A WORKING model railway at the Old Telegraph Station in Beechworth celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
The full accurate scale replica of the Beechworth Railway Station and yard was opened by the late former Deputy Prime Minister and railway enthusiast Tim Fischer in December 2012.
"This is great history and we tried to recreate what it looked like in the early 1960s, which was the end of steam and the beginning of diesels," volunteer operator John Harvey said.
Mr Harvey said the railway's history dated back to September 30, 1876 when it opened with great celebration with the Victorian Governor, Premier and politicians among the huge crowd as well as a contingent from the large Chinese community that lived in the district.
"It was the main line between Melbourne and Albury, and between 1891 and 1954 the railway line ran to Yackandandah," he said.
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"After the Second World War the railway fell on hard times with the advent of motorised transport and the Victorian Government closed the line in December 1976."
The last train ran for locals and enthusiasts on January 3, 1977 followed by the removal of rails where the track in recent times has been made into a rail trail.
An exciting new addition to the working display of locomotives, rolling stock and buildings on the exhibit is a model of a D3 Class steam engine.
"It's the type that was stabled at Beechworth for much of the steam era and was present on the Beechworth branch line," Mr Harvey said.
"D3 locomotives operated throughout the Victorian Railways system as mixed traffic – passenger and freight – locomotives and in later years as shunting engines."
"The class were generally withdrawn from service by 1964 but luckily a few have been preserved."
Over the last decade since the model railway began more than 3000 people have been drawn to the exhibit, among them school groups with sometimes around 40 people visiting over a weekend.
"We're hoping to further improve the exhibit so we can run more than one train at a time," Mr Harvey said.
Mr Harvey and volunteer Leo Nette said they encouraged people to visit the Old Telegraph Station built in 1858 to view communications and transport history.
"Visitors can even send a real telegram from the only working telegraph station in Australia," the volunteer said.
"We welcome volunteers to help out at the Telegraph Station as well as with the model railway."
Community members who would like to volunteer can contact the Burke Museum and Cultural Heritage manager Cameron Auty on 5728 8067.
The Old Telegraph Station is open from 10am to 4pm on Monday to Sunday but closed on Christmas Day.
