The museum will be in the Bathurst Railway Institute, just up from the train station.

While full details were yet to be confirmed by Bathurst Regional Council late yesterday, it is known that a huge model railway will feature in the museum, as will a train carriage.

Also, an area within the museum will be named after former Bathurst deputy mayor, and shire president of Turon Shire Council, Dick Locke.

The model railway, featuring 3500 metres of train track, was donated to Bathurst Regional Council by local couple Paul and Bonny Hennessy last year.

It features a meticulous reproduction of the Bathurst to Tarana line which was built by Mr Hennessy and master modeller John Brown.

“It’s an exciting development,” Mr Hennessy said of the model’s inclusion in the museum.

Mr Chifley worked as a first-class locomotive engine driver based in Bathurst.

“He was born within metres of the railway line in Havannah Street, then he lived his married life on Busby Street,” Mr Hennessy said.

The building which will house the huge model railway will be named after Mr Locke, who is Mr Hennessy’s uncle.

The Locke family have ties in the region going back to the 1830s.

“The family are delighted. The model was six years in the making,” Mr Hennessy said.

Up to 20 trains can run at a time on the model, which features the Bathurst station and building yards, Kelso, Raglan, Brewongle and Locksley stations, the Tarana Bridge, the three-arch bridge at Brewongle and the branch line to Oberon (from Tarana).

The layout of the model is based on the 1950s, when Bathurst was recognised as an important railway town.