Excited rail enthusiasts gathered at Bathurst Railway Station on Friday as the historic 3801 steam locomotive arrived in town as part of its statewide regional tour.
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Across Saturday and Sunday, members of the community will take 90-minute train rides on the 3801 between Bathurst and Wimbledon, with tickets already sold out due to popular demand.
The 3801 returned to the railways earlier this year after being withdrawn from heritage service in 2007 to receive an upgraded boiler.
Transport for NSW acting deputy secretary Howard Collins said the return of the 3801 to Bathurst has been 14 years in the making.
"Bathurst has such a storied railway history, and its pleasing to see the 3801 'come home' to a place where so many people have connections to the rail industry," Mr Collins said.
"We've got 1200 Bathurst students set to take a trip today, and they seem just as excited as I am."
The 3801 is the only Australian steam locomotive to have travelled to all mainland states and territories, and ran as a continuous passenger service from 1943 to 1974.
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said $3.5 million in state government funding helped bring the 3801 back to life after a long layoff.
"These magnificent steam engines never fail to bring a smile to the faces of persons young and old, and the 3801 has captured the imagination of Australians like no other," Mr Toole said.
"It takes us back in time to the transport of decades past, and Bathurst is a town that grew on the back of the railways."
Bathurst mayor Bobby Bourke, who dedicated 18 years of his life to working on local railways, said it's pleasing to see continued support for heritage rail initiatives.
"I've taken a trip on the 3801 before, and it's such a beautiful piece of machinery," Cr Bourke said.
"We're thrilled to welcome the 3801 back to Bathurst, and if the excited crowd here to greet it today is anything to go by, I think rail enthusiasts are in for a real treat this weekend."
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