Tailem Bend Railways Station & Museum
Before visiting Old Tailem Town to
write about it recently, I decided to call in to the Visitor Information Centre and get tourist information for the area.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Visitor Information Centre is actually located in the original Tailem Bend Railway Station.
The railway station is in excellent condition, having been carefully and authentically restored by volunteers in 2005.
Given that the station will celebrate its centenary this year, the local people have done a splendid job of capitalising on this quirky building which has been the hub of the town for so long.
Plentiful Tourist Information for the Region
The restored building is now a comprehensive Visitor Information Centre staffed by volunteers, with the added convenience of a free internet hotspot powered by Internode.
Nearby one of the original railway steam engines that entered service in 1913 is on display in a well maintained park.
On entering the building I discovered that it also houses a railway museum with a fascinating range of rail memorabilia that would bring tears to the eyes of a true trainspotter. Clean and carefully curated displays are plentiful.
Signal Cabin Levers
The original signal cabin levers are still in place, looking ready to swing into action even now if needed.
Photograph of an Early Steam Engine
Hand Written Ticket Sales Records from 1981
The building is positively packed with exhibits with photographs of old trains and hand written records of station activities over the years.
Arcane Railway Equipment
A helpful volunteer showed us around old telephones, and arcane equipment that only a railway buff would understand.
The Railway Museum and its Train Memorabilia
Unfortunately the Overland train no longer stops at Tailem Bend, so for safety reasons the platform is fenced off where the train charges through.
Platform Side of Tailem Bend Station
But this station (and its companion RX 201 steam engine) soldiers on towards their centenary in October. The town is already planning the celebrations, and
a website is now under development.
RX 201 Steam Engine
Many people will look forward to the historic anniversary, coincidentally the same year the National Railway Museum
celebrates its 50th anniversary.
The fact that the Tailem Bend Railway Station is now enjoying a second life, and a new purpose is good news for rail enthusiasts and the town itself.
Here's to the next 100 years!
