We are very excited about the pending arrival of our new steam train locomotive. The locomotive, commissioned in early 2023, arrived on Saturday, 17 May 2025.

Unfortunately, the new locomotive’s arrival will necessitate the periodical closure of train rides from Monday, 19 May 2025. Daily closures will be necessary due to the manufacturer’s commissioning of the train and then periods of extensive testing of the new locomotive to meet regulatory requirements for design and plant registration.

Shutdown days will be subject to weather conditions, so we recommend that if you want to visit on days when the train is operating, you call 02 62302273 before your visit to confirm that the train will be running.

We have avoided shutdowns on weekends (except Saturday, 24 May for the manufacturer’s commissioning) and public holidays, including Reconciliation Day (ACT only) on Monday, 2 June 2025, and the King’s Birthday on Monday, 9 June 2025.

The following are the dates currently set for the daily closure of the train:

More than 100 hours of testing (sadly, without passengers) are required before the design verification audit, which is undertaken in early August, and precedes the lodgement of documentation for design and plant registration with the regulator.

Due to the lengthy testing and registration process, the new train will likely commence operations pre-Floriade. Between the closures, our existing locomotive, Mighty Mike, will continue to ply the tracks, offering visitors rides.

We will be doing all we can to reduce the number of days of shutdown, and also bring forward the start date for the commencement of the new locomotive

We regret the inconvenience caused by these shutdowns, but it will result in an even more superior train operation in the future. We trust you will understand as we work to secure the future of the train ride operations.

The new locomotive is a new twelve-inch gauge steam locomotive to the 0-6-2 John Fowler locomotive Bunyip design. It has been constructed to 7 1/4″ gauge Bunyip chassis measurements with the frames widened to accommodate twelve-inch gauge wheel sets.

The boiler will be raised with larger water tanks and cab fitted to suit Cockington Green Gardens’ equipment.

Cockington Green Gardens acknowledges the ACT Government’s support in the 2022-23 Tourism Product Development Fund round for the arrival of our new locomotive.

The picture above shows the new train and additional bogies in Wagga, where the manufacture has been undertaken.