A Long History for the Wagga Engine Club

The Wagga Historic Engine Club Inc began with an idea in 1986 to preserve and display engines of a by-gone era, as a record for the present generation and those to come.

The idea was later expanded to establish a facility to complement the tourist area provided by the Society of Model Engineers and the Museum, at a site on Willans Hill, beside the Botanic Gardens.

In 1989 the State Rail Authority gave permission to remove and relocate the old freight shed at Wagga. The shed was built around 1876 as a freight store and depot.

Over 100 years of soot and ash from steam locomotives had accumulated on the trusses and the iron in the roof… making conditions very dirty.

Most weekends found a group of members toiling at the enormous job ahead of them, demolishing, relocating, stacking it in order and pegging out the site. We began reconstruction of the shed, which measured 50ft wide, by 120ft long. It now has a complete concrete floor, lighting and water contented.

Another shed was built behind the original building, for unrestored engines and to house a 67 KVA diesel power generator for lighting and power.

Yet another shed us under way to join the building together and provide more storage.

Our shed houses many engines, all working; shearing and threshing machines, and all types of stationary engines.

On the 10th December 1995 the Club held its Grand Opening of their new Headquarters, with local dignitaries, and many exhibiting members from surround regional clubs attending. The Mayor was very impressed with out display and promised total support from the City council. The public were arriving in a steady stream on a model train shuttle service, to and from the Botanical Gardens, run by the Wagga Society of Model Engineers.

The historic shed displays it magnificent array of engines to the public on the same days as the Society of Model Engineers run their trains.

It is open from 10am until 4pm and by special arrangement for tourist buses.

The trains will take passengers to a stop near the entrance to the Engine Museum and a short walk from the Tree Chapel area will take you via a tunnel under the road straight to the Museum.

There is access by road and plenty of parking available.