Australian Association of Live Steamers

Australian Association of Live Steamers

The Australian Association of Live Steamers Ltd (AALS) is an organisation of Societies, involved in the operation of live steam and miniature railways (up to 8 inch gauge) throughout Australia, incorporated as a company limited by guarantee. 

The Association operates with a National Executive and an Executive Committee for each of the Committees, the Australian Miniature Boiler Safety Committee (AMBSC) and the Australian Live Steamers Safety Committee (ALSSC).

The Association compiles a Code of Practice for the safe operation of Miniature Railways, Road Vehicles and Plant, a code for Training, and a code for Gas Firing of AMBSC boilers; and the AMBSC produces boiler codes for copper boilers (Part 1),  steel boilers (Part 2), sub-miniature boilers (Part 3), and duplex steel boilers (Part 4).

Societies affiliated with AALS subscribe to the Codes of Practice and operate under the Australian Miniature Boiler Safety Committee (AMBSC) Boiler Codes.

Policy of the Association and content of the codes is decided on by the affiliated Societies.

Each year the Association, through a host Society, holds a national convention for live steamers. The convention is held at Easter in a different State each year, and attracts large numbers of enthusiasts and locomotives.

The Annual General Meetings of the AALS and its committees are conducted during the convention.

The Association is affiliated with the Federation of Model Engineering Societies in the UK, and the Model Engineering Association of New Zealand.