ROLLING into Leongatha on Saturday July 24, 1993, was P18, the last passenger steam train that would arrive and leave the station.
The train was decorated with farewell messages to mark the withdrawal of passenger rail services on the South Gippsland Line, which was first opened in 1892.
The train, comprising four H type carriages, arrived 43 minutes late, but the residents of South Gippsland and railway enthusiasts were happy to wait and braved the elements with tunes from The Woorayl Municipal Band echoing in the station.
Robert Newton, local historian and author of recently released book, From Train Tracks to Rail Trail, remembers how the community felt when the last train left town.
“It was pretty sad. They (the community) didn't want to see the railway line stop. They wanted it to keep going, but it was just not viable at the time. The cost of maintaining it was just too expensive. It was cheaper to put buses on, and that's why they did it.”
Robert has a family connection to the old trains and used to drive one himself at Coal Creek.
This ignited his interest in researching and writing about the history of the railway lines.
“My dad put 27 years on the rail, on duty. He came back from the First World War and joined the railways. He was a steam engine driver and he retired in 1946.”
Robert has documented the entire history of the line, from Princess Bridge in Melbourne through to Wonthaggi and Port Albert, including who first surveyed the line in Leongatha – Peter Whitelaw to who built it - Andrew O'Keefe.
“There’s so much history on that rail trail. It's unbelievable. I've got eleven pages of accidents on the railway line from Woodside right through Yarram, right through to Dandenong.”
The Leongatha station sits on 11 acres of surrounding unused land and is owned by VicTrack.
Only non-profit organisations can apply to use the building, but likely due to costs and lack of funding the train station remains empty and dilapidated.
“I believe the historical society should’ve been in there and the rotary art gallery, for meeting rooms and aspects like that. I don't think it'll actually get used though,” Robert said.
While the Korumburra historian would be thrilled to see a steam train run on the line once again, he acknowledged the limitations and thinks the rail trail is a great way to use the old tracks.
“I'd love to see a steam train going there again. Even from Lock or Nyora or to Leongatha, but they have to build new bridges, they are just not strong enough to take a railway engine.”
“I love the rail trial. I just think it's fantastic. I'd love to see it go through and join up eventually to Woolamai, from Nyora to Woolamai, and I'd love to see it go to Melbourne. If it did that, it would be one of the best rail trails in the world,” said Robert.
Robert would also like to see signage placed along the rail trail, explaining the history of the railway and celebrating the important milestones, such as, the last passenger train to leave the station 30 years ago.
