Commemorative re-enactment
On Monday, 26 September a re-enactment of the first official rail journey to open the Sydney to Parramatta line capped off a spectacular weekend of 150th birthday celebrations for rail. The re-enactment train carrying a range of guests and dignitaries, including NSW Governor Professor Bashir and Deputy Premier and Transport Minister John Watkins, departed Platform one at Central at the same time as the very first service did 150 years ago.

Official records show it was a wet and gloomy day back in 1855, just as it was for the re-enactment. At the official ceremony at the end of Platform one, Aboriginal elder Mr Bruce Stewart “welcomed us to country”, before Professor Bashir gave a speech about the importance of the history of rail in NSW, and Minister Watkins spoke about the future of rail for NSW. Steam locomotives 1210 (built 1877) and 1709 (built 1887), the state’s oldest main line operating locomotives, led the commemorative train journey to Parramatta where the official party joined local leaders for a ceremony at Parramatta Town Hall. Guests travelled in historic late 1890s Pullman sitting cars, while competition winners and other guests rode on a separate spectator train, hauled by the famous steam Locomotive 3801. Some of the passengers on the commemorative train included direct descendants of the drivers of the first service.

Promotional material used for the 150 years celebrations

Weekend celebrations
The re-enactment followed an exhibition between 24 and 25 September of heritage rolling stock, models and artefacts at Central Station. Visitors were treated to displays about the growth of the NSW railway network over the past 150 years, its trains, the types of people and jobs that made it operate as well as its future direction. The exhibition told the NSW rail story through steam, diesel and electric rolling stock. Many of the items on display had not seen the light of day for over a hundred years.

Visitors also experienced the excitement of steam train rides leaving Central frequently over both days, while vintage rail motors took customers on rides from Mortuary Station through the goods line. The heritage rolling stock that was on display at Central Station was relocated to Olympic Park Station where the trains will be on show from Tuesday 27 September to Saturday 1 October.