The Maitland Rail Museum has added a former bulk coal hopper, built in Newcastle in 1954, to its rolling stock collection. The acquisition represents the once large number of such wagons that were used to haul coal during the 1950’s and 1980’s for the NSW Government Railways. South Maitland Railways had three wagons of this type for its own use. It hauled many coal trains of such wagons on its own railway to East Greta Junction where they were taken over by NSWGR locomotives for the final trips to coal ports or power stations from the Exchange Sidings at East Great Junction. The hopper will be restored to showcase its role in the historically significant late 20th century period of coal haulage in the Hunter.