“It’s a dying art”. Mr Barnes is part of several self-funded rail preservation organisations operating out of the old Newport rail workshops for over 40 years. The volunteers come on weekends, or before or after working shifts, to protect and restore the vintage stock without charge to the government. But many fear that it will all come to an end, which would put a stop to the 60 days a year that members of the public can board the old trains as they run on the state’s railways. Credit:Justin McManus

Victoria's state railway agency VicTrack is refusing to guarantee the renewal of the heritage groups’ lease, which is due to expire next year. VicTrack is reviewing the site, and has brought in consultants to oversee a new strategy, which includes the possible relocation of the trains and rail groups. The heritage-listed workshops would not be relocated, the agency's spokesman said. "This work is ongoing, and no decisions have been made about the future of the Newport workshops at this time," the spokesman said. Railway workshops, Newport Credit:State Library of Victoria

Joe Kellett, the chairman of the biggest rail heritage group Steamrail, says relocating to a regional area (which the groups believe is most likely) would force them to shut down. Groups like Steamrail rely on volunteers to service the trains, but the bulk of these people live in the city and won't travel to the country. It would also cost double the price to run the trains on the railways if they are based in the country, he says. The trains would have to do two extra trips, as most of their customers are from Melbourne. "Our future would be very uncertain," Mr Kellett says.

“We would probably have to end up curtailing the business or just go out of business." John Green, who heads up another heritage group called 707 Operations, says that he faces the same fate. Painters at Newport Workshops in 1973 put finishing touches on the Victorian Railways new luxury twinette carriage which will be operated with the Spirit of Progress train. Credit:The Age archives “If we relocated to regional Victoria, we won’t exist,” he says. VicTrack argues that as the government runs more train services, it will become increasingly difficult for the steam trains to depart from inner-city Newport.

However, rail experts have denied that this is a pressing problem. The uncertainty hangs like a cloud over 23-year-old Mr Barnes, the rail enthusiast who showed up at the workshops a few years ago after moving from Sydney to offer his services. Jim Martin with Spirit of Progress', 38 class in 1990. Credit:The Age archives "Newport was built around these workshops," he says, as we tour the cavernous sheds. "The inner west owes its history to these workshops." The Newport workshops, which opened in 1888, is not the only location in the state where old steam trains are stored, but it is certainly the biggest.

When constructed, it was the largest industrial centre in Victoria - the cutting-edge of new railway technology, where locomotives and carriages now at the Puffing Billy Railway were made. It houses a navy blue steel carriage belonging to the Spirit of Progress, a steam locomotive built in 1937, fitted out with Art Deco seating booths, cast brass luggage racks and polished wood and glass sliding doors. The train ran from Melbourne to Albury, and was the first fully air-conditioned train in the southern hemisphere. Two stripes of yellow painted across the centre of the carriage were was once made out of 24 carat gold leaf. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video

"That's how proud they were of this train," Mr Barns beams. Not far from the Spirit of Progress is a severe-looking black loco with polished brass and exposed copper, which used to belong to the Victoria’s railway commissioner, Mr Barns says. This commissioner had his own sleeping quarters, a buffet dining area and separate quarters for the press and his minders. Spirit of Progress' parlour coach Credit:Economy & ingenuity] It’s a world away from the current commuter experience, which comes sharply into focus as 18 or so faulty and graffitied Metro train carriages lie at the edge of the workshop site.