Locomotive 3265 was built by Beyer, Peacock and Company in Manchester, England in 1902. It was built to NSW specifications and was stationed at the Wellington, Junee, Cootamundra and Cowra depots.

The 3265 came through Harden on Friday on its journey to the Junee Rhythm and Rail Festival last weekend.

Professional and amatuer photographers were sent into a frenzy snapping pictures of the rare locomotive during its brief stop-over in the Twin Towns.

The 3265 was taken out of active service in 1968 and is currently being maintained by the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.

The Lachlan Valley Railway Preservation Society, based in Cowra, has several trains at their Museum which is still “land locked” following the closure of the Cowra to Demondrille line. This means several of the trains cannot be moved to or from the Museum.

The Minister for Roads and Ports Duncan Gay has called for tenders from the private sector to restore, operate and maintain the 200 kilometres of rail line between Blayney and Demondrille – commonly known as the “The Cowra Line”.

The line closed due to poor co-ordination between asset managers, high operating costs and low freight volumes. Four interested parties have responded to the NSW Government’s Registration of Interest process to re-open the Blayney-Demondrille rail line which is now undergoing a tender process.