At a glance
- Next date
- Saturday 31 October 2026, Spooks Express Halloween night: steam train 4pm to 9pm, Mini Monster Express 4pm to 7:30pm
- Where
- Illawarra Light Railway Museum, 48A Tongarra Road, Albion Park Rail NSW 2527, on the southern side of Shellharbour Airport
- Tickets
- Adult $20.00; child (3 to 16) $15.00; concession $15.00; family ticket for five people $70.00; under 3 free. Pay at the museum or book online
- Later dates
- Sunday 8 November (A Trip Back in Time) and Sunday 13 December (Ride the Christmas Train), both 10am to 2pm
- Parking
- The museum lists inside car parking; it is a 10 to 15 minute walk from Albion Park railway station
- Who it’s for
- Families with children, rail fans and anyone after a Halloween night out that is not a pub or a party
- What to do now
- Decide whether to buy at the gate or book on the museum’s website, and wear covered shoes
- Last checked
- Thursday 29 October 2026, against the museum’s own website
- Not yet confirmed
- Whether online tickets are still available, and whether steam or a diesel locomotive will run on each day
The Illawarra Light Railway Museum runs its Spooks Express Halloween night on Saturday 31 October 2026 from 4pm to 9pm, with adult entry at $20 and child entry at $15. Two more train days follow: Sunday 8 November and Sunday 13 December, both from 10am to 2pm.
This guide uses the museum’s own opening times, fares and events pages, checked on 29 October 2026. Times are New South Wales daylight time (AEDT).
When are the next three train days?
| Date | Event | Hours | What the museum lists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 31 Oct | Spooks Express | 4pm to 9pm (last train ride 9pm) | Spooks Steam Express, Mini Monster Express, food sales, disco, museum |
| Sun 8 Nov | A Trip Back in Time | 10am to 2pm (last train ride 2pm) | Steam train ride, miniature train, loco shed tour, food sales, playgrounds, picnic shelters |
| Sun 13 Dec | Ride the Christmas Train | 10am to 2pm (last train ride 2pm) | Christmas Train, Mini Elf Express, Santa and Mrs Claus, food sales, disco, shed tours |
The museum says it opens to the public for steam train rides on the second Sunday of each month, which matches 8 November and 13 December. It also says it closes over the Christmas break and is not open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day.
What happens on the Spooks Express night?
The museum invites visitors to come dressed as their favourite Halloween character and to ride the Spooks Express and the Mini Monster Express. It lists food sales, a disco and the museum itself as part of the night. The two trains have different hours: the Spooks Steam Express runs from 4pm to 9pm, and the Mini Monster Express runs from 4pm to 7:30pm.
The museum’s description names “Spooks Steam Express”, but its opening times page also says a diesel locomotive can run instead of steam because of fire bans or other operational needs. The page advises checking the museum’s website for updates.
How much is it, and can I pay at the gate?
In a notice dated 16 October 2026, the museum gave the Spooks Express prices as follows:
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | $20.00 |
| Child (3 to 16 years) | $15.00 |
| Concession | $15.00 |
| Family ticket (five people) | $70.00 |
| Under 3 | Free (the 16 October notice says “3 and under” travel free) |
The notice says tickets can be bought on arrival at the museum site or booked online at www.ilrms.com.au. It adds that online fees are different because of booking agent fees, not the museum, and asks people to check the museum’s website for pricing because other sites show wrong prices for the event. The notice and the fares page differ on the free age: the notice says children 3 and under travel free, while the fares page says under 3, so ask the museum if your child is exactly 3. The fares page, which is headed with a July 2025 start date, says an adult fare covers unlimited rides and entry, and that EFTPOS is available with a $10 minimum and no cash given out.
Where is it, and where do I park?
The museum is at 48A Tongarra Road, Albion Park Rail, on the southern side of Shellharbour Airport. Its fares page lists inside car parking, accessible toilets with a baby change area, a coffee deck and train rides for passengers in wheelchairs. The location page says the museum is a 10 to 15 minute walk from Albion Park railway station via Station Road, and that bus stops are located near the site. Check train and bus times on the Transport for NSW trip planner, because the museum does not list times.
What are the other two days like?
A Trip Back in Time on Sunday 8 November is a daytime visit: the museum describes a steam train ride, then a miniature train ride, then a loco shed tour to see the restored artefacts, and calls it a day out for the family. It lists train rides, food sales, playgrounds and picnic shelters, with the museum opening and train rides running from 10am to 2pm.
On Sunday 13 December, the museum runs the Christmas Train and the Mini Elf Express, with Santa and Mrs Claus, food sales, a disco, picnic shelters, playgrounds and shed tours. The museum’s page says to book online or buy tickets at the museum when you arrive. The December page does not repeat the ticket prices, so check the fares page nearer the day.
What else is on site?
On its operating days the museum lists train rides, locomotive shed tours, playgrounds, picnic grounds with picnic shelters, two museum buildings and the Otford Signal Box. Food comes from the Tramway Dining Car and the Tramway BBQ area. The museum says the site is pet friendly and that its toilet block was upgraded to include an accessible toilet and a baby change area.
Can I book a picnic shelter or a group visit?
The fares page lists a picnic shelter for $60.00, and a large shelter for birthdays and group bookings for $260.00 including 20 wristbands, with a $50.00 non-refundable deposit to secure it. Tour groups of 10 to 50 visitors are listed at $20.00 per person, and school groups of 10 to 50 at $15.00 per person. Shelter, bus, school group and site hire enquiries use a separate phone number printed on the fares page, and shelters can be reserved on running days.
What are the rules and what should I wear?
- Covered footwear is required to ride the miniature train, and the museum recommends it for all entry.
- Dogs are welcome on a leash at all times, and owners must clean up after them.
- Anyone with flu-like symptoms or recent Covid contact is asked to stay away and visit another time.
- The museum is run by volunteers and asks visitors to be patient with them, in the train queue and the food areas.
In extreme heat, the museum’s management committee may close the grounds and end the operating day for public and volunteer safety.
Who runs it, and how do I ask a question?
The Illawarra Light Railway Museum Society is a volunteer organisation that collects narrow gauge steam and diesel locomotives and rolling stock from Australian industrial railways, including sugar cane, coal mine and blue metal tramways. The museum’s website has a Contact page, and its event pages say to book at www.ilrms.com.au. In an April 2026 notice the museum said it had withdrawn fourth Saturday diesel train days because of the fuel situation, so check the site before planning around any day that is not listed above.
Sources
- Illawarra Light Railway Museum — Opening times
- Illawarra Light Railway Museum — Spooks Express
- Illawarra Light Railway Museum — Spooks Express entry fees (16 October 2026)
- Illawarra Light Railway Museum — Fares and Location
- A Trip Back in Time, Ride the Christmas Train and Changes to Museum Operations (26 April 2026)
Featured image: the steam locomotive Tully No. 6 at the Illawarra Light Railway Museum, photographed in September 2013 (photo: Hpeterswald / CC BY-SA 3.0) (text added).
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the Illawarra Light Railway Museum Society. Event details can change; check the organiser’s page before you go.