Latest News: All trains operating normally
Welcome to
Bennett Brook
Railway.
…LOCATED IN WHITEMAN PARK, 16KM FROM THE CITY OF PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Bennett Book Railway is proudly owned and operated by members of the Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association Inc. The Association was formed on the 26th of April 1976 by a group of friends who shared an interest in the lesser known narrow gauge railways of Western Australia. Construction of the Bennett Brook Railway was started in the early 1980’s.
Starting from small beginnings in a member’s backyard, the railway has evolved to a fully fledged railway operation based in Whiteman Park. Today it encompasses relocated heritage railway infrastructure using heritage locomotives and carriages from all over Australia and the world.
We aim to preserve Western Australian railway heritage and to provide a unique railway experience through the bushland of Whiteman Park..
Whiteman Park
Located just 16 km from the city of Perth, Western Australia. Whiteman Park is open to the Public 7 days a week.
Museum
Australian Bushland
Volunteers
All our Train Crew are friendly Volunteers, happy to tell you a bit about the trains! Contact us today to find out how you could volunteer too.
Next Ashley Day: 26th of May 2024.
A GREAT DAY OUT FOR THE KIDS
Ashley and his friends have returned to the rails of Whiteman Park! Join his friends of Bennett Brook Railway who will haul trains all day for the Train Controller.
Tickets can be booked here.
All tickets are pre sale only, no on the day sales.
Due to the frequent change of circumstances we reserve the right to cancel this event and will offer a full refund if this is the case.
Hire your very own party coach for your child’s birthday! Just $200.00 incl. GST
Includes rides for up to 24 children & 10 Adults pre-paid*
*Extra Adults rides $5.00 each and Children (4-14) rides $2.00, under 4 is free
The Party Coach will be parked on “Platform 3” at our beautifully restored Whiteman Village Junction Station Buildings.
Use the station as your base whilst you take unlimited rides on the service train!
We supply a special ramp to cover the gap to the platform and safety latches on all doors.
The platform area around the coach has been securely fenced for your children’s safety.
Use the station as your base – Microwave, pie warmer, large 4 Burner BBQ, Kettle and Fridge, Tea, Coffee, Sugar and Foam cups provided. All you need is milk. Tables and chairs are available.
* Station Facilities available from 11am to 3.30 pm
Enquiries and Bookings, phone Bob & Jan on 0438 734 575.
Please note that the Party Coach is not available for hire during January and February
During summer and on rare other occasions Bennett Brook Railway is bound by Whiteman Park Regulations to cease movement of any train due to extreme hot weather or severe winds which place the park at bushfire risk. Should the trains be cancelled, then it will be necessary to cancel Party Coach Bookings. We will do all within our power to notify Party Coach Patrons as early as possible of this cancellation.
Should cancellations occur full refund of monies paid will be expedited.
School Holidays
Visit Bennett Brook Railway next school holidays! We have trains running weekdays 11am-3pm and weekends 11am-4pm*
There is so much to do in Whiteman Park, check their website for information about activities held by the park each day:
https://www.whitemanpark.com.au/whats-on/
*During summer and on rare other occasions Bennett Brook Railway is bound by Whiteman Park Regulations to cease movement of any train due to extreme hot weather or severe winds which place the park at bushfire risk. Should the trains be cancelled, then it will be necessary to cancel Party Coach Bookings. We will do all within our power to notify Party Coach Patrons as early as possible of this cancellation.
Should cancellations occur full refund of monies paid will be expedited.
Group Bookings
If you are having an event such as a work party or family re-union at Whiteman Park for a group of 20 or more fee paying customers, have you thought about hiring a shelter and arranging a group booking for a train ride on the Bennett Brook Railway as part of your day?
Shelter Bookings are available from Whiteman Park Administration by calling 9249 6000 or check their website for more details.
A pre-arranged group booking for 20 or more on the Bennett Brook Railway offer considerable savings.
| Ticket Prices For | Group Fare Per Person | Normal Fare |
|---|---|---|
|
Adult |
$5.00 |
$10.00 |
|
Child (4-14) |
$2.50 |
$5.00 |
|
Toddlers (Under 4) |
Free |
Free |
Note: These prices are only available for pre-purchased group bookings. Prices valid from 30th September, 2020.
Bookings and Pre-payment can be arranged by calling our booking office on 0438 734 575. Credit/debit card payments are preferred. Our booking staff will arrange for special tickets to be forwarded to you for distribution to your group members.
During summer and on rare other occasions Bennett Brook Railway is bound by Whiteman Park Regulations to cease movement of any train due to extreme hot weather or severe winds which place the park at bushfire risk.
Should cancellations occur full refund of monies pre-paid will be expedited.
Volunteering entitles you to many benefits and opportunities to join like minded volunteers as train staff and maintenance workers:
- Opportunities to become a steam train Driver or Fireman
- Opportunities to become a diesel locomotive Driver
- Train and station staff (Guards, Station Masters, Signalmen, Customer Service etc.)
- A subscription to the newsletter
- Chances to learn new skills and to learn more about railways in Western Australia
- Social events
- New friendships
- Discounted train rides.
Please contact our Volunteering / Membership Officer for a membership application form: membership.officer@bbr.org.au
This group focuses on restoring and maintaining our heritage rollingstock and maintaining the railway. The crew have recently restored a ZB Guard’s Van and refurbished our AQ carriages and many other wagons used throughout the railway.
This large crew have been responsible for many projects that the railway now displays and uses.
Current project include:
- Rollingstock restoration
- General maintenance of all aspects of the railway
- And so much more!
Aims to restore and maintain the old ways of controlling trains. The B.B.R. has a huge collection of heritage signalling equipment and has three signal boxes, gained from locations all over the state. The railway’s Mussel Pool line is the only railway in Western Australia using semaphore signalling with an operational signal box.
Current projects:
- Whiteman Village Junction signals project: This is a huge task which has been ongoing for a number of years. It involves connecting the ex-Subiaco 45 lever signal box with many point motors and complicated pulleys to change points and signals within the station yard. Once completed, it will be the largest signal box using semaphore signalling in the state.
Help us with machinery and hand tools to maintain and lay down track for this railway. Maintenance crews are organised each month and are great ways to get some exercise! . It is important to have rails on a railway!
Current projects:
- General maintenance of the Loop line
- Zamia station loop
- Scissor crossing resleepering
- Ballasting the Loop line
This group’s main area of activity is locomotive maintenance and restoration. This volunteer crew maintains and restores the railway’s fleet of steam, diesel- and petrol-engine locomotives. From time to time, they undertake other projects, such as trackwork.
Current projects:
- Maintaining our diesel and steam locomotive fleet
- Restoring and reassembling NG15 123
- Maintaining ‘Betty Thompson’ steam locomotive
- Restoring ‘Perry No.2’
The B.B.R. has restored many ex Western Australian Government Railway wagons and uses many examples of wagons from the 1890s. We own several unique items of rollingstock that are awaiting restoration.
Current projects:
- ZB Brakevan restoration (The only operational van of last one known three survivors in preservation).
- R open wagon restoration
- Fabrication of the railway’s first saloon carriage
Everything on the Bennett Brook Railway is done by volunteers!
The Bennett Brook Railway holds a unique collection of steam, diesel- and petrol-engine locomotives from various industrial and tourist light railways in Western Australia and Queensland. This fleet includes one of the oldest operating diesel locomotives in Australia (built in 1939), which used to haul gold ore in Kalgoorlie.
The Railway also owns 2 former South African Railways NG15 class locomotives, which are considered the largest and most powerful non-articulated 2 foot (610mm) narrow gauge steam locomotives in the world.
Bennett Brook Railway is home to an array of passenger and freight vehicles that have been restored by our dedicated volunteers. The fleet of rollingstock since our inception in 1984 have described the evolution of the railway. Starting with old ore hoppers and small petrol mining locomotives, the railway now boasts regauged ex W.A.G.R. coaches and freight wagons that is ever expanding to accommodate our passengers.
The station buildings at Whiteman Village Junction are former Perth suburban stations. The building on Platform 1 was the original Claisebrook Station, while the building and elevated signal box on Platforms 2/3 originally stood at Subiaco.
The Mussel Pool Station building came from Nungarin in the Wheatbelt region of WA, 278km from Perth.
The Bennett Brook Railway holds a large collection of mechanical and motorised semaphore signals, colour light signals, lever frames, signal boxes, pointwork and associated infrastructure, recovered from locations all over Western Australia. Much of this collection is in active use at the Railway, safely controlling train movements at Mussel Pool and Whiteman Village Junction.
The Bennett Brook Railway is the only location in Western Australia where much of this equipment can still be seen in regular use.
The Bennett Brook Railway holds a collection of Western Australian Government Railways uniforms, signs, equipment and ephemera that is available for viewing at Whiteman Village Junction Station.
| Opening Hours | All-Day Prices |
|---|---|
|
|
|
|
Saturday 11:00am to 4:00pm |
Adults $10.00 |
|
Sunday 11:00am to 4:00pm |
Senior $8.00 |
|
Public Holidays 11:00am to 4:00pm |
Child (4-14) $5.00 |
|
Wednesday 11:00am to 1:00pm |
Child Under 4 Free |
|
Thursday 11:00am to 1:00pm |
Family (2 Adults + 2 Children) $26.00 |
|
School Holidays 11:00am to 3:00pm |
People with Disabilites $8.00 |
|
|
Carers (with Companion card) Free |
|
|
|
Steam trains run on Saturdays, Sundays, Public Holidays and some weekdays during School Holidays between mid-May and mid-September. Steam Trains may run outside of these months, seasonal conditions permitting. Call to confirm availability.
Tickets are purchased on the day. Cash and Eftpos facilities available.
*During summer and on rare other occasions Bennett Brook Railway is bound by Whiteman Park Regulations to cease movement of any train due to extreme hot weather or severe winds which place the park at bushfire risk. Should the trains be cancelled, then it will be necessary to cancel Party Coach Bookings. We will do all within our power to notify Party Coach Patrons as early as possible of this cancellation.
Should cancellations occur full refund of monies paid will be expedited
Contact Us
INFORMATION
info@bbr.org.au
BOOKING OFFICE
0438 734 575
BECOME A MEMBER
membership.officer@bbr.org.au
LOCATION
The Bennett Brook Railway is located in Whiteman Park,
just 16 km from the city of Perth, Western Australia.
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