Locomotive 3801 will return to the heart of Sydney this October long weekend as Central Station hosts the annual Transport Heritage Expo, with more than 15,000 visitors expected across three days.
More than 8,000 tickets have already been sold for the event, which runs from Saturday 3 to Monday 5 October 2026, making this the strongest pre-sale result in the Expo’s history.
The Transport Heritage Expo will transform Central Station into a hub of heritage activity, with steam, diesel and electric train rides operating across Sydney alongside vintage bus rides, harbour cruises, heritage displays and special experiences.
Among the headline attractions will be one-hour steam journeys behind legendary NSW locomotive 3801, the Great Train Race, a new twilight double-header steam journey, and a farewell to Sydney’s remaining K Set suburban trains.
Visitors can also cruise Sydney Harbour aboard historic steam vessels, travel through Sydney aboard vintage electric and diesel trains, enjoy high tea inside a 1960s Southern Aurora dining carriage, and explore displays and activities throughout Central Station.
Transport Heritage NSW CEO Andrew Moritz said the Expo had become one of Sydney’s major annual heritage events.
“The Transport Heritage Expo is a unique opportunity to bring more than a century of NSW transport history to life, right in the heart of Sydney at Central Station,” Mr Moritz said.
“This year’s response has been extraordinary. We’ve already sold around 8,000 tickets – our strongest pre-sales to date – and we expect more than 15,000 visitors across the October long weekend, with thousands more taking part in the free activities throughout Central.”
Transport Heritage Expo 2026 highlights include:
- 3801 and steam train experiences Australia’s most famous steam locomotive, 3801, will operate one-hour return journeys from Central to Hurstville, alongside express passenger locomotive 3526. The weekend will also feature the popular Great Train Race and, for the first time, a twilight journey to Sutherland with 3801 and 3526 operating together in double-header.
- Heritage train journeys across Sydney Travel behind a vintage diesel locomotive along the rarely travelled Botany freight line, explore Sydney’s northern suburbs aboard a heritage railmotor, or ride through the underground and across the Sydney Harbour Bridge aboard a 1970s silver electric train bound for Lavender Bay.
- Farewell to Sydney’s K Sets On Monday 5 October, two special journeys will mark the final farewell to the K Set trains after more than four decades of service on Sydney’s suburban rail network.
- Vintage double-decker bus rides Take a 30-minute trip through the Sydney CBD aboard a restored Sydney double-decker bus operated by the Sydney Bus Museum.
- Sydney Harbour heritage cruises Cruise Sydney Harbour aboard the historic steam vessels Waratah or Lady Hopetoun, both more than 120 years old, or take a longer harbour experience aboard Australia’s oldest operational tall ship, James Craig.
- Central Station and South Eveleigh tours – sold out Special tours of Central Station’s landmark clock tower and the industrial heritage of South Eveleigh have already sold out.
- High tea aboard the Southern Aurora Step inside two preserved 1960s Southern Aurora dining cars for high tea presented in partnership with the Hydro Majestic, with a choice of traditional or Asian-inspired menus.
- Locomotive cab visits, displays and live entertainment Climb into the cab of steam locomotive 3265 or a modern Pacific National diesel locomotive, explore heritage carriages and electric trains on display, and enjoy live entertainment while heritage trains arrive and depart Central throughout the weekend.
The Transport Heritage Expo runs from Saturday 3 to Monday 5 October 2026 at Sydney’s Central Station.
Tickets and program information are available at transportheritageexpo.com or by calling 1300 11 55 99.
