The Mornington Railway (MR) is managed and operated by dedicated volunteers.

The Mornington Railway Preservation Society (MRPS), which is the not-for-profit incorporated association that manages the MR, was formed out of a public meeting in 1984 with the objective of securing access to the then-closed Mornington railway line. The vision was to reopen it as a heritage railway, focusing on the operation of steam-hauled passenger trains. In 1991, after seven years of hard work and lobbying, the MRPS was granted a State Government Order in Council, which gave us access and operating rights to the line, so it could be operated as a tourist railway.

In the nineteen years since that inaugural meeting, an unbelievable amount of time, effort and money has gone into the development of the concept, the restoration and acquisition of equipment, the raising of funding to pay for capital works and the management of the day-to-day operation of the MR.

So who are the people who have completed these enormous tasks?

Our team consists of men and women, young and old, from all walks of life. Some of us are railway enthusiasts, others simply enjoy the challenge of rebuilding something which other people say "can't be done!". Others enjoy the opportunity to work with the public, or to take on a management role in a less-stressful environment than at their day-to-day work. Outside the railway, some of us are employed full-time; others are retired, on benefits, or still at school. In other words, we are just ordinary people, enjoying ourselves whilst working together to build a great tourism and heritage resource for the Mornington Peninsula.

Our work on the Mornington Railway is still very much in progress. Much has been done, but a great deal more remains to do, and much potential still lies untapped. Some of the exciting projects scheduled for the future include:

- Re-opening the section of track between Baxter and Moorooduc.
- Gaining main line access at Baxter, enabling us to run into Frankston (and beyond).
- Restoring steam locomotives K 177, K 191 and K 159.
- Restoring historic carriages 58 BES, 3 ABL, W 152, W 257 and W 278.
- Developing a static museum at Moorooduc.
- Building a heritage-style station complex and interpretive centre at Moorooduc.
- Constructing a locomotive and carriage workshop.
- Further development of Mornington station.

These tasks will be achieved far quicker if our volunteer base is increased. There is always room for more volunteers within the MR, and there is a wide range of activities from which new volunteers can choose. Not all the work is easy, but it is always rewarding, and as our 60,000+ passengers will tell you, it is appreciated. Any relevant experience is welcomed, but on-the-job training can be provided if required.

Why not consider volunteering some of your available time to the MR? We are now moving into one of the most exciting phases of the railway's development, so now is the perfect time to get involved.