The museum's parent body, the ACT branch of the Australian Railway Historical Society, is in the process of electing a new managing council who will be responsible for putting the organisation on a more commercial footing during 2016.

Outgoing secretary, Garry Reynolds, said that because of the restructuring it had not been possible to organise the usual Australia Day Canberra to Sydney rail excursion this year.

"We felt we should do something to thank the people of the city for their support and to let people know we are definitely here and getting on with the job," he said.

Despite its management structures being overtaken by 21st century demands, public support for the railway museum has never been higher.

Attendances doubled in 2015 and passenger numbers on the excursion rides grew by almost 50 per cent.

"We felt that as a thank-you we should do something special," Mr Reynolds said. "Volunteers have come up with an entry package that will provide a complimentary morning tea if you come between 10am and noon.

"Aside from tea and coffee, there will be home-made Anzac biscuits and lamingtons served in glorious century-old carriages."

A highlight of the day will be the opportunity take a tour of the whole heritage railway precinct to check out areas that are normally closed to the public.

"In addition to this, family-friendly and affordable rail motor and steam-hauled miniature train rides will be operating in the Museum yard at Kingston from 10am-3pm," Mr Reynolds said.

The rail motors, which date back to the 1920s, were originally known as "tin hares'.

Mr Reynolds said there were two reasons for this.

The first was that they were invented in the same year as the mechanical hare used in greyhound racing that also runs on a track.

The second was that they were often used on secondary lines and could be seen bouncing their way across the landscape.

The museum is located at Geijera Place in Kingston.