Puffing Billy

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by Jasper, Cory and Debbie

During the late 1800's bullock drays were used to carry timber, plants from Nobelius Nursery, potatoes and other vegetables from the farms in the Emerald area. In winter the tracks became too muddy for the bullock drays to get through.The farmers, timber mill owners and the Nobelius family put pressure on the government to build a train line up into the hills.There was already a broad guage train line from Melbourne to Ferntree Gully.

In 1900 there was a narrow guage railway line opened between Ferntree Gully and Gembrook. The first trip was on the 18th of  December 1900. So this year, 2000, is the centenary of Puffing Billy (it's also is the birthday of one of the boys in our grade).
Puffing Billy was used to take people and goods between Ferntree Gully and Gembrook. The farms in the Emerald and Gembrook area grew potatoes, carrots and other vegetables as well as the huge Nobelius Nursery which all used Puffing Billy to transport their goods to Melbourne to the markets and to be shipped to other places. Puffing Billy became very popular for bringing visitors up to the hills area.

  In 1952 a landslide blocked the track and Puffing Billy had to stop until it was cleared.  In 1953 a really big landslide came across the railway tracks at  the same place but this time the railway was officially closed.  A lot of people were upset to see Puffing Billy stop so they got together and started the Puffing Billy Preservation Society, which is still going now.  Lots of volunteers worked to build new stations and lay new tracks so Puffing Billy could run again from Belgrave to Menzies Creek, then after more work it went down to Emerald Lake.   In 1999 all the bridges and tracks were finished being rebuilt so that Puffing Billy could go back into Gembrook.Puffing Billy's tracks have always run along the back of our school.    

Emerald Station Today	Puffing Billy Today