18m 11s | 868 view | 18 rating

Also featuring 2705, 3016, 3237, 3265 and 3642. Every year, the small town of Thirlmere in the NSW Southern Highlands transforms into the Australia's largest rail heritage festival. In conjunction with the event, the ARHS Canberra operated the inaugural run of recently-restored locomotive 6029, the largest operational steam locomotive in the Southern Hemisphere. Also operating over the weekend were the "Thirlmere Flyer" from Sydney and return, and trains along the loop line, operated by steam locomotives 2705, 3016, 3237, 3265, 3642 and 6029. The Festival of Steam is held annually in March. The special trains were operated by Heritage Express. Thirlmere Festival of Steam: http://www.thirlmerefestivalofsteam.com/ Heritage Express: http://www.heritageexpress.com.au/ 0:00 - 6029 runs its inaugural mainline tour through Picton en route for Thirlmere. It is assisted by HL203 and 4403. 0:36 - HL203 and 4403 ease the train up the loop line into Thirlmere with 6029 on the rear. 1:50 - 2705 and 3016 arrive from Buxton with a Loop Line shuttle train and run around their train in the station. 2:21 - 3016 and 2705 steam through the southern gates of Trainworks with a Loop Line shuttle train to Buxton. 2:59 - 3237 hauls the "Thirlmere Flyer" from Sydney up the line into Thirlmere. 4:30 - 3237 runs around the train and shunts it into Trainworks. 6:16 - 3016 and 3642 stand outside the southern gates to Trainworks. 3642 will be attached to the return "Thirlmere Flyer". 7:04 - 2705 runs through Couridjah Station with a Buxton shuttle. 7:49 - 3642 assembles the returning "Thirlmere Flyer" and departs for Sydney. 11:09 - 3016 leads the ARHS train out of Thirlmere. 4403 is on the rear and will haul the train from Picton. 12:20 - 3265 and 3016 pull into Thirlmere on a returning Buxton train. 13:10 - 3016 and 3265 lead the Buxton train through a cutting just north of Couridjah Station. 13:34 - 6029, attached at Picton, and 3642 lead the "Thirlmere Flyer" towards Thirlmere. 14:53 - 3237 and 6029 depart Thirlmere with a shuttle train to Picton. 15:42 - The shuttle train returns with 6029 on the front and 3237 on the rear. The train comes to a halt while waiting for the road into Thirlmere to clear.