The  Dunedin Steam Festival to be held on Labour Weekend from Thursday 18 to Monday 22 October 2012, will offer an action-packed programme of attractions and activities with something for everyone to enjoy.

TSS EARNSLAW CENTENNIAL
The Festival celebrates the centenary of the launching of the TSS Earnslaw in Queenstown. The relevance to Dunedin is that the TSS Earnslaw was commissioned by NZ Rail and built by McGregor’s Foundry which was sited at the harbour's edge behind the Railway Station. 

At that time ship building and heavy engineering flourished in Dunedin as a result of gold and New Zealand’s industrial revolution evolved here powered by steam. This Festival is complementary to and links with TSS Earnslaw  Centennial celebrations in Queenstown.

STEAM TRAINS
Steam and trains have a huge appeal to all ages, as proved by the enormously successful Railway Station centenary celebrations in 2006. This Steam Festival will celebrate the city’s rich industrial past in a vibrant and contemporary way. 

The steam locomotive Ka 942 and train from the North Island will bring a contingent of international passengers on a tour of New Zealand. Owned by the Main Line Steam Heritage Trust, the loco will arrive in Dunedin on October 17th. From Thursday 18th - Saturday 20th October the steam loco will combine with the Taieri Gorge Railway to take  passengers  on round trips to Sawyers Bay and on Sunday, October 21st it will make a return trip to  Invercargill.

HERITAGE
Dunedin is New Zealand’s leading Heritage City and the gateway to Central Otago. The Festival highlights and celebrates  Dunedin’s rich industrial history.

OPENING CELEBRATIONS
An official opening will be held to launch the Festival by Mayor Dave Cull on Thursday 18 October at the Railway Station and the centenary of the TSS Earnslaw will be commemorated by the unveiling of an information panel.

ACTIVITIES
In addition to the Taieri Gorge Railway steam train excursions other activities include:

•  Hocken Library TSS Earnslaw exhibition
• Steampunk Ball
• Steampunk Exhibition
• Steampunk Model Building and Story Writing Competition.
• Otago Museum Freaky Steam family activities 
• Otago Model Engineering Club working models display
• Quarantine Island picnic day and viewing of the steam ferry hulk
• Dunedin Gasworks Museum tours and displays.
• Ocean Beach Railway' operating day
• Industrial Heritage Bus Tour.
• Otago Vintage Machinery Club and Taieri Historical Society open days at Outram
• Children's Book Launch- "Josephine off the Rails".
• Jigger Rides

We welcome participation by any other interested groups.