Western Australian Rail Transport Museum

The Western Australian Rail Transport Museum in Bassendean displays locomotives, carriages, and railway equipment spread across outdoor tracks and several exhibition halls. Inside, you can find detailed models, mechanical components, signaling systems, and railway memorabilia that show how trains operated and were maintained throughout the region's history.

The collection began in the 1960s when the state railway decided to preserve aging locomotives and carriages before they could be scrapped. The museum itself opened in 1974 on donated land, creating a home for these vehicles and establishing a permanent place to study the region's rail story.

The museum tells the story of rail travel in Western Australia through the eyes of passengers and workers who used these trains daily. Visitors can explore how railways shaped communities and changed the way people moved around the region over generations.

The site is easy to reach with plenty of parking and clearly marked paths through the exhibition areas. Wear comfortable shoes since parts of the museum are outdoors and you will need to climb stairs to enter some of the historic vehicles.

The entrance building was originally an apprentice training room for railway workers and was redesigned to look like a historic station. This creative reuse sets the mood as soon as you walk onto the grounds and helps you step back into the world of rail travel.