A 104-year-old steam locomotive - a restored black A2 986 - appeared at Ballarat Station on Saturday night with whistles blaring. In classic fashion, the train took its time to chug into the station, leaving the rapt crowd waiting out in the cold for more than an hour.

The unusual sight was engineered by travel company Cruise Express, as part of a five-day return tour between Sydney and Victoria with 150 passengers.

Steamrail Victoria chairman Joe Kellett was in charge of the engine of Saturday night, telling The Courier the locomotive was a "living museum". He said the night rekindled his own childhood memories of seeing a steam train at Ballarat Station.

"It's something that runs and people get to partake in it, unlike just going and looking at something locked up and static," he said.

"I've been involved in the rail industry for around 60 years. I'm retired and I probably spend more time with the steam rail than I spent running my own business.

"It's a great thing to see it happen."

The trip marked the first time in 56 years an A2-class steam locomotive has brought a train from Ballarat to Melbourne. The collection of heritage locomotives being used across the trip includes trains and carriages once used to carry Queen Elizabeth II in 1951.

The crowd assembled at the station included plenty of young train fans, bundled up in puffer jackets and beanies. Ballarat dad Andrew said it was an amazing opportunity for his six-year-old son Dylan to connect the real historic train with his favourite TV show, Thomas The Tank Engine.

"It's something different ... and (Dylan) has been really excited," he said.

Mr Kellett said it was "not uncommon" to see delighted toddlers and children waving at the steam engine on its travels across the state.

"But it definitely isn't Thomas, because it's the wrong colour!" he said.