IT was a promising early sign.
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As the media and invited guests enjoyed a sneak preview of the Bathurst Rail Museum on Friday after its 15 months of construction, a member of the public came in off the street hoping to buy an entry ticket.
He will have his chance on Saturday as the $5 million facility officially opens, joining the National Motor Racing Museum, Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum and Chifley Home as Bathurst Regional Council's museum offerings.
Council's museums manager Janelle Middleton said the National Motor Racing Museum has 30,000 visitors a year alone and "we are expecting the same here [at the Bathurst Rail Museum] or maybe more".
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Mayor Bobby Bourke said the museum links Bathurst's railway past and future.
"Bathurst was built on the railways," he said. "There were a lot of families brought up on the railways who are still in Bathurst."
Cr Bourke said he spent 18 years on the railways himself and "I made a lot of good friends".
"Some of those good friends are gone, but the memories [of Bathurst's rail history] will live on in this museum."
Cr Bourke paid tribute to those who had given their time, including ex-railway people, to help bring the museum to life and to the 18 people who had already registered to act as volunteers when the museum begins operating.
The museum, funded by Bathurst Regional Council with support from the state and federal governments, features displays on the city's rail history and its rail identities, a dedicated children's area with the largest permanent Brio wooden toy set in the world and a cafe.
The main attraction, though, is likely to be the 20 by nine metre HO scale model of the rail line between Tarana and Bathurst which has more than three kilometres of track.
Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee said it was likely the museum would draw visitors from all over Australia and possibly the world.
"It will be a great drawcard," he said. "It's a truly unique tourist experience."
He said the museum would also be a great community asset for functions.
Councillor Alex Christian had not seen the museum before Friday's preview.
"My first impressions are that it's absolutely fantastic," he said. "There's nothing like it in the Central West."
