Many might assume that Fawkner Railway Station is over a century old, and they’d be right—it was established in 1889. However, it closed in July 1903 possibly due to low patronage. By then, the planning for Fawkner Memorial Cemetery was underway, and it’s interesting to consider how the station’s proximity to the cemetery influenced its history. At that time, the only way to transport the deceased to the cemetery was by horse-drawn hearse.
The station reopened in 1906, renamed “Fawkner Cemetery,” to facilitate the transport of the deceased from other Melbourne suburbs using mortuary cars from Flinders Street Station, with stops at Macauley and Brunswick. It was renamed Fawkner in 1914. There was not a crematorium at Fawkner until 1927.
Until 1920, the Fawkner rail line, now known as the Upfield line, was served by steam engines. The line was electrified in 1920, extending passenger services to Gowrie, between Fawkner and Upfield stations. From 1920 to 1956, the “Beetle” train, resembling a modern bus but running on rails, operated between Fawkner and Somerton.
An old Victorian railway map from 1891 shows a line from Fawkner to Wodonga, Mansfield, Cobram, and Echuca, though it doesn’t list Somerton. This raises questions about the fate of these lines after electrification reached Fawkner in 1920. The “Beetle” train was introduced to address the challenges of steam engines, which required large turntables to reverse direction.
The “Beetle” train, an AEC Railmotor, was one of several similar vehicles in Melbourne, with others operating in places like Frankston and East Camberwell. Available photographs show the “Beetle” train at Campbellfield station, which opened in 1889 and closed in 1956. Campbellfield station was sited just north of Camp Road, it’s demolition in 1956 leaving no trace.
The site of the Somerton station was just north of the current Roxburgh Park Station, which opened in 2007 on the Craigieburn line. Historical railway tickets and photographs reveal the “Beetle” train’s significance, especially a memorable image of children crowding the train on its last day in 1956.
Reflecting on the “Beetle” train’s history, it’s clear that it played a vital role in the area’s transportation network. Despite spending much time in the cemetery and attending Fawkner Technical School, the author regrets not knowing more about this important part of local history.
Roger Lambie
