Lachlan Valley Railway secretary/treasurer John Healey said volunteers had worked tirelessly last weekend to lay 50 sleepers to repair the track into its new East Fork compound.

Mr Healey said once the work was approved they hoped to move the three rail motor trains on Friday November 13.

He said it would be a more secure base than their current home under a shed near Endsleigh Avenue where they have been stored since the outbreak of COVID-19.

"We'll be able to get our security systems for them," he said.

Mr Healey said moving trains into the depot would be a milestone in the LVR's efforts to establish a base in Orange.

"It will literally be an historic moment," he said.

The group has plans to create a depot for its trains at Orange to operate tourist services.

Mr Healey met with former State Rail Authority boss, and a major figure in the creation of the Fairbridge Children's Park at Molong this year, David Hill, in Orange on Tuesday.

He said Mr Hill offered the group advice and links to potential contacts to get the Orange depot steaming ahead as a base for heritage rail trips. "He's offered connnections with locals," he said.

"[He] could see the vision of establishing the depot here. Orange, Parkes, Dubbo and Bathurst, we've got our eyes on for future markets.

"It is [going to be] a major tourist attraction for the Central West."

Windows were broken and interior damage caused to the trains after vandals broke into them nearly two weeks ago.

Mr Healey said they were now seeking to have the damage repaired.

He said public donations of nearly $7000 had been given toward the repairs and the trackwork into East Fork.

The most damaged of the three trains carried former deputy prime minister, and train buff, Tim Fischer's coffin to his funeral in Albury last year.

The LVR's main base and museum is in Cowra but with the rail connection to it cut off several years ago the society has had to look to other areas, most recently Orange.

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