Maitland City Council events coordinator Adam Franks said the two-day extravaganza has proved again why it's one of the region's favourite festivals.

"We've had a really fun weekend. Sunday was definitely the bigger day," he said. "The numbers are probably comparable to last year. We are estimating 50,000 over the two days at all the different sites.

"It's great because Steamfest is so spread out from Maitland Park to the Rally Ground. 

"Overwhelmingly, it's been very positive with all the feedback."

Markets, train displays, a show and shine, miniature train rides and model railway displays were among the many things to see and do across Maitland during the event.

The Great Train Race on Sunday morning, which pitted a vintage Tiger Moth aeroplane against two steam locomotives, was a highlight of Steamfest again this year - with the plane snagging first place.

"It was a really fun race. The tiger moth jumped in at the end and it was very exciting," Mr Franks said.

This year's steam journeys included trips to Branxton, Paterson, the Port Waratah Coal Loop and Newcastle, where, for the first time since major developments were completed, a steam locomotive, 3526, traveled to the Newcastle Interchange.

In addition to steam locomotive trips, heritage diesel trains, CPH 1, 3 and 7 and NPF 621 and NTC 721 ran trips to Paterson and Saxon Vale on the Mt Thorley line.

"It's now 33 years that Steamfest has been going. We are always trying to bring something new, and this year was no exception with the two different locomotives," Mr Franks said. 

"It continues to prove that Maitland really loves Steamfest because they continue to turn up every year."

Steamfest was established in 1986 following the closure of the last coal operated steam hauled freight service in Australia on the South Maitland Railway Line in 1983, Steamfest pays homage to the end of an industrial era and the men and women involved in its operation.