WHEN PUFFING BILLY OPENED

The Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook railway opened in December 1900 and was the second of four narrow gauge branch lines built by the Victorian Railways to serve areas ofdifficult terrain. The narrow gauge of 2’6’’(760 mm) was chosen rather than the standard gauge for Victoria of 5’3’’ to keep the cost of construction down. They were all connected with the states existing Broad Gauge network and aloud interchange of goods and passenger.

WHEN PUFFING BILLY WAS USED FOR FARMING

Puffing Billy 18-mile long railway was opened to provide easier access to the Dandenongs for the benefit of both farmers and excursionists. The bulk of the goods traffic was potatoes and sawn timber. Being close to Melbourne and running through the scenic Dandenong Ranges the railway became very popular with tourists, both day-trippers and those staying in guesthouses, which proliferated, in the earlier part of this century.

PLEASURE ON PUFFING BILLY

The large amount of day excursion passengers resulted in special open sided carriages with center longitudinal seats being constructed. Passengers could even sit on the side of these carriages with their legs dangling out, their bodies being retained by two handrails along the sides. These carriages are still in use today and are synonymous with Puffing Billy.

HOW THEY WERE MADE

The Victorian Railways ordered two 2-6-2 side tank steam locomotives from the Baldwin Locomotives works, Philadelphia, U.S.A, in 1898 as prototypes for use on the four narrow gauge lines. They received the road numbers 1A and 2A. The Railways then proceeded to construct 15 more at their Newport Workshops between 1900-15 numbered 3A to17A. The official class designation was NA, the N being for Narrow Gauge and the A because they were the first type of locomotive.
The Gembrook line was the second of the narrow gauge lines to be closed. In 1953 the forth landslide between Selby and Mensies Creek threatened to close the railway permanently. The Victorian Government several years earlier had agreed to extend the existing electrified suburban system beyond Upper Ferntree Gully to Belgrave gobbling up the first four miles of the narrow gauge line and this was surely to be the end. Fortunately the sun newspaper and the Victorian railways decided to run "farewell to Puffing Billy" trains in 1954 and 1955 between Upper Ferntree Gully and Belgrave. The public response was overwhelming and with the visionary leadership of mister Harold Hewett a fledging Preservation Society with the aim of Keeping Puffing Billy running was formed. February, 1958 saw the last train in Belgrave, the Puffing Billy preservation society declaring it’s intention to reopen the line beyond Belgrave to Menzies Creek.

PUFFING BILLY'S RETURN

Puffing Billy returned to service in July 1962 running the four miles to Menzies creek; some five month after the new electrified line reached Belgrave.Work commenced on the next two and a half miles to emerald and this was opened in July; 1965.It was to be over 10 years before the Emerald-Lakeside section was opened in October, 1975, the length of journey now being eight and a half miles and taking about one hour in each direction.

REPAIRING THE RAILWAY TO GEMBROOK

The society was content to consolidate and improve the existing railway over the next decade. February 1991;saw reconstruction commence on the last remaining leg to Gembrook with the goal of opening no later than the year 2,000. Work proceeded at such a pace that the grand opening to Gembrook was able to take place in October 1998. The 14-mile takes from one and half-hours to two hours direction. Puffing Billy runs every day of the year except Christmas Day, up to six times tabled trains run each day over the holidays periods and in excess of 230,000 passengers ride the train each year.

By Samuel,Matthew and Jarryd

from EMERALD PRIMARY SCHOOL

For more on Puffing Billy ...click here

With special thanks to Samuels dad for supplying the info and to Puffing Billy Railways for giving us the pictures.