TWO heritage steam trains arrived at Sale Station on Friday October 6, taking passengers from Melbourne to Sale.
The trips were organised by volunteers from Steamrail Victoria as part of its Gippsland tour.
Passengers had the opportunity to ride either the A2986 or R761.
The train waited at Sale Station overnight to prepare for the Sale Steam Shuttles on Saturday morning, which departed Sale Station then passed through Stratford before heading back to Sale.
Each trip lasted about an hour.
Steamrail Victoria Operations Manager Lionel Kamilleri said he was proud Steamrail Victoria can get people interested in history.
“I remember what it was like when I was young, having an interest in trains and the history behind them,” he said.
“It’s about passing that knowledge on to others and making sure that we can keep doing this for many years.”
Mr Kamilleri also said there were many reasons why people enjoyed these events.
“It’s about being able to hop on an old steam train. It’s the whistle. It’s the sound and the smell, and it’s all that sort of stuff, which you don’t get with the modern trains,” he added.
Perhaps the most dedicated fan of Steamrail Victoria is the teenager that has been following the trains for about six months.
Mr Kamilleri said that ever since Steamrail Victoria visited Bendigo, a teenager has been following the trains’ journey with a tripod and camera.
He follows the trains to anywhere in Victoria, whether it is Dandenong, Newport, Ballarat or Sale.
On the night the trains arrived in Sale, the teenager was spotted trespassing in the train yard and near the staff quarters of the train.
He was kicked out by staff who were having a barbecue.
On the weekend, around 2500 people rode the trains, including people from Bairnsdale and Melbourne.
The Saturday Sale shuttles ran at 9.15am, 10.20am, 12.15pm, 2pm and 4pm.
The event was made possible with the assistance of around 25 volunteers and V-Line employees.
V/Line train driver Jeremy Lavery said operating a steam train was vastly different from a modern train.
“There’s more work involved to run a steam train. It’s hotter, dirtier, noisier and just harder on the body. You shovel a lot of coal,” he said.
“The fireman, he’ll shovel maybe four tonnes of coal today.”
Mr Kamilleri said the train is preserved as much as possible, even mechanically.
“It’s preserved as far as we can as most of the mechanical components are built to be reconditioned over and over again, so it’s all largely original stuff in them,” he said.
“But bearings wear out and so do boiler tubes, but they’re the consumable items.”
Train officer Ian Joyner had the job of getting people onto the trains and looking after carriages.
Mr Joyner said he was glad steam trains have developed such a broad fanbase even to young people.
“They love it, even with all the technology these days. They still love the old things. They’re very excited,” he said.
