After the closure of Richmond Main Power Station in 1976, Cessnock City Council acquired the abandoned Richmond Main Colliery together with 40 acres (16.2 ha) surrounding the buildings from Coal & Allied.[1]
In 1979 the newly formed Richmond Vale Preservation Co-operative Society assumed the responsibility for the railway, leaving the development of Richmond Main Park and Mining Museum to be done independently.
Operations
The museum is opened on the first three Sundays of each month and every Sunday during school holidays, and the site consists of the following features:
Richmond Vale Office
Museum Display
Mining Equipment
Railway Locomotives and Rolling Stock
former passenger line from Richmond Main Colliery to Pelaw Main Colliery Line.
The museum also operates a small number of ex-industrial diesels, and owns a wide variety of ex-New South Wales Government Railways and ex-industrial rollingstock.
A 1923 Cadillac motor car was converted in 1937–8 to run on rails and its body was altered to carry more passengers. It was then operated as a passenger carrying vehicle for J & A Brown & Abermain Seaham Collieries company officials throughout the Richmond Vale Railway system until 1949. It subsequently saw service with the Sydney Tramway Museum in the Royal National Park, from 1964 until 1972 and is now undergoing restoration at Richmond Vale Railway Museum.
2017 Fire
Following a fire on 13 September 2017, the museum was closed,[3][4] with the following losses.:[5][6]
3 stainless steel passenger cars
10 of 16 restored non-air coal hoppers and almost all non-restored wagons
All of the unrestored general freight vehicles
Approximately 2.5 kilometres of track
Damage to number 1 bridge on the link line to Pelaw Main.
The museum reopened to limited rail operation on 4 March 2018 and is gradually restoring damaged track to trafficable condition, with shuttle train services available over restored track. Other elements of the museum's operations remain available on open days as before the fire.