A VINTAGE STEAM TRAIN AND CAR ENTHUSIASTS COMBINE IN THE NATIONS’ CAPITAL FOR A SPECIAL EASTER EVENT
Words by Justin Bush
There’s something about a steam engine that contains a feeling of magic in the air.
From the hiss of the blow off valve to the smells of oil and grease on metal, the design of the locomotive or simply riding high in the cabin while the exhaust beat of the large driving wheels thunders along the railway line – they are living, breathing entities from another time and place.
Lukas White, Operations Manager at The Picnic Train is someone who appreciates the former glory of a steam engine. He’s just one of a passionate network of enthusiasts that help to ensure new generations are inspired by the former golden age of steam across the country with highly sort after heritage tours that, as recently as last year, carried somewhere in the vicinity of 50,000 passengers via Picnic Train excursions across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
“When I was young, my parents took me down to Hornsby Railway Station to watch locomotive 3801 come through on one of the Newcastle Flyer tours. The sound of the whistle, the smell of the engine, the coal burning and all the noises, just standing there next to that engine really captured me and made me appreciate what a steam engine is. Since then, I’ve thought steam engines are cool, and I’ll do whatever I can to make sure they stay around.”
Australia’s most well-known steam locomotive, 3801 (thirty-eight-oh one) recreates one of its famed Newcastle Flyer express trains from the 1940’s, seen here fresh from a multi-year overhaul in the 1980’s. (Credit via unknown source)
The Picnic Train has its origins in a different time. As Australia’s fleet of steam operated passenger and freight trains concluded in the early 1970’s after a century of powering the nation’s transport network, former operational staff and enthusiasts rushed to acquire items of rolling stock before they were scrapped. As heritage groups began to appear, one of those was the Lachlan Valley Railway who, with locomotive 5917 and a handful of carriages, opted to head south from Sydney to the seaside hamlet of Kiama for day trips on what became known as The Picnic Train.
The seaside township of Kiama is unique as the South Coast Line runs directly through the middle of town. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, locomotive 5917 is seen crossing the Terralong Street viaduct and at Bombo Beach with a day tour of the original Picnic Train (Credit via The Picnic Train)
“The train was a last-minute effort that the railways were trying to do in preservation. It went to Kiama and became known as the Picnic Train back in the 80s. Over the years it fell out of popularity until back in late 2018 when Lachlan Valley Railway decided to run another Picnic Train. They used locomotive 5917, but unfortunately it was in bad shape at the time, so the tour was re-formed to raise funds to restore and look after it.”
Far from the original syndicate of owners that presided over the group, Lukas and his ragtag team of current operators now bring the joy south to Canberra on the Easter and October Long Weekends. The magic of steam travel for residents of the nation’s capital is always guaranteed, with a recent total of 8000 passengers across the holiday period enjoying daily trips to the township of Bungendore. It therefore came as a surprise when the team decided it was time to collaborate with a local Mazda and rail enthusiast to add a special event to their already packed holiday schedule.
Lukas White and his committed team of operational staff and enthusiasts are a familiar sight across the state and the guardians of The Picnic Train, an enthusiast tour group that has its origins as far back as the early 1970’s.
Locomotive R766 is The Picnic Train’s latest addition to a bustling fleet of heritage locomotives. The R is from a class of 70 former mainline steam locomotives that emerged on the Victorian Railways in 1951, hauling express passenger and heavy freight trains across the state until their protracted withdrawal from service in 1974. Seven examples remain and R766 alone holds the unique honour of being the only locomotive in Australia to be converted for use in New South Wales from the Victorian rail network.
Today, the R is experiencing another first. As Lukas and his team perform a mid-morning oil and water refuelling break between trips in the Canberra rail yard (R766 was converted to an oil burner from coal firing in 2001), members and guests of local Mazda enthusiast social group MazdACT (Mazda’s of the Australian Capital Territory) are enjoying the unique opportunity of photo and videography of their vehicles with the engine for a first of-its-kind event in Australia; Race the Train!
“Long before Mazda came into my journey, I was a child bitten by the love and adoration of steam trains. As I got older and other passions took me away, I always retained that love from a distance and when I started MazdACT in 2021, I recalled The Picnic Train visiting the capital at the Easter long weekend. What started as a few unofficial cruises to Bungendore following the train became an official event in 2023 and now to have the operators on board (excuse the pun) – it’s a dream come true!”
MazdACT Director Justin Bush is an enthusiast who believes in offering unique outings for the car community, and through his committed efforts has gained the recognition of Mazda Australia. With a background passion for railway history, he is reminded of the effect that passion can have on people by simply looking around the rail yard as guests line up their vehicles for a photo opportunity with R766, idling patiently alongside. Members old, young and some with children are conversing and taking photos, talking cars and speaking with the engine crew as a line-up of some of Canberra’s best photographers capture the magic.
And what a line up they are rewarded with. From various iterations of the stylish Mazda MX5 to a rare Mitsuoka Le-Seyde, Toyota MR2’s, a Datsun 1200 sedan and 2000 roadster, ultra-modern BMW coupes, a classic Holden Commodore, various motorbikes, a pair of Mazda’s classic FC RX7’s and even a Tesla Model 3 (which Lukas attempts to hide with a black smoke plume courtesy of Fireman Alex Jollye in the cabin of R766, only creating a dramatic backdrop!), there is no shortage of eye candy for both sides of the enthusiast community. It’s what Justin and Lukas have worked so diligently towards, with the pre-event rail yard photo opportunity a rare and hard-earned achievement by Lukas.
“I think bringing the aspect of racing a train into a car community just adds another layer of excitement to what already is, by themselves, two very exciting groups. Being able to bring those people together and share their cars and their enthusiasm and race the train is a cool aspect that I look forward to for many years to come.”
As the final guests achieve their photo and depart, members of MazdACT unveil a last-minute addition to take pride and place aboard the front plate of R766. Created in the 48 hours prior to the event, it’s the group emblem on timber headboard which itself was inspired by the original ACT Coat of Arms found upon Canberra based steam locomotives of the past. The Picnic Train has now become the MazdACT Train (a move that will later confuse avid rail enthusiasts).
It’s Midday in Canberra’s industrial suburb of Fyshwick.
R766 has rolled out of the rail yard and is reversing back onto a booked-out tour train at the Canberra Railway Station platform. Further up the corridor at the Newcastle Street bridge, MazdACT and guests have taken over the Metro Petroleum precinct to await the arrival of the train for a special out-of-service stop near the roadway. Justin’s young boys and friends are down beside the line with large, chequered flags, photographers are taking up positions and a crowd has gathered along the embankment as, at last, Justin spies some black smoke in the far distance.
“It was Lukas’ idea to have a start line at our original, unofficial starting position at the petrol station in Fyshwick. We’ve always been able to get vehicles and guests safely parked alongside the line as the train thunders up and out of Canberra, with the ability to then get on the road quickly to follow it. But this year was different – to see the R slowly roll to a stop just for us and all the smiling faces and waving passengers on the train; it was truly magic.”
As the train rolls to a stop, Lukas is filming from the cabin and the midday passengers’ wave to the gathered crowd along the corridor. Below him the little boys stand poised with chequered flags raised high, drivers watch on and some remain with their vehicles, ready to hop in and go. Justin is on the megaphone, at first with a welcome to the event before a three second countdown begins. Then he jumps in the air and yells – GO!
The flags wave and hands cover ears as R766 chimes three times before releasing its steam valve, temporarily deafening the crowd. Anticipated wheel slip from the locomotive doesn’t occur; rather, the firebox, glimpsed just beneath the cabin frame, pops like firecrackers as power thrusts to the main driving wheels. The crowd rush to their vehicles as the train disappears into the distance, some goodbyes are made as others leave, and Lukas has his fist in the air aboard the engine. The race is on!
“It’s the fastest it’s ever been driven on that bit of track with that engine to date, and a favourite moment for me was stopping the train right at the start line. We had the flags there and everyone was watching – they dropped, and the engine went off and the driver didn’t hold back! It was just 100% full regulator and the fact that the engine didn’t go into a wheel slip and held its feet, that was probably the best moment for me. That was brilliant.”
The route leaving Canberra takes the convoy, some 30 cars strong, along Canberra Avenue and into the outskirts of Queanbeyan. Immediately traffic lights cause break ups and before long the race is struggling for MazdACT as more and more drop back into separate groups. R766 has cleared Queanbeyan Railway Station and is across the Molonglo River Bridge preparing to tackle the steep climb into the gorge under full power – the cabin crew fully committed to the race.
“In the preceding years with locomotive 5917, we always managed to use the gorge climb to get back in front of the train as the Kings Highway has an easier gradient and opportunities for overtaking slower vehicles. But I knew the second I saw smoke well past Queanbeyan as we came in that we were in big trouble.”
Justin retains a handful of participants as he frustratedly tries to pull everybody through the outer suburbs and standard weekend traffic onto the coast road. Some have gone directly through the CBD and are pulled over, waiting to rejoin the cruise as it thunders up through The Ridgeway and out towards Bungendore. Aboard R766, Lukas and team have picked up speed as the corridor flattens out coming across the Burbong River Bridge – and sight no cars roadside for the first fly-by. With double demerits on the roads due to the Easter period, Justin holds it steady as Lukas calls by phone for an update.
“The phone call was the moment I knew we didn’t stand a chance this year. Lukas was trying to hear me over the roar of the firebox as I yelled to him that we were still descending towards the river bridge and all I could spy was the smoke of the train way to the east and ahead of us. The last words I caught were we’ll see you all in Bungendore…”
Waving vehicles to remain on the Kings Highway and not stop, Justin and the group power on and await overtaking lanes for passing opportunities to reach the outskirts of Bungendore. He’s out of his car and waving madly to the oncoming cruise to make a right hand turn toward the Hoskinstown Level Crossing; a 100 kph zone that leaves little room for a mistake. While almost all vehicles pick up on the signal, an RX7 overshoots and must make a fast U-turn to rejoin the group just as the second RX7 joins him, both briefly sideways as they floor it towards the rail corridor.
The convoy is now split into three groups and at various distances from Bungendore. The first arrives at the level crossing with under a minute to spare as they hear R766 sound its whistle, quickly arranging their vehicles on the roadway for the only photo pass achievable today. With vehicles still arriving, R766 thunders across the roadway shaking and roaring with whistle blasts as she powers into Bungendore with her fully laden train behind her. For 2025 and after months of hard work, speculation and concerns about the R’s running gear – The Picnic Train has won. As Lukas notes;
“We did have a bit of a discussion after the event where I said, oh look it would have been good if we’d maybe met them at Burbong (River Bridge) and then gone the full 100 percent into the race so that they could at least see the engine The crew were like, no, it was a race, we were treating it like a race. So we gave it everything!”
Bungendore Railway Station offers a chance for the crew and convoy to finally come back together. Justin, Alex and Lukas shake hands and acknowledge the outcome with camaraderie, reflections and good banter. The headboard has done the event proud and is still attached to the front of R766. Convoy guests have begun their slow journey home and after a brief stop to see the train in reverse at the river bridge, organisers rejoin the crew in the afternoon back in Canberra for a debrief and final goodbyes.
As the sun begins its slow descent towards the horizon, the crew prepare R766 for her last journey of the day as Lukas and Justin converse with Alex about what 2026 may hold. Speculation on an award, moving the start line and setting a firm finish line and a qualifying number of vehicles for victory are discussed. As the train departs and the last remaining guests exit the yard, they return to the roads of the nation’s capital defeated yet inspired for another year; safe in the knowledge that a unique collaboration has been achieved and that victory belongs to everyone involved.
“It was a huge effort with several moving parts, from organisers to the crew, the broad range of guests and our wonderful creatives that were given such an awesome canvas to make some magic. If you’re not heading to church, away or consuming chocolate, then Race the Train is the place to be on Easter Saturday for a truly special day out!”
Like the Great Race of Hunter Valley Steamfest each March and the Puffing Billy Running Festival in Victoria each September, Race the Train! joins a select number of special events nationally where transport goes into competition mode for the enjoyment of guests. But unlike a race between steam engines and biplanes and vintage locomotives and marathon runners, the race that comes together in the nation’s capital is one that draws upon that oldest of competitors – the automobile and the train.
And that race is far from over.
Race the Train! is a special event held on Easter Saturday in Canberra and is proudly presented by MazdACT and The Picnic Train with support from the Canberra Railway Museum. Photography used here with permission by Tyler P. Media, We Love Our Cars Photography, SnapsBySal, Xpresstrainography, AO Graphics, AusChronicles and Mani de Mel with additional archival by The Picnic Train. The R766 headboard was created by Storm Cruden, Aaron Smyth, Reece Whitefield and Alex Kerr with print work by Instant Colour Press, Belconnen. Website article formatted, assembled and hosted by Kevin Ha at StreetScene. Words, research and story by Justin Bush at MazdACT with interview elements by Rebecca Robson for MazdACT Stories, Autumn 2025.