
Below are some photos of the carriage being loaded onto a truck for its trip north.
Our Cockatoo Run, proudly operated since 1995, Hawkesbury River Express and various one-off tours that we run are what our passengers know and love. Whilst we operate many interesting and important rolling stock items that the rail community loves to see, the travelling public value the experience of our heritage rail tours, enjoying time with family and friends, and reflecting on the role that rail has played in developing Australia.
Accordingly, our name is no longer reflective of what we do. And more importantly, what we want to do in the future. It is therefore a natural time for East Coast Heritage Rail to be born.
We wish to be a safe, sustainable and collaborative organisation that works to improve and promote heritage rail, across all of Australia. We look forward to working with other groups and people to help everyone achieve their and our goals, and for the heritage rail sector to be stronger as a result.
ECHR is an organisation whose purpose is to preserve railway heritage for the enjoyment of the public by operating tour trains. We are a not-for profit company, and all surplus funds are directed to ongoing restoration and maintenance of our trains.
ECHR operates day tours and charters out of Sydney as well as scheduled services to the Illawarra and Southern Highlands. If you would like more information on these tours please visit our website, www.eastcoastheritagerail.com.au, call our office on 1300 65 3801, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin.
Note to regulators, suppliers and customers: Our legal name, ACN and ABN (64 002 951 671) remain unchanged, and all associated trademarks and brands remain the property of 3801 Limited. We remain accredited as a railway operator and registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission. The transition will be a gradual one, with logos, branding and uniforms updated across our organisation as time and funding permits.
oast Heritage Rail ran a very successful return tour to Kandos on Saturday 26 October 2024. Over 200 guests joined the Kandos Express for the very scenic trip over the World Heritage Blue Mountains and onto the old Mudgee country branch line passing through Piper’s Flat, Portland, Ben Bullen, Clandulla and Charbon and through the magnificent Capertee Valley.
