Our History

Railway History Australia - Richmond Vale Railway Museum History Hunter Valley

  • 1857 – The first section of the Minmi – Hexham Railway opens between Hexham and Minmi.
  • 1888 – Shaft sinking at Richmond Vale Colliery commences.
  • 1890-95 – Unsuccessful attempts to refinance the colliery.
  • 1897 – Richmond Vale Colliery purchased by J & A Brown.
  • 1904-05 – Extension of the railway from Minmi Junction to Pelaw Main and Richmond Main.
  • 1910 – Development work commences at the colliery
  • 1911 – Colliery renamed to Richmond Main.
  • 1912 – Power station constructed on site to power Pelaw Main and Richmond Main
  • 1914 – Coal production commences at Richmond Main Colliery from the Homeville seam.
  • 1922 – The direct passenger line between Pelaw Main and Richmond Main opens.
  • 1926 – Richmond Main Colliery sets the record of 3,482 tons wound up a single shaft in one 8-hour shift, which still stands today.
  • 1928 – Peak annual production of 507 000 tons
  • April 1959 – Direct passenger service between Pelaw Main and Richmond Main ceases operation.
  • 7 July 1967 – Richmond Main Colliery ceases production
  • 28 July 1967 – Last shipment of coal over the Richmond Vale Railway. All coal had been moved from Richmond Main prior to this date. The railway kept working from Pelaw Main Depot until 28 July 1967 serving Stockrington No. 2 Colliery until final transfer to Hexham of last 3 operating locomotives. Locomotives other than No. 19 went direct to Hexham, followed by No. 19 at 2 pm
  • 1976 – Richmond Main Power Station ceases operation.
    Cessnock City Council acquires the site to prevent complete demolition and clearing.
  • 1979 – Richmond Vale Preservation Co-operative Society Ltd formed.
  • Mid-1979 – Site clearing by volunteers commenced.
  • 1980 – Society registered as a cooperative. Restoration of track underway.
  • 1984 – Limited diesel-hauled passenger operations recommenced.
  • 1986 – Locomotive Marjorie commences steam-hauled operation.
  • 1988 – Four SMR 10-class locomotives gifted to the museum by Coal and Allied Industries.
  • 1988 – New carriage shed constructed by the Society. Entry building constructed by Cessnock City Council.
  • 1991 – Passenger operations resume between Richmond Main and Pelaw Main.
  • 1997 – Locomotive service bay constructed adjacent to the loco shed.
  • 1999 – Richmond Main Colliery listed on the State Heritage Register.
  • 2015 – Miniature railway purchased for operation at the museum site.
  • 2017 – Locomotive ROD23 placed on display in its World War 1 livery.
  • 2017 – Gifting of ROD23 and Kitson tank locomotives 9 and 10 formalised by Coal and Allied Industries.
  • September 13 2017 – Richmond Vale bushfire inflicts serious damage on the site and unrestored rollingstock exhibits. Rail services suspended.
  • March 3 2018 – Rail services resume.