Cessnock City Council is urging residents to stay away from Richmond Vale Railway Museum and surrounding bushland.
It comes after fire ripped through the area on Wednesday - the fire burnt through 920 hectares of land, tragically destroying some of the museum's stock.
The Rural Fire Service (RFS) has declared the site a 'Fire Ground' and an exclusion zone has been enforced. No one, including the public, volunteers and media, can enter the site without consent from the RFS.
"This is a huge loss for our community, in particular for the dedicated volunteers who have worked tirelessly for many years to preserve our railway and mining heritage," said a council spokesperson.
The Railway museum released a statement on their Facebook page yesterday echoing the council's warning to residents.
"Museum members and members of the public are advised that security has been posted at the museum's access road to control admission, and that police will be patrolling the area. Please stay away."
The losses the museum suffered during the blaze include:
- 3 stainless steel passenger cars
- 10 of 16 restored non-air coal hoppers and almost all non-restored wagons
- All of the unrestored general freight vehicles
- Approximately 2.5 kilometres of track
- Damage to number 1 bridge on the link line to Pelaw Main
"These losses mean that the museum's rail operations will be suspended pending gradual track rehabilitation. An announcement about other aspects of the museum's activities will be made as soon as access issues are resolved."
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| Old burnt-out coal wagon Image AAP/Darren Pateman |
