Steam billows, the whistle blasts – another visitor is hooked.
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These majestic trains return to Maitland this Saturday and Sunday for the Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest.
“There’s something about steam and that era that keeps people coming back,” Maitland City Council events co-ordinator Adam Franks said.
“It’s exciting and every year more and more kids fall in love with it.”
The 3237 is one of two locomotives consigned to race a tiger moth on Sunday.
That’s after the UK-built loco has taken people for a tour through the Port Waratah coal yards in a Steamfest-first.
The rally grounds opposite Maitland Station will also host new attractions this year including a tractor pull designed to test the limits of the vintage farm machines.
The more ground the tractor attempts to gain the heavier the purpose-built sled becomes – a popular sport in the US.
* For more on what’s on at Steamfest pick up a copy of the Maitland Mercury's weekend edition.
MORE STEAMFEST:
Traffic changes to accommodate Steamfest
There will be some temporary road closures around central Maitland this weekend for the Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest.
Maitland Station’s gravel and sealed car parks will be temporarily closed to traffic today while event organisers prepare for Steamfest.
The closure, which also includes the sealed car park next to the station, will be in force until midnight on Sunday.
Maitland City Council has also approved temporary road closures in certain parts of central Maitland between 7am and 6pm both days.
Those areas include Napoleon Lane south of Olive Street; Steam Street between the cul de sac and Elgin Street; Fran Dawson Road; Ballard Street; and Allan Walsh Drive between Ken Tubman Drive and Church Street.
Closures will also include Athel D’Ombrain Drive between Elgin Street and Victoria Street; Station Street between Elgin Street and the cul de sac; Railway Street between Elgin Street and Church Street; Olive Street between Church and Elgin streets; and Elgin Street between Olive Street and the ARTC compound.
Church Street will be closed from the southern entrance to Pender Place to the rally ground.