Queensland Museum Rail Workshops | Ipswich — Attraction in Ipswich City

A Remarkable Journey into Railway History

The Workshop Rail Museum in Brisbane is an absolute gem and a must-visit for history enthusiasts, families, and anyone looking for a captivating day out. Here's why I give it a glowing 5-star rating:

Great Location: The museum is conveniently located in Ipswich, just a short drive from Brisbane. The picturesque setting adds to the overall charm of the experience.

Huge Place: As soon as you step into the museum, you're greeted by the sheer size and scale of this incredible place. It's massive, with an extensive collection that beautifully showcases the rich history of railways in Australia.

Engaging Exhibits: The Workshop Rail Museum offers a captivating journey through time, highlighting the evolution of railways. From the historic locomotives and carriages to the meticulously recreated train stations, every exhibit tells a story that's both informative and fascinating.

Interactive Displays: What sets this museum apart is its commitment to making history come alive. Interactive displays allow visitors of all ages to get hands-on experience with various aspects of rail technology. From operating a signal box to exploring the intricacies of steam engines, there's something for everyone.

Educational and Fun: It's not just a museum; it's an educational experience that's incredibly fun. The museum's programs and workshops are designed to engage and inspire young minds, making it an excellent destination for families and school groups.

Impeccable Preservation: The level of care and attention given to preserving and restoring these historic trains and artifacts is truly commendable. The beautifully maintained exhibits offer a glimpse into the past while showcasing the museum's dedication to heritage preservation.

Friendly Staff: The staff at the Workshop Rail Museum are not only knowledgeable but also passionate about sharing their love for railways. They're always ready to answer questions and provide insights, enhancing the overall experience.

More to Explore: The museum's grounds are perfect for a leisurely stroll, and you'll find plenty of picnic spots and areas for the kids to play. The adjacent Thomas the Tank Engine playground is a delightful bonus.

In conclusion, the Workshop Rail Museum in Brisbane is a treasure trove of railway history, offering an enriching and enjoyable experience for visitors of all ages. Whether you're a railway enthusiast, a family looking for a fun day out, or simply curious about Australia's railway heritage, this museum will leave you inspired and awestruck. It's a journey into the past that you won't...

For museum lovers the ratings might be higher but we went there for the Lego Construction activity and also a bit of fun.

The museum was well planned but several simulator activities were broken, the animal exhibition was closed and there is no longer a Thomas the tank engine display area either. ( Which I’m told used to be very popular.)

The Lego construction event was underwhelming to say the least and set outside on the concrete area and looked nothing like the website photos.

One activity involved hammering a foil sheet into a square but I noticed that the foil was obviously splitting when it was being bent to form corners, leaving a sharp exposed edge for kids to cut themselves on.

All in all I found the images on the website to be misleading and if We had known what would be there in terms of kids activities and the play areas. I will say that the trains and the museum area was clean and I imagine that in itself would be a challenge with all that exposed machinery. The range of museum items was also extensive but the children activity and play areas were sub-standard for sure and a waste of time to attend in my opinion.

I asked two other parents what there previous experience had been here and both mentioned that the children’s areas used to be significantly better and that they had noticed a significant drop in quality of experience for kids.

I asked one mother to give me an object rating of what she thought the museum rating should be. She said “I have been coming her for 6 years, once every school holidays and it has always been a wonderful experience. I would usually have rated this a 5, but now I would rate this a 3. “

She explained what the museum used to be like and it seems it used to be much better and there were heaps of activities to make the day special. She wondered if perhaps there had been some budget cuts in government funding.

All in all the trains are great for the children to see and the museum was mostly clean although the small strain exhibition showed signs of damage and neglect. There was a sign up saying that they would be working on repairing that exhibition.

All in all a disappointing day, especially after having travelled more than an hour to get there.

I do hope the museum can regain it’s previously good reputation.

Unfortunately, we will not be going back. I am posting some photos so have a look. We could not take too many photos of the activity areas because their were other children playing...

An obvious choice for any rail buff or someone wanting to experience a former industrial hub.

This museum is a little drive from either Brisbane CBD or Surfers Paradise. Having made another long-awaited visit after 8 years I was pleasantly surprised to see that not too much had changed.

The exhibits on the show are incredible and show a diverse range from the QLD/QR rail history. I do wish a little more could be on the show but with space limitations, it's understanding why the massive show pieces are limited.

My son was happy with the science area and was happy to be reconnected with the simulator. He's a little old for the kid's playground area but this had recently undergone refurbishment and it was nice to see. The model train layout was nice to see but unfortunately, you can tell it needs some TLC. Those train buffs will understand. With some trains being small and some not running.

We came the week the museum was preparing for Naidoc week and the exhibit that houses the tilt train was closed. Just like it was 8 years prior (just not to Naidoc week but for some unknown reason). Always next time.

The small interesting things like station seats, lights and station signs add to this museum. It can feel cold so on a cold windy day rug up. On a hot day take a water bottle.

The staff and volunteers were happy and friendly. Our friendly exchange at the entry was met with enthusiasm and a wealth of knowledge.

The on-site canteen is alright. It's got good that can hold you over until you get back into the town of your accommodation. It's got a great selection of what I call “footy kiosks” food.

The shop unfortunately was a downer. I was expecting more custom merchandise like cups, lanyards, and hats even more of a range of t-shirts. They had more toys than I would have expected and were not railway-related. They had some postcards, kid basic t-shirts and some adult t-shirts but not a range like I was semi-expecting. This was a downer but myself and my son still grabbed what we could. T-shirts and...