Since the birth of the Illawarra Light railway Museum society in February 1972, our group has been committed to preserving an important part of Australia’s steam and diesel locomotive history. As early as 1974, our dedicated band of volunteers established a permanent site for our Museum on what is still our home today, Tongarra Road Albion Park. Over the years, we’ve purchased and restored an historically significant station, laid over 520 metres of narrow gauge track - a track that was almost exclusively used in Australia - and restored a number of steam and diesel locomotives that had once seen active service in places as far and wide as Melbourne to far North Queensland.
My Big reasons are:
Even now some 38 years later, there’s still a mountain of work to be done. That’s why our plan is to extend the existing track that is already in place at our museum to include a new section that will link our park to the local airfield, site of the annual ‘Wings Over the Illawarra’ airshow. Doing this will provide a real boost to tourism in our region and give more Australians the chance to experience a part of our history that has all but disappeared.
My plan will be a success when:
We are looking to approach this ambitious project in 2 stages. Stage 1 will see us aim to construct 350 metres of new track from our present home to the perimeter of the adjoining airfield.
Stage 2 will involve the extension of those tracks close to the main hangars of the airfield. Completing this 2 stage journey will allow visitors to ride our historic locomotives through the beautiful natural bush that abounds in the Illawarra and deposit them close to the heart of all the action at the hangers at the airfield.
When all this comes together and more visitors than ever ride our rails, that’s when our plan will be a success.
