Full steam ahead

27 Sep 2023

Members of Frankston Combined Probus enjoyed a Sunday visit and ride on the Moorooduc to Mornington heritage railway.

They gathered at 10am on Sunday 2 July on the platform of the old Moorooduc station, where four heritage carriages and a guards van were waiting to be coupled up to the beautifully green painted 100-year-old K163 steam-driven locomotive.

The station is adjacent to the Moorooduc Highway on the Mornington Peninsula and the line used to a branch line from the Frankston to Stony Point line joining at Somerville and ending at the bay at Mornington. It has not been in full operation since 1979 and the shopping centre at Mornington now occupies the spot where the line ended.

Following a short introduction by a member of the Mornington Railway Preservation Society, members bought coffees from the van on the platform and boarded carriage 24, which was especially reserved for their group. The carriage had several comfortable compartments with plush seating and they made themselves comfortable for the journey.

At precisely 10:30am, the train whistle blew and they were off. Rock ‘n’ rolling riding at a sedate pace, the train chugged along through woodland and across main roads with flashing lights until finally coming to a halt in Mornington between Watt Road and Tanti Creek. With a 15-minute break for the driver to relocate the engine to the other end of the train, they got out to watch the process and enjoy a short walk along the old platform.

After the re-coupling, they were all aboard for the return journey and a bit of a snack and chatter along the way. How quickly time flies when you’re having fun. They arrived back at Moorooduc in next to no time!

Following instructions from intrepid leader Gail, members assembled next to the steam engine for a group photo. What a lovely outing it was on the old railway.