Newport Railway Museum
Railway museum in Newport, Victoria
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The Newport Railway Museum is located on Champion Road, Newport, Victoria, near the North Williamstown station.
Steam locomotive E 236 and electric suburban carriage 8M on display at the museum, 2023 | |
 | |
| Established | 10 November 1962 |
|---|---|
| Location | 26 Champion Road, Newport, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 37°51′22″S 144°53′12″E |
| Type | Railway museum |
| Website | Official Site |
History
The museum opened on 10 November 1962, after the Australian Railway Historical Society (ARHS) Victorian Division was allocated space at Newport Workshops by the Victorian Railways to develop a collection of key examples of steam locomotives that were then in the process of being replaced by diesel and electric locomotives. By the late 1980s, the early diesel and electric locomotives that had replaced steam traction were themselves nearing end of life, and the museum expanded its collection to incorporate a number of key examples.[1]
Following a safety audit by VicTrack, the landlord and owner of most of the exhibits, the museum closed in February 2010.[2] After various improvements, it reopened in March 2014.
On 16 June 2020, it was announced that the ARHS had withdrawn from the operation of the museum and a new group, Newport Railway Museum Inc., formed by museum volunteers, had entered into an arrangement with VicTrack to take over the Museum site lease.[3][4]
Site improvements
In recent years, projects have been undertaken to construct roof canopies to cover the exhibits and protect the collection from the elements.
- In 2016, a project was announced to construct a 693 m2 (7,460 sq ft) roof canopy over four wooden passenger carriages and three of the oldest steam locomotives on the site;[5] this project was completed in 2017.
- In 2019, the Victorian Government announced a project to construct a roof canopy to protect the heritage-listed locomotive H220 Heavy Harry.[6] A 1,134 m2 (12,210 sq ft) structure that covered H220 and several adjacent exhibits was completed in 2020. In announcing the completion of the second roof canopy, Newport Railway Museum stated its intention to continue to construct further roofing over remaining exhibits to ensure their preservation.[7]
- In late 2023, the second canopy was further extended by 567 square metres (6,100 sq ft) to bring several additional exhibits under cover, including steam locomotive C10, the last-remaining member of a class the museum describes as representative of a step change in the haulage of freight in Australia.[8][9]
- In 2025, the museum announced the expansion of its site to take in additional land for future expansion of the collection. Two objects of cultural significance, the Newport Workshops war memorial and a 1/3 scale model of Victoria's first main line diesel-electric locomotive B60, would be accessible to the general public as a result of the expansion.[10]
Opening hours
The museum's regular opening hours are between 12 noon and 5 pm on Saturdays, and the third Sunday of each month between 12 noon and 5 pm. During school holiday periods, the museum opens on both Saturdays and all Sundays, between 12 noon and 5 pm.[11]
Collection
The museum contains the largest existing collection of Victorian Railways steam locomotives, a wide range of other Victorian Railways rolling stock, and numerous Victorian Railways artefacts. The collection includes:[12]
- seventeen steam locomotives
- eight diesel locomotives
- three electric locomotives and four electric suburban carriages
- five country/interstate passenger carriages
- ten freight wagons and two guards vans
- five railway cranes
- rail tractors and postal trolleys
- a signal box
- an O scale model railway
Steam locomotives
More information Built as 
...
...| Number | Image | Type | Year built | Builder | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F 176 |  | F class (Steam) | 1880 | Phoenix Foundry | Canadian Red | |
| T 94 |  | T class (Steam) | 1884 | Phoenix Foundry | Two-tone green | Built as T 265. Renumbered as T 94 in 1924. Modified with flangeless wheels and coupled to W Class tender |
| Y 108 |  | Y class (Steam) | 1889 | Phoenix Foundry | Two-tone green | Built as Y 395. Renumbered as Y 412 in 1924. Renumbered as Y 108 in 1951 |
| E 369 |  | EE class (Steam) | 1892 | David Munro | Black | Built as E 494. Rebuilt as an 0-6-2T and renumbered as EE 494 in 1919. Renumbered as EE 369 in 1923. Renumbered as E 369 in 1931 |
| 236 |  | E class (Steam) | 1893 | David Munro | Two-tone green | Built as E 506. Unclassed and renumbered as 236 in 1923 |
| D4 268 |  | D4 class (Steam) | 1910 | Newport Workshops | Canadian Red | Built as 790. Renumbered 268 in 1923. Renumbered as D4 369 |
| D2 604 |  | D2 class (Steam) | 1912 | Beyer, Peacock and Company | Canadian Red with blue lining | Built as DD 557. Renumbered DD 580 in 1925. Renumbered DD 795 in 1926. Renumbered D2 795 in 1929. Renumbered D2 604 in 1951 |
| D3 635 |  | D3 class (Steam) | 1912 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | Black with red lining | built as DD 597. Renumbered D1 597 in 1930. Renumbered D3 635 in 1939 |
| A2 884 |  | A2 class (Steam) | 1913 | Newport Workshops | Canadian Red | Built as A2 848. Renumbered A2 884 in 1929. Last remaining example of original 125 A2 locomotives built with Stephenson valve gear |
| A2 995 |  | A2 class (Steam) | 1916 | Newport Workshops | Canadian Red | Example of later 60 A2 locomotives built with Walschaerts valve gear |
| C 10 |  | C class (Steam) | 1922 | Newport Workshops | Black | |
| X 36 / Gerald A Dee |  | X class (Steam) | 1929 | Newport Workshops | Black | |
| H 220 / Heavy Harry |  | H class (Steam) | 1941 | Newport Workshops | Black | |
| K 165 |  | K class (Steam) | 1941 | Newport Workshops | Black | |
| N 432 |  | N class (Steam) | 1951 | Newport Workshops | Jubilee Train - Green and gold | Last steam locomotive built by VR's Newport Workshops. Its green and gold livery was applied to N 430 for the 1951 Centenary-Jubilee train |
| R 704 |  | R class (Steam) | 1952 | North British Locomotive Company | Black with red lining | Was displayed at the Festival of Britain in 1951 and retained its commemorative plaques |
| J 556 |  | J class (Steam) | 1954 | Vulcan Foundry | Black with red lining | Wears the historically significant plates of scrapped J559, the last steam locomotive to enter service on the VR |
Diesel locomotives
| Number / Name | Image | Type | Year built | Builder | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F 216 / SEC 2 |  | F class (Diesel-electric) | 1952 | Dick, Kerr & Co. | SEC green | Renumbered back to SEC 2 |
| F 211 / Little Trimmer |  | F class (Diesel-electric) | 1953 | Dick, Kerr & Co. | V/Line Orange & Grey | Was SEC 3 |
| B 83 |  | B class (Diesel-electric) | 1953 | Clyde Engineering | VR Blue and gold | |
| S 308 |  | S class (Diesel-electric) | 1958 | Clyde Engineering | V/Line Orange & Grey | |
| V 56 |  | V class (Diesel-hydraulic) | 1959 | Newport Workshops | The Met (Trefoil logo) | |
| W 243 |  | W class (Diesel-hydraulic) | 1960 | Tulloch Limited | VR Blue and gold | |
| W 255 |  | W class (Diesel-hydraulic) | 1960 | Tulloch Limited | VR Blue and gold | |
| T 367 |  | T class (Diesel-electric) | 1964 | Clyde Engineering | V/Line Orange & Grey | |
| Y 137 |  | Y class (Diesel-electric) | 1965 | Clyde Engineering | V/Line Orange & Grey |
Electric rollingstock
| Number / Name | Image | Type | Year built | Builder | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8M |  | Swing Door motor | 1888 | Newport Workshops | Heritage red | |
| E 1102 |  | E class (electric) | 1928 | Newport Workshops | Black | |
| L 1150 / R G Wishart |  | L class (electric) | 1953 | English Electric | VR Blue and gold | Ran the |
| 795M |  | Harris motor | 1968 | Newport Workshops | VR Blue and gold | |
| 187M |  | Hitachi motor | 1980 | Martin & King | Steel | |
| 903M |  | Refurbished Harris motor | 1983 | Comeng | The Met (Trefoil logo) | Converted from Harris 744M |
Passenger carriages
| Number / Name | Image | Type | Year built | Builder | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 136 AB |  | AB 1st / 2nd Class | c.1886 | Red | Body only, resting on a steel frame which was fitted in 2023 | |
| 11 AA |  | AA 1st Class | 1880 | Wright & Edwards | Red | Formerly a display car, not accessible to the public |
| Norman |  | Inspection Car | 1890 | Newport Workshops | Red | Display car |
| Torrens |  | Sleeping Car | 1907 | Newport Workshops | Overland - Dark green | |
| Wimmera |  | Medical & Vision Test Car | 1908 | Newport Workshops | VR Blue and gold | |
| VRS 231 / Mitta Mitta |  | VRS Refreshment Car | 1939 | Newport Workshops | V/Line Mk II | Birthday car |
Vans
| Number | Image | Type | Year built | Builder | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZL 220 |  | ZL Guards Van (Long Shank) | 1875 | Red | Built as D 45. Renumbered as Z 45 in c.1910. Renumbered as Z 220 in 1954. Renumbered as ZL 220 in 1960 | |
| ZLP 25 |  | ZLP Freight / Pass Van | 1962 | Newport Workshops | Red | Built as ZF 25. Renumbered as ZLP 25 in 1965 |
| VVEY 1 | VVEY Modular Cabin Van | 1980 | Newport Workshops | White | Built as ZMF 1. Renumbered VVEY 1 in 1983. Body on ground | |
| VVEY 10 |  | VVEY Modular Cabin Van | 1982 | Newport Workshops | White | Built as ZMF 10. Renumbered VVEY 10. Body on ground |
Freight wagons
| Number | Image | Type | Year built | Builder | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IB 5452 |  | IB Open Wagon | 1890 | Lennon, H., Spottiswoode | Red | Built as I 5452. Renumbered as IB 5452 in c.1929. Renumbered as HD 5452 in c.1960. Renumbered as IB 5452 in c.1968 |
| H 925 |  | H Fixed Wheel Produce Van | 1893 | Newport Workshops | Red | |
| H 958 |  | H Fixed Wheel Produce Van | 1897 | Newport Workshops | Red | |
| KR 169 | KR Rail Transporter | 1905 | Red | Built as I 7460. Renumbered as IA 7460 in c.1935. Renumbered as KR 169 in 1959 | ||
| UB 56 |  | UB Louvre Van | 1916 | Newport Workshops | Red | Built as U 855. Renumbered as UB 56 in 1934. Renumbered as VLAA 56 in 1981 |
| KR 307 |  | KR Rail Transporter | 1917 | Newport Workshops | Red | Built as I 14911. Renumbered as KR 307 in 1968 |
| No. 15 Oil Tank |  | OT Oil Tank | 1924 | Newport Workshops | BP - Black with yellow stripe | |
| RY 600 |  | RY Open Wagon | 1931 | Newport Workshops | Red | Built as IZ 600. Renumbered as RY 600 in 1965 |
| VLBY 114 |  | VLBY Louvre Van | 1954 | Newport Workshops | VR Red | Built as VP 114. Renumbered as VLPY 114 in 1980. Renumbered as VLBY 114 in 1983 |
| VLX 334 |  | 1964 - VLX Louvre Van | 1966 | Newport Workshops | Red | Built as VLX 334. Renumbered VLCX 334 in 1979 |
| HZL 211 |  | HZL Loco Bogie Transport | Red |
Other items
| Number | Image | Type | Year built | Builder | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RT 1 |  | Rail Tractor | 1932 | Newport Workshops | Red | |
 | Ex Geelong Loco Hand Crane | |||||
| No 2 Steam Crane | ![](#/media/File:Victoria_Railways_5'3"_gauge_0-6-0CT_crane_tank_No.2_-_28418392975.jpg) | Steam crane | 1890 | Dubs & Company | Black | |
| No 19 Steam Crane |  | Steam crane | 1942 | Newport Workshops | Black | |
| No 19 Crane Tender |  | Crane tender | Red | |||
| No 36 Steam Crane |  | Steam crane | Black | |||
| No 73 Hand Crane |  | Hand crane | Green, yellow and black | |||
| SEC 37 |  | SEC electric loco | ||||
| Coal Hopper 637 |  | SEC coal hopper | White and yellow | |||
| Mary the Match Truck |  | Wagon | Red | Was used with Crane No 36 at Spotswood | ||
| Postal motor trolley | Yellow | |||||
| Way & works trollies | Yellow | 2 trollies | ||||
| Cordite trucks | Yellow | 2 trucks |
Gallery
X36
N432
C10
H220 with A2884
A2995
J556
Railway artefacts
Harris-type suburban car
Modified Harris suburban car ("Grey Ghost")
V56
B83
Overview of several locomotives at the Newport Railway Museum
