The Hotham Valley Railway was born in 1974 as an idea by a small group of train enthusiasts who wanted to preserve the steam locomotives on the Pinjarra-Dwellingup railway line when the world was moving towards diesel engines.

After purchasing a bunch of Mountain type W class locomotives and spending countless hours restoring the tracks, trains and depot buildings, the first steam train returned to the Hotham Valley in September 1976.

Ever since, the Hotham Valley Railway volunteers have donated their time to preserve and expand the railway, getting hold of unique historical carriages such as an 1884 club car and a 1919 dining carriage.
