Thursday 26 April 2012

Get all Steamed Up at the Hunter Valley SteamFest

Steamfest 2012
A great time will; be had by all at the Maitland Toyota Hunter Valley Steamfest this weekend. Australia’s premier festival of steam takes place at the area around the Maitland Railway Station on the weekend of Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 April 2012. 

The area comes to life with the spirit of steam when more than 70,000 people gather for two full days of activities featuring all types of steam driven engines, from trains to tractors. There will be lots of markets stalls, family and kids activities and entertainment.

Steamfest 2012
There are many highlights of this magnificent steam filled weekend which will please children, youth and adults. Some of these activities will include: steam engine excursions; tin hare vintage rail motor journeys including rare and exclusive excursions on the 402 engine; specialty steam train experiences including the popular Great Train Race on Sunday morning, the Grand Parade on the Rally Ground covering the evolution of transport through time, and the Steamfest Bazaar and much more.

Hunter Valley Steamfest has something to offer everyone.

Great Train Race
The Race is between steam engines 3526 and 3265 running parallel together whilst racing two Tiger Moth aeroplanes. This will be held on Sunday morning. Who will win this year?

Kids Adventureland
Whilst the parents are having the time of their lives, children can also enjoy an action packed Steamfest by visiting the Kids Adventureland; with face painting, jumping castle, coal shovelling competitions, puppet shows, plaster mould painting, and train inspired craft to take home. The Kids Adventureland is located within the Rally Grounds.

Steamfest Rally Ground
Steamfest Rally Ground
The Steamfest Rally Ground features displays of traction and portable engines, road steam equipment, vintage machinery, mini train rides, steam related talks, and Powerhouse Museum display, and interpretive tours. Entry fee to the Rally Ground: Adults $2.00, Children (under 16) Free.


Train Excursions
Train excursions will run to various places such as Newcastle, Branxton, Paterson, Dungog, Maitland including a Kids Party Train excursion and the City Rail Hunter Parallel Runs.

Steamfest Bazaar
Steamfest Bazaar
This blocked off street has over 100 market & food stalls.

Maitland Show ‘n’ Shine
Visit the Auto Barn Maitland Show ‘n’ Shine with over 700 vintage and veteran bikes and cars on display in the parklands near the Swimming Poll complex, over the highway from The Railway Station on the Sunday. Entry is free.

Steamfest 2012
Maitland Railway Station Precinct Heritage Walks
The Maitland & District Historical Society will offer visitors a chance to learn more about the history of Maitland and the significance of the railway in the area on the Maitland Railway Station Precinct Heritage Walks. The walks are half an hour in duration and will be conducted between 10am – 2pm on both Saturday and Sunday of the Festival. Entry fee: $5 per person which will include a printed brochure on the key featured sites.

Steamfest 2012, Australia’s premier Festival of Steam, is celebrating its 27th anniversary and is set to thrill people of all ages as they come to experience this significant part of Hunter rail transport history.

The first Hunter Valley Steamfest was held in 1986 to commemorate the days of steam transport, three years after the last commercial steam freight service in Australia ended on the South Maitland Railway. Since then, Steamfest has been held every year attracting over 70,000 people annually

Steamfest 2012
Entry to the Steamfest 2012 precinct is FREE! Train rides do incur a cost and need to be booked.
  
For more information about Steamfest 2012 see the website http://www.steamfest.com.au/Home/

For more info on the train excursions, time-table and prices, go to this link: http://www.steamfest.com.au/Resources/Documents/Steam-v2.pdf

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