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150 years of rail in the Central Tablelands

$<p>Steam locomotive 3526 ran daytrips from Bathurst as part of the celebration of the arrival of the railway in 1876. Photo courtesy of Chris Watson, Farmpix Photography.</p>\\n$

$<p>Steam locomotive 3526 ran daytrips from Bathurst as part of the celebration of the arrival of the railway in 1876. Photo courtesy of Chris Watson, Farmpix Photography.</p>\\n$

Steam locomotive 3526 ran daytrips from Bathurst as part of the celebration of the arrival of the railway in 1876. Photo courtesy of Chris Watson, Farmpix Photography.

Jonathan Roe

June 12, 2026 • 01:30

PHOTO

Bathurst was the place to be for train enthusiasts over the June long weekend, with our neighbour to the east celebrating 150 years since the arrival of the Main Western Line from Sydney.

It was a weekend of steam-train experiences, with heritage steam locomotive 3526 taking daytrippers to and from Bathurst Station.

Chris Watson of Farmpix took this stunning shot of steam locomotive 3526 between George's Plains and Wimbledon.

Read more about the history rail in this week's Orange City Life (June 11 edition).