ON April 5, 1872 the first train steamed into a small town at the end of the Upper Hunter – then known as Haydonton.
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It was the head of the ‘Great Northern Railway’ and the gateway to the fertile Liverpool Plains, however due to the forbidding Liverpool Range, a tunnel had to be built.
This took years, and as a result the town became a hive of activity and an important transport centre.
Now, thanks to the Murrurundi Rotary Club and as a small way to celebrate the town’s railway history, locals enjoy an annual weekend of train related activities.
The Murrurundi Model Train festival, now in it’s third year, has grown in popularity to become a much loved event.
And this weekend was no different, with train enthusiasts rolling in to enjoy the two-day festival on October 21 and 22.
The town was alive with superbly detailed model train layouts, minature steam train rides, helicopters, stalls and more.
Among the visitors, were brothers Colin and Alastair McMaster from Newcastle showcasing their model train display ‘The Yard’.
“It’s a hobby for us and something we love – we hear of different festivals through word of mouth and have travelled to Newcastle, Canberra, Thornleigh and Sydney,” Colin McMaster said.
“Murrurundi Rotary Club have kindly provided us visitors with our accomodation for the whole weekend.
“They’ve been fanatstic and we are hoping to return next year.”