A restored World War I locomotive was unveiled at Richmond Vale Railway Museum on Saturday as part of the museum’s annual Coalfields Steam celebrations.
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The locomotive was built in April 1918 and was used in France at end of the Great War, and was later used to link the mines of the Kurri Kurri district with the coal loaders at Hexham.
It has taken three painstaking years, $15,000 and 18 pairs of hands to bring the historic locomotive back to life.
Saturday’s event was held not only to showcase the work that had been carried out but to also signify the loco’s wartime service.
Retired drivers, firemen, sponsors including entrepreneur Dick Smith who arrived in his helicopter, and members of the public braved wet and miserable conditions for the event.
“It has been such a rewarding project. To get it to this point is fantastic,” said Richmond Vale Railway Museum Director Graham Harper .
Richmond Vale Railway Museum is home to eight steam locomotives and several diesel locomotives.
Coalfields Steam will continue on Sunday and Monday.
