Explore the Workshops Rail Museum in a day

If you’ve found yourself fond of a railway, you can’t afford to miss out on a chance to visit the Workshops Rail Museum. The Ipswich icon is an award-winning venue which belongs on every Ipswich visitor’s to-do list. Why? Well this place is steeped in history, as the workplace of more than 3000 railway workers and visitors, that today boasts 20 interactive exhibits, including the state’s largest model track system.

But with so much to see and do, navigating your way around the landmark on Brisbane’s outskirts may seem overwhelming - this is where we step in with our guide on exploring the Workshops Rail Museum in a day.

Step back in time

Speak to your love of history with a day exploring the displays of the Workshops Rail Museum. Doors open at 9.30 am, when you can cruise through the introductory exhibit in the foyer of the museum. This is where you’ll be immersed in a brief history of railway in Queensland, and given a chance to gaze at railway memorabilia, including rail signs, market lamps, and more than a few historic carriages.

Back to the future

It’s time then to get better acquainted with Queensland’s current railway system. Drop by the state’s largest model railway which features more than 90m² of model depicting scenes from the state’s extensive existing network. Make sure you also stop by fellow exhibition Rail Today, where you can climb aboard a recreated Tilt Train, and a chance to sit yourself in the driver’s seat (quite literally) while you  learn how it works, negotiating curves to maintain its speed. But it’s not just the present you’ll get a glimpse into here but the future - take a peek into what rail travel will look like in 2099 (and beyond).

Time to refuel

Drop by the Trackside Cafe to refuel you and your family. Open from 9.30am each day, this eatery hosts an assortment of hot and cold beverages alongside an array of tasty snacks which promise to put your hunger pangs at bay - think burgers, chips, sandwiches, cakes, and more. Not to mention there are plenty of coffee options for that all important caffeine hit.

Meet the people

Dig a little deeper into the people behind the Ipswich Workshops Railway Museum. After viewing a video about the site you can get to know the generations of blacksmiths, carpenters, painters, metalworks and other craftsmen who built and repaired locomotives, wagons, carriages and railmotors and more. There’s not just special stories to be heard as a part of this exhibition, but a bevy of machinery and tools used in the workshops that can be viewed.

Get outside

Stretch your legs, taking a stroll around the cluster of buildings and grounds of the Ipswich Workshops Railway Museum, which include the Speaker’s Rostrum, Workers Dining Hall and the War Memorial. Walk through the Timekeepers Building, the office for man who recorded the hours of employees worked, and see the tiny tins the workers received their pay in. Don’t miss out on a chance to walk up the hill and see the historic Power House up close too - the cathedral-like space was built in 1901 and was one of the first industrial complexes in Queensland to use electricity on a large scale.

Time to spare?

Not yet satisfied? There’s of course plenty more to do here if you have the time to spare. Wander through the recreated Platform 9, see the museum’s collection of Railway Heritage items, and drop by the Nippers Railway if you have kids in tow - a place that promises to entertain the tykes with its interactive railway.

Your eye on education? Museum heritage tours occur twice a day, with the Ipswich Workshops Railway Museum particularly popular during school holidays when the Day out with Thomas is in residence.