Dandenong Ranges Nature Photography » Trains

Travelling the Puffing Billy

Kathie Thomas — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:28:16 +0000

As I mentioned recently, my husband and I had guests from interstate and we spent a day with them on the Puffing Billy train. The train leaves from Belgrave and travels to Emerald Lake Park and then moves on to Gembrook. We chose to go as far as Emerald Lake Park, have lunch and wander around and then catch the train back to Belgrave. That, in itself, was a pretty full day. There were a lot of carriages on the train when we caught it and two engines pulling them but once we got to Menzies Creek many of the tourists got off to get on buses and the extra carriages taken off and we were put back to one engine only. In reverse, the second engine was added back on when we got back to Menzies Creek.

It was a long train and yes, people do sit hanging their legs out of the windows.

Coupling back up after removing one of the engines.

All aboard! Leaving Emerald Lake Park station.

Returning back to Belgrave. The two engines pull the carriages across the historic Trestle Bridge.

Puffing Billy at Emerald Lake Park

Kathie — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:01:12 +0000

One of the ways that people come to visit the park is in travelling on the Puffing Billy train. It makes a few visits a day to the Park, sometimes travelling through to Gembrook or returning back to Belgrave.

In these shots I was standing on the hill below as it was making changes getting ready to return to Belgrave.

The trestle bridge

Kathie — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 21:39:43 +0000

I had queried something I’d seen on the trestle bridge in one of my photos recently and was told that the rail bridge has an annual inspection and then an independently structural integrity inspection every 5 years. They also inspect for pest infestation. Some of the bridge uprights date back to 1920 and are still in perfect condition which speaks a lot for what the early pioneer railway men knew in those days. I was thanked for my concern and I appreciated being given the above information.

This is a span of the trestle bridge in Belgrave.

More on the Puffing Billy

Kathie — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:15:47 +0000

Just can’t resist pulling out my camera if I know the Puffing Billy is near by!

Yes, I was a bit close for this one! I could feel the heat from the smoke as it passed me by – but don’t worry, I was standing aside and not on the track.

And when it left the crossing

Puffing Billy, Selby

Kathie — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:52:02 +0000

And then I hopped into my car quickly to try and get past all the buses and tourists also at the bridge to get to the crossing near my home in Selby. I knew the tourists weren’t heading there but I had to be on the road before they were just to get there in time.

This crossing is literally up the hill on my street.

And after the crossing

Puffing Billy, Belgrave

Kathie — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:47:18 +0000

Yesterday I deliberately went to collect my mail later so I could co-incide my trip home with the passing of the Puffing Billy. These are some shots of the steam train as it travels on the trestle bridge in Belgrave, Victoria.

As it was approaching the bridge

And on the bridge

Puffing Billy Train

Kathie — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:02:24 +0000

Filling up at Emerald.

Puffing Billy train

Kathie — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:13:36 +0000

This train is heading back to Belgrave after being to Gembrook. At Gembrook they move the engine to the other end of the carriages to head back. Always amuses me how the engine travels backwards.

Puffing Billy Train

Kathie — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:19:11 +0000

They periodically run a diesel engine to pull the passenger cars and this one was crossing our street just the other day. I took photos of it at the Belgrave station some time ago.

Puffing Billy Train

Kathie — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:38:44 +0000

Another shot close to our home.