To mark this special occasion, the society is organising a day trip to Bathurst, New South Wales, for members and friends.
The ARHS was founded in 1933 with the aim of preserving Australia’s railway heritage and promoting interest in the history of railways. Over the past 90 years, the society has become the largest society dedicated to the history of railways in Australia and their contribution to the social and technological development of the nation.
To celebrate this milestone, the ARHS is organising a special day trip to Bathurst, one of the oldest inland settlements in Australia and an important railway centre. Participants will have the opportunity to visit the Bathurst Rail Museum, the Ben Chifley House and explore the rich history of Bathurst’s railway heritage.
A special heritage train, a 44-Class diesel-hauled train, provided by Lachlan Valley Railway, will be at Bathurst Station from 1.30pm to view or photograph. It will depart Bathurst Station at 1.49pm for Lithgow arriving there at 3.35pm where another great photo opportunity exists.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for members and friends of the ARHS to come together and celebrate our shared passion for railway history,” said James Dalton, Chair of the ARHS. “We’re delighted to be able to mark our 90th anniversary with such a special event.”
The group will depart from Sydney, travelling to Bathurst on the Dubbo XPT. The return journey is a special vintage train provided by the Lachlan Valley Railway, who are based at Cowra and working out of Orange. The trip from Lithgow back to Sydney will be by electric train. Participants will also have the opportunity to enjoy lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
The ARHS would like to thank all of its members and supporters for their contributions over the past 90 years. “Without the dedication and commitment of our members and supporters, the ARHS would not be where it is today,” said Dalton. “We look forward to many more years of sharing Australia’s railway heritage and promoting interest in the history of railways.”
ARHS has over 1,000 members and welcomes new members everyday so they can enjoy a monthly rail history magazine, access to our nationally significant archives and many more member benefits. Anyone can apply, https://arhsnsw.com.au/membership/
