CANBERRA STEAM TRAIN RIDES
THE LEGEND OF STEAM RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA'S CAPITAL
fri 4 - sun 6 september 2026
When locomotive 3801 first visited Canberra in March of 1988, it created history as the only steam locomotive to visit every mainland state and territory of Australia.
Now, join Transport Heritage NSW as the legend of steam returns once more to Canberra for a special weekend of steam train rides.
PRESENTED BY
Enjoy a 65-minute return steam train ride from Canberra to Burbong.
Travel in your choice of open saloon seating or a private compartment for up to six people.
DEPARTURE TIMES
Saturday: 8.00am, 9.24am, 12.50pm, 2.20pm, 5.30pm
Sunday: 8.00am, 9.24am, 12.50pm, 2.20pm
FARES
Open Saloon: $39 per person
Compartment: $180 per compartment (up to 6 people)
FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER
Take a longer two-hour journey through the Capital region, including a rare twilight steam train ride from Canberra to Bungendore and return.
Travel in your choice of open saloon seating or a private compartment for up to six people.
DEPARTURE TIMES
Friday: 12.25pm, 5.20pm
FARES
Open Saloon: $59 per person
Compartment: $279 per compartment (up to 6 people)
MOSS VALE EXPRESS
MonDAY 7 SEPTEMBER
ONE-WAY ONLY
Join us on a one-way repositioning journey, departing Canberra and travelling by heritage train through the scenic Southern Tablelands to your choice of Goulburn or Moss Vale.
This is a one-way journey only. To book a return trip to Canberra, visit NSW TrainLink's website.
TIMETABLE
ONE-WAY ONLY
Canberra departs 12.25pm
Goulburn arrives 2.45pm
Moss Vale arrives 4.15pm
FARES
Adult: $80
Senior/Concession: $75
Child (aged 2-17): $45
Open Saloon seating only.
ONBOARD THE TRAIN
From the moment you step on, enjoy a truly premium experience that will transport you straight to the glory days of rail travel.
Open Saloon
Travel in an open saloon car and be part of the action - perfect for individuals, couples or small groups.
Compartment
Travel inside a private compartment for up to six people in our stylish Edwardian-era carriages featuring polished cedar interiors.
About
A Legend of Steam
Locomotive 3801 and its classmates introduced a new era in train travel in New South Wales when they entered service from 1943.
With the 4-6-2 or ‘Pacific’ wheel arrangement, the 38 class were faster and more powerful than their predecessors, and were able to haul more carriages while reducing travel times on express services.
The 38 class were a particularly successful and reliable design. They were popular with railway management, with their drivers and with their firemen, whose work with the shovel was amply rewarded.
The first five were built by Clyde Engineering to a semi-streamlined design. The 25 post-war locomotives in the class, built by the NSWGR at Eveleigh and Cardiff workshops between 1945 and 1949, dispensed with streamlining.
The 38 class engines averaged more than 135,000 km per annum in the early 1950s when they were used exclusively on express services; they were mainly withdrawn and replaced by diesels in the late 1960s.
Our heritage trains were built long before today’s accessibility standards and therefore may present physical limitations compared with modern transport.
Boarding
On some services, boarding can require stepping across a gap and/or up a step between the platform and carriage
Crews can assist passengers when boarding and alighting where possible
Inside the carriage
Most of our heritage trains have narrow doorways and vestibules
Wheelchairs and prams cannot travel onboard the train
Wheelchair-accessible toilets are not available onboard
Mobility aids
Mobility aids must be foldable
They must be stored during the journey
Please advise us at the time of booking so crews can plan assistance
Companion cards and support persons
Companion Card holders may book a concession-priced ticket for their companion if available.
Please note, not all experiences offer concession pricing.
Service animals
Accredited assistance animals are permitted onboard
Pets and companion animals are not permitted
We are committed to assisting passengers wherever possible, however some limitations cannot be removed due to the historic design of the carriages.
