The museum is holding its annual model exhibition in conjunction with the biennial Hunter Valley Vintage Truck muster and, as an added attraction; two trains will be offering free rides to visitors.

Museum director Graham Bearman said the BHP 34, a diesel locomotive, was introduced to Newcastle's BHP steelworks in the early 1950's and brought operations there into the modern era.

"They used steam trains there before these arrived," he said.

The 660 break horse power train is still used to ferry other locomotives around the museum site, but in its days at BHP, it ferried molten slag and torpedoes full of molten steel.

At the weekend, it will ferry passengers between the Richmond Vale and Pelaw main Collieries along with Marjorie, the 0-4-0 saddle tank engine.

The model trains will be laid out in the entry building at Richmond Vale and in the old drawing office at Pelaw Main, while clinics on how to get started in model collecting will be held in the Mining Museum building.

The truck muster will gather all types of commercial vehicle over 25 years old, including trucks, buses, utes, vans, military vehicles, fire engines and many more in a variety of makes and sizes.

The truck muster will be held at the Pelaw main Colliery.

Entry fees are $15 for adults, $10 for concession holders, $7 for children aged 5 to 15-years and free for children under 5-years.

For more information visit www.richmondvalewailwaymuseum.org .