The museum site is located on a historic rail corridor that was once central to the Midland Railway Company operations.
The collection includes the 'Koombana,' one of the most significant steam locomotives in the state's history.
Many of the exhibits are maintained by volunteer crews who actively restore vintage machinery on-site.
The museum holds rare examples of early Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) rolling stock.
Several carriages on display have been restored to reflect the specific interior configurations of 19th and early 20th-century travel.
The Railway Museum in Bassendean is the primary heritage site managed by Rail Heritage WA, dedicated to preserving Western Australia's locomotive and rolling stock history. The facility houses an extensive collection of steam, diesel, and electric locomotives alongside historic carriages and freight wagons. Visitors can explore various indoor and outdoor display sheds that chronicle the evolution of the state's rail network. The collection includes significant pieces of regional infrastructure and archival artifacts that provide context to the social impact of railways in WA. The museum functions as a repository for technical rail history, displaying items ranging from signaling equipment to passenger amenities.
The wide-angle perspective between the rows of preserved steam locomotives in the main outdoor yard.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the museum spans both indoor galleries and large gravel-surfaced outdoor yards.
Check the website before arrival for special 'steaming days' when volunteer-operated equipment may be active.
Bring a hat and sunscreen, as significant portions of the locomotive collection are kept in open-air or semi-covered areas.
Trying to view the entire collection in less than an hour, as the sheer volume of locomotives requires significant transit time between sheds.
Generally open to the public on weekends and public holidays; check the official calendar for occasional mid-week group booking closures.
Avoid climbing on equipment unless explicitly marked as accessible; do not touch sensitive mechanical displays.
