Went for our first visit at the planes, trains and auto show. Kids loved it! Would definitely like to come back when it was quieter and see the rest of the museum! All the staff were super friendly and full of knowledge they were happy to pass on! Heaps of hands on activities for all ages!

We took our 3 boys today for the first time and they are already asking when we can go back. I don't know when I've ever been to a museum more perfectly set up for children to explore and play in. There were some great interactive science activities for our eldest, Thomas for the youngest and plenty to touch and interact with for our middle one. There was a coffee van selling really lovely coffee and little Cafe with burgers chips and sandwiches. Lots of space for a picnic. Highly recommended!!

Great place to take the kids, lots of things to do and see. Lots of activities. Great place to see steam, diesel and electric trains and their history in the great state of qld!

I was expecting a small and old railway museum but was pleasantly surprised at the amount of things to do for the kiddies. Especially I guess because Thomas the Train theme was on so there were heaps of activities to do and photos to take. The little ones had a blast, and older kids would be good too to learn about history. Highly recommended and reasonably priced. Friendly staff, great layout and things to do and see for all.

Highly recommend to buy an annual pass for families with kids(especially boys 😂) There are not only train displays but also train miniatures. The kids play zone was a great spot for kids to play for a long time. Almost everything is indoors so great for rainy days too!

Awesome place to take your kids, the fat controller makes an appearance and a hidden simulator as you first walk in and turn right up the walk way. Very interactive and plenty to do. Very clean and hand sanitizer everywhere.

This place is so much more than just a rail workshop museum, but if it was just that it would still be worth it. The history of rail in Queensland and Australia is on full display, with a massive range of engines and carriages to look over in great detail, not to mention the modern and historical artifacts everywhere you look. Outside of rail, your kids could spend hours building Thomas tracks, gaze over the amazing model train set (about 10m x 4m in size), or get your science on. The workshops themselves are a beautiful piece of history, and is eerily amazing to look down into the quiet, ageing buildings. The powerhouse in particular is a sight worth seeing.

Great venue for a wedding, excellent staff, everyone was so helpful couldn’t do enough for you. They were everywhere you never had to look very far for someone answer any question you had. The food was superb. A big shout out to Sofie who organised us and kept everything on track, and ALL the staff a big thank you for your efforts in making our day special.

The museum is a gem of a place, tucked away in North Ipswich. The site was bigger than expected and reasonably priced. As you'd expect, there are trains on display, but there's plenty of other stuff to do. The history of rail in Queensland is covered in great depth, and there are also fun areas for kids (play area, model train tracks etc) and interactive science exhibits. Good value and interesting. Three generations of our family went and there was something for everyone.

Workshop rail museum at Ipswich has lots to do and see for those who are kids and kids at heart. Lots of activities to keep the little ones interested. The museum is included as part of the QLD museum annual membership which is well worth it. Definitely visit if you are looking for something to keep the kids busy during the weekends or school holidays.

A wonderful place for kids and adults alike who love engaging in trains. Plan for a couple of hours of fun in this interactive, informative museum. The place is well kept, has simulators for driving, tons of information videos and texts as well as kids corner all around with science and interactive learning combined. Plenty of parking lots on the left of the main entrance.

Took our 2 year old twin Grandsons today for their first visit as they love trains (specifically Thomas) and all sorts of large machinery. All the activities for the children are absolutely amazing and so interactive. This visit for me was during the 'Day with Thomas' program and the gentleman they have as Sir Topham Hatt is an absolute star and put on an amazing performance to be enjoyed by both children and adults. A definite must visit for all and see the rich history we have about our railways.

We have an annual family pass and for us it’s excellent value. My kids are 3 and 6 and they always have a ball, especially in the makers craft area and the little nippers play area. I love that it’s all indoors because we don’t get sunburnt (also good on a rainy day, you just need a rain jacket to get from the carpark to the museum). The cafe has tea/coffee, cakes, snacks and hot food including chips, wedges, burgers and hotdogs. There’s also lots of outdoor space to set up with your own picnic. No food or drinks to be consumed in the museum building. We usually have a play then a cafe break, then another play before heading home. There’s also extra activities available during school holidays and traveling exhibitions so there’s often something new to see and do each time we go. When we have visitors from out of town we take them here, there’s a little something for all ages to enjoy. Lots of free parking but not shaded.

Fantastic place for children. What fun!!!

Very impressed with the Thomas the Tank exhibition and little show by the very funny Fat Controller! Really well done! Lots of things for kids to do, quite interactive.

Fantastic museum. Big collection of locomotives and carriages. Our young pre-school kids can't get enough of this place, the kids play area is wonderful for imaginative play and on Thursday mornings they have craft and story time for the youngsters.

went there for my girlfriends formal. great location

It's OK. Needs to have more direction or a paper map.

Great venue for events. Also a tourist attraction.

What a great museum. Very well maintained, interactive for kids, amazing displays - especially the Queensland model railway! Ticket staff were friendly and welcoming. There is a cafe inside as well for coffee or lunch. It was a very enjoyable visit, recommended for all ages.

Very interesting and interactive. Great fun for the family

Excellent place. Lots of history and real engines on display. Play and learning for kids. Has a cafe with some food and drinks options. Can easily spend a few hours.

What a great day out. Our Grandson enjoyed it immensely. All new experiences. The staff were great. Went into the restaurant and had a great feed. Two thumbs up.

A must visit for all parents and kids! We were here for the Thomas and friends theme. Apparently it's a different theme every holiday which is brilliant. My kids went absolutely berserk in this place. Staff were nice and helpful, great interaction with kids.

Amazing museum in North Ipswich on the history, present and future of rail in Queensland. Great and highly informative exhibits, excellent story telling and lots of fun things for kids to see and do. Easily accessible from the city centre by public transport. Take the Ipswich Line train to Ipswich and then the 515 Brassall bus five stops to the door of the museum.

Fabulous space, even with social distancing! Kids love the biggest and the smallest of it all. Get the family pass and go often! You don't have to be a Train fanatic to enjoy this spot!

What a great day out! My kids both had a blast here. So much to see and a great price. Simulators, model railways, kids play areas and a cafe :)

We did not expect much from this place but decided to check it out one rainy day and was absolutely blown away! Our 2 and 6 year olds had a blast! The little railway town is amazing and plenty of space for kids not to be on top of one another. Plenty to entertain the young and old! The science experiment area was a real surprise and we all had so much fun!

This place was great despite the smeltering heat. There are a handful of air-conditioned museum rooms. It's definitely great for all ages. Great stuff for kids to play with and see (my son is 2.5 and loved it. We stayed for about 4 hours). I don't think Thomas is all year round, so you have to pick your dates if that is what your young ones want to see. They have a cafe on site, which was ok.

Gets quite hot here in the Summer, so I recommend going here in Autumn or Winter. The staff are very friendly and there is a gift shop along with a cafe. The models, trains and other awesome attractions are fun to watch and play with too. This place is also good to watch trains get scrapped if you like that. Trainspotters love this place and this is a good place to get people into trainspotting.

Very interesting, loads of information covering every aspect of QR history—what an operation it was! Some impressive displays not least the behemoth shown below (the crew got an extra shilling per shift it was so hard to 'drive'). Plenty for the kids too. Very reasonable entry fee. Handy café. Kudos to all concerned with the set up and maintenance.

Great place to visit with kids on a weekend . The workshop buildings were beautiful. Steam engine trains and diesel engine trains were maintained so well. Some corners were hot on a summer afternoon but most areas have quite a lot of aircon. We loved the train driving simulator. A cafe is available for a quick meal. Plenty of free parking onsite.

We went there for the planes, trains & auto festival and it was a wonderful experience. Kids loved it, and we also had a great time. The air show was really good. Stalls with lots of info, friendly staff and heavy vehicles including military vehicles, ambulance, fire truck, garbage truck, helicopters, Kids enjoyed it a lot.

Visited during the COVID pandemic. Require to book ahead, free of charge. Because of the limited visitors, the museum wasn’t crowded at all, quite relaxing. There are plenty to see, real trains, model trains, a big section explaining and playing with the science stuffs with trains, history of trains in QLD etc. Plenty to keep your kids busy and entertained. If you’re interested in train, this is a must visit place. A slight disappointment was that few sections were closed due to maintenance. Not sure if it was maintenance or COVID.

Set in a former Australian railway workshop, the museum is ideal for train buffs and children. We, 7 of us, spent practically the whole day here. There's a lot to see. The museum displays show various engines and equipment associated with trains. The dispays are interesting and well arranged . There's a lot of love gone into making this museum really interesting and interactive. It's perfect for children. Thomas the Tank is there ! You can ride on a miniature train (very popular and it's a bit of a wait). A very large model train set, is a real treat and is set in an Australian landscape. Look for the dinosaur hidden in the scenery. That was funny! There's colouring in for kids and plenty of model trains to see (behind glass). We had a picnic there, out the front, under the trees. It was very relaxing! Toilets available. Seats available Show available (a bit loud). Food not available Parking available.

A run down and dilapidated place that used to be quite good from others I've spoken to. It's a shame that many of the engines that are there WERE in working order but due to a lack of maintenance, have fallen into disrepair and would now take millions to repair. If you are a rail enthusiast or looking to learn more about the history of QLD Rail, then this is the place for you as there is a super wide variety of historical artifacts. I'd volunteer if I lived in the area soley for the purpose of cleaning the inch thick layer of dust off the model rail set. One BIG issue I have is that there is a motorcycle component... This is a RAIL museum. From what I was told by staff, this place is under the auspices of the Queensland Museum and because they are not interested in rail, they are starting to stuff extra, non-relevant, exhibitions in there.

My kids loved the science show this holidays! Such a fantastic family day out... educational as well !!

Compared to my last visit, several years ago, this was very poor. Vast areas that were previously open are now shut off. There was no longer any live machinery and very little that looked as if it would be capable of running. Last time there was a man forging tools like spikes, hammers and picks, very interesting, but no more. There was an extensive, but aging, model train layout in operation. Poor substitute for the real thing! There were displays for children but I could not recommend a visit for any adult without small children in tow. The whole place seemed sad.

Had a great time at the museum with my now 15 year old son. Last went about 8 years ago. The history and displays are awesome. There are several air-conditioned room displays that were fantastic to see again. Choose the days you go as there are many interactive things to see and do. Well worth the drive we had from north Brisbane. If you have any Thomas the Tank Engine fans then this is a very very cool place to go.

Great place! Good for wheelchairs. Some of the kids stuff could be more accessible for wheelchairs. A bit cheeky making us pay a second time to ride the little train ride. Avoid the restaurant at all costs.

For those who love everything about trains ans how they work this place is it. Lots of things for kids to see, touch, and hear. Great History of the Queensland rail system.

An outstanding family experience! So many interactive displays and activities for young and old. Picnics allowed but there is also a cafe. Two lots of toilets makes this an easy day out with kids.

Having a lot of fun and science knowledge in a museum the whole day long with family and kids!

A historic railway workshop that lives on. A large spacious site with wonderful exhibits inside the Ipswich olde railway workshops. A open and large cafe is on site. Staff are very welcoming and help you enjoy your visit. Parking on site. It was a very enjoyable visit with lots of photo opportunities for wide-angle len photographers.

For all the space at the museum, really not much to look at. This does not compare to the NSW railway museum . Spent less than an hour. The shop was very disappointing with most items not railways related.

Took my dad here, and he loved it! There was so much machinery from his apprenticeship days (50s/60s/70s) that he recognised and could tell us how it all worked! The space exhibition was really fun too, we were three adults playing like children!

I was invited to their annual Gatsby evening by a friend. What a fun evening. You get to wander around the museum after hours and if your lucky enough you can hear some of the stories from the trains & their history. With a live band playing, classic gatsby dancers, drinks & food. They also had on site the old 1920's cars for you to use as backdrops for your entry pics. I was lucky enough to be introduced to a staff member who was clearly passionate about her job sharing some insight to the railway workshop museum.

Awesome little place. Went for the sensory session, ran perfectly with very few families. Was hoping to see more rolling stock.

Took my son here several times under the age of 7, returned recently with him now 14, and he still loved!! Interesting and great family outing with lots of interactive opportunities.

Had an absolutely amazing time

A 5 star must and definitely worth going if you're a train lover or have a kid who loves Thomas and co. It's big enough to keep your child entertained for a full day. Has a nice cafe where you can grab a snack. Reasonably priced and ok food. They have a souvenir shop with some reasonable prices and some a bit over. If you're looking for a particular item and you like it, it doesn't cost you a leg. Overall it was a very pleasant experience both for adults and children. Would probably get a yearly pass and not regret it.

A wonderfully experence

Lots to explore, read, and learn about. Suited to all ages of families. Buying an annual pass and scheduling two days to visit may be worthwhile to soak up all the information and displays fully (we visited for 2.5 hours with kids aged 5-12 and didn't get through the entire venue.)

Well worth it.

Great fun for the kids! Restaurant food was ok. Toot toot!!

Great Museum for adults and children

It is a great venue. Interesting and entertaining

I took my 2 year old son here and it was amazing! Such a great day out. Lots to look at, touch and do for kids of all ages. Entry is extremely cheap considering how big the place is and how much time your kids will spend there. Will definitely be back.

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Ideal place to visit once...Good for family with toddlers... 120 min max to explore all. Informative for kid plus fun....

Great place for kids .. Get them more knowledge about trains

Thomas the tank engine and all the other engines were so interesting.

Fantastic. Everything well explained, the kids could clamber over things and had a play area. Cafe was ok.

Great for the kids, heaps of friendly staff. We got the annual pass. Pram and wheelchair accessible!

One of the best places around Brisbane for kids. Indoors, lots of fascinating displays and very good annual membership setup

Was so much better when we went a year ago. A lot has been taken away because of COVID.

Thomas and friends exhibition was great! Good fun for the children. Experiments, models and various displays for adults as well.

Great place to visit if your in town. Plenty to see and do associated with railway. The older buildings were amazing. The kids loved the interactive displays, the train driving simulator was a big hit. Great facilities available, several locations for toilets. Cafe available through the day. Our tip is to go a little earlier than afternoon if you can as some things close early.

Not such a great place of you don't have little kids interested in Thomas the Tank engine. Not enough interesting things for adults to look at. Could have done with a train ride tour through the complex. Loved the old buildings though

Surprisingly interesting

Perfect if you are with kids. Could get bored if you are not a railfan.

No good unless your a train nutta

Fantastic for Kids and adults alike!

fun

Parents respect the queue though please

Great and informative place, nice old world feel to it and they have made a great effort to preserve the feel of the place. Great for kids.

We had a wonderful time at the museum. Lots to do and the staff is just lovely. Our boys especially loved the science area and the nippers' corner playground. Going during the Thomas' Day Out event was a plus, but they would have been happy without it too. Absolutely recommend it for a day out.

Very interesting and fun for children

Good interactive exhibits and food

Love it

Its very family orientated

Great place for a function

Very nice place for kids to learn about trains. Few simulators also..