Starting tomorrow the Rail Heritage Centre Thirlmere will host the biggest line-up of mainline steam locomotives in NSW for a steam spectacular.

Visitors will have a chance to travel loco on the Pullman Train, which is an 1899 train hauled by a variety of steam locos in both standard and premier class for a round trip from Thirlmere to Buxton. Or perhaps the mail train which offers comfortable carriages in 1930s style from Thirlmere to Picton and back again.

Then it’s time to bring out the camera for an afternoon of photo opportunities with four locomotives in Australia’s newest Roundhouse, where behind the scenes maintenance and work can be observed from 5pm.

Sunday will then see the dawn of the Thirlmere Festival of Steam, which has abundant historic vehicle displays and steam machinery as well as food, music and over 170 stalls of crafts and goods.

NSW Rail Transport Museum marketing coordinator Pam Ferrari said the festival has something for people of all ages with a range of entertainment and variety goods, not to mention the locomotives.

“Little kids and big kids alike will thrill to the sights, sounds and experiences of the steam trains,” she said.

The Rail Heritage Centre holds many historic engines including vintage two-storey red rattlers, the Prison Van BKD 711, steam locomotive number 78 built in a Sydney Workshop in 1876 and the Pay Bus FP1, which is the only surviving example of the first fleet of rail buses that travelled throughout New South Wales delivering fortnightly wages to railway employees.

Kids will be entertained no end, from the train displays to the selection of adrenalin pumping amusement rides, animal farms, face painting, airbrush tattoos and more.

The street parade then starts from 1pm with feature bands, floats and many displays from local businesses and clubs.

Music in the park kicks off from 9.30am with an itinerary of folk, jazz and country music from Tony Martin, Highland Pipes and many more entertainers throughout the day.

Thirlmere Steam Spectacular will run tomorrow at the Thirlmere Rail Heritage Centre with displays on all day and the gathering of locos at the Roundhouse from 5pm-6pm. Thirlmere Festival of Steam begins from 9.30am on Sunday at both the Rail Heritage Centre and the main area of Thirlmere. Heritage Railways will be running trains on the first and third Sunday each month until November. Details: Pam, 4623 4449 or www.thirlmerefestivalofsteam.com. au.