Australian Steam Giants and Steam Trains 50 Cents Coins
By CAA | Monday, 18 August 2025
In 2025, the Mint presented Steam Giants – Australian Rail Heritage. The coins gather together some of the largest steam locomotives to run in Australia and tells the dramatic story of progress that led to railways across the country racing to build bigger and more powerful machines.
From enormous freight haulers to prestigious express engines, the collection includes a representative for each state and the Commonwealth Railways.
Each 50 cents coloured uncirculated coin depicts one of these impressive locomotives in shallow relief, miniaturising its complex features in detail. As well as providing space for each coin, the folders present informative articles that examine the impact of these locomotives in detail and celebrate the work done to preserve and operate them today.
From the bold maroon of Queensland Railways Beyer-Garratt No. 1009 to the streamlined form of South Australian Railways 520 Class No. 520 'Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey', each design reflects the power, character and legacy of these machines.
These engines changed the way Australians lived, worked and travelled. This coin set tells that story with precision and passion.
The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III, designed by Daniel Thorne.
The collection includes seven individual coins, spotlighting icons such as The Commonwealth Railways G Class G1, Victorian Railways H Class H220 Heavy Harry, Western Australia's V Class V1220, Tasmania's Q Class Q5 and New South Wales' AD60 Class Beyer-Garratt 6029, the largest steam locomotive still operational in the Southern Hemisphere.
The coins were housed in premium display cards that can be stored in a collection folder. The folder tells the story of each train and includes archival articles on their history and preservation.
QLD - Queensland Railways Beyer-Garratt No. 1009
No. 1009 is the last surviving Queensland Beyer-Garratt, the most powerful steam locomotives to ever run in the Sunshine State. Introduced in the 1950s, No. 1009 hauled both heavy goods and The Midlander passenger train. It is displayed on behalf of Queensland Rail at the Workshops Rail Museum.
SA - South Australian Railways 520 Class No. 520 Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey
No. 520 was built to meet the increasing demand put on the South Australian Railways during the Second World War. Beneath its streamlining is a powerful machine capable of tackling the steep climb through the Adelaide Hills with ease. In 2014, work began restoring No. 520 to operational condition with SteamRanger Heritage Railway.
The Commonwealth Railways G Class G1
Built in 1914 to the design of the NSW P Class, G1 was amongst the largest locomotives operating in Australia at that time. It regularly hauled the Trans-Australian-Express and is the only surviving standard gauge locomotive of the Commonwealth Railways. G1 is now displayed at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide.
VIC - Victorian Railways H Class H220 Heavy Harry
H220 is over 28 metres long, making it the largest steam locomotive built in Australia. Designed to haul The Overland between Melbourne and Adelaide, it was too heavy to cross several bridges on that line. Affectionately nicknamed Heavy Harry, the locomotive is in the collection of the Newport Railway Museum.
WA - Western Australian V Class V1220
Built in 1955, to help rejuvenate the Western Australian Railways after the Second World War, V1220 was large enough to be converted to standard gauge if required. Diesel locomotives forces V1220 into early retirement, and it hauled the very last WAGR steam service in 1972. It is an exhibit at The Railway Museum, Bassendean.
TAS - Tasmanian Q Class Q5
Q5 is an example of the first Mountain type steam locomotives introduced to Australia. Built in 1922, Q5 and its classmates handled Tasmania's heaviest goods trains. In the 1960s, the fledgling Tasmanian Transport Museum scrambled to save Q5 from being scrapped. It is displayed at their museum in Glenorchy.
NSW - New South Wales AD60 Class Beyer-Garratt 6029
AD60 Class Beyer-Garratt locomotive 6029 was one of a class of 42 locomotives introduced to NSW in the early 1950s. This powerful freight engine si the largest operating steam locomotive in Australia and is part of the fleet of Transport Heritage NSW. It is used to haul special trains around the state.
50 cents 2025 Not intended for circulation
In 2022, the Mint also released trains related 50 cents coins.
QLD – Queensland Rail A10 No.6
A10 No.6 is amongst the oldest surviving steam locomotives in Australia. It was originally brought to Queensland in 1865 to help open up the rich farming land of the Darling Downs. It is now displayed on behalf of Queensland Rail at the Workshops Rail Museum in Ipswich, Queensland.
NSW – South Maitland Railways 10 Class No.25
In the 1980s SMR No.25 became the last commercially operated steam locomotive in Australia. The coal railway worked by No.25 was closed in 1987 and the engine retired, but not before it was hijacked as part of a protest against the line's closure. It's at the Richmond Vale Railway Museum in Kurri Kurri, NSW.
VIC – Victorian Railways R Class R711 Spirit of Bendigo
R711 was commissioned in 1951 to haul Victoria's express passenger trains. Sleek, modern, and powerful, R711 had a short working life, being retired to stand outside Bendigo Railway Station in 1964. It was restored in the 1990s, and is now operated by Steamrail, who use it to haul mainline tours across Victoria.
TAS – Nth Mount Farrell Mint Tramway Wee Georgie Wood
Wee Georgie Wood was built in 1924 for a mining settlement that was so rugged and remote the railway was the only link to the outside world. Given the stage name of a popular British comedian, this small engine still entertains crowds today at the Wee Georgie Wood Steam Railway in Tullah, Tasmania.
SA – South Australian Railways 500 Class No.504 Tom Barr Smith
No.504 was commissioned in the 1920s as part of an ambitious plan to upgrade the South Australian Railways. Designed to tackle steep climbs with ease, it went on to haul the famous Overland train for decades. No.504 is now proudly displayed at the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, on loan from the History Trust of South Australia.
WA – Western Australian Railways W Class W945 Banksiadale
W945 was introduced to the Western Australian Railways in the 1950s. Though primarily used as a freight locomotive W945 was also used to hault the Austriland from Perth to Bunbury. Purchased by the Hotham Valley Railway in 1977, W945 was restored at the railway's Pinjarra depot and is now named Banksiadale.
The Commonwealth Railways NM Class NM25
NM25 was built in 1925 to work the Central Australia Railway. It was often used to haul the Ghan through to Alice Sptrings. Acquired for preservation it was restored to operational condition in the early 2000s. NM25 now regularly hauls trains along the Pichi Richi Railway in South Australia.
50 cents 2022 Not intended for circulation
Specifications
- Composition: 75% copper and 25% nickel
- Weight: 15.55 g
- Diameter: 31.51 mm
