The Hunter Valley Steamfest is one of the major events in the New South Wales steam locomotive season and also one of the major events held in Maitland, in the Hunter Region. Held over two days in April, it is usually attended by steam locomotives from the Canberra Railway Museum, NSW Rail Museum and East Coast Heritage Rail (3801 Ltd) and railmotors from the Rail Motor Society.

History

[[File:3016 at Maitland in April 2017.jpg|thumb| The first Hunter Valley Steamfest was held in April 1986 to commemorate the days of steam, three years after steam operations on the South Maitland Railway ceased. In 2017, Steamfest attracted 50,000 visitors. The 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2022 event was cancelled due to flooding at Maitland.

Locomotives

Hunter Valley Steamfest has seen different locomotives from over six different preservation organisations within New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, including one from the United Kingdom. This list contains the locomotives that have attended the Hunter Valley Steamfest: South Maitland Railway Richmond Vale Railway Ex New South Wales Government Railways Ex British Railways Ex Victorian Railways

Excursions

During the Steamfest, trips to Broadmeadow, Branxton, Singleton, Paterson, Dungog and Newcastle Interchange have been operated by steam and/or preserved rail motors. The Sunday Barrington Bullet used to travel to Dungog, then to Stroud Road loop and return. In 2015, a new trip to Port Waratah, using the balloon loop there, was introduced. A trip to and round the colliery loading balloon loop at Camberwell had been added by 2023. In the early years of the festival, steam hauled charters brought passengers to the event but this is no longer the case with the locomotives and rolling stock moving to the festival empty. In 1986 two trips from Sydney Central and another from Blacktown operated. In recent years passengers have able to travel on the stock movement from Picton to Maitland, albeit on the Friday before and Monday after the festival.

The Great Train Race

One of the excursions involves a race between one or more steam locomotives and one or more de Havilland Tiger Moths. In 2010, a triple parallel of 3265, 3642 and 3526 was organised taking months of planning. The locomotives raced against three Tiger Moths and winner of the race was the oldest locomotive in the race, 3265. A Tiger Moth eventually won the race for the first time in 2012. In 2016, the race was between four trains and four Tiger Moths. In 2023, the quadruple parallel run was held again to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Steamfest.

Related events

In 2004, Hunter Valley Steamfest received its own ground at the intersection of Church Street and the New England Highway adjacent to Maitland station. The ground is called Maitland Steamfest Rally Ground and is managed by Maitland Steam and Antique Machinery Association. Steam traction engines and portable steam appliances are stored, maintained and refurbished by volunteers on site. Traction engines are also run onsite and driven on local roads in the Maitland area. Events and displays provided by the association have included traction engines, portable steam appliances and equipment, road steam equipment, mini train rides (provided by the Lake Macquarie Live Steam group), vintage machinery, interpretive tours and static displays. Maitland Steam and Antique Machinery Association also provide event management and catering at Hunter Valley Steamfest and other events hosted at the Maitland Steamfest Rally Ground including Maitland Motor Heritage and Steam Fair and the Annual Postie Bike Rally. Maitland Park plays host for the "Show 'n Shine car expo" where hundreds of vintage, veteran and classic cars are on display. The car expo is held on the Sunday during Steamfest. As part of Steamfest, the Richmond Vale Railway Museum south of Kurri Kurri used to be (but no longer is) open to the public with tours provided on the museum's own operational steam locomotive and with other steam related machines on site.