Travelling the Puffing Billy

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.

On the Puffing Billy

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

Coupling up the engine

Coupling back up after removing one of the engines.

The flagman

All aboard!  Leaving Emerald Lake Park station.

On the trestle bridge

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

More on the Puffing Billy

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

Approaching Selby crossing

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.

At the Selby Crossing

And when it left the crossing

Leaving the Selby Crossing

Puffing Billy train

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

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

This is near the Selby crossing – just up the road from our home.

The Puffing Billy

My new home is now only minutes away from the home of the Puffing Billy train, which travels from Belgrave to Gembrook and back on a daily basis. I love hearing the whistle blow every day as it makes its journey several times a day. And yet, it was only last week for the first time that I actually got stopped at the train crossing on our street.  I have deliberately made sure I’ve been at the crossing other days so I can get shots of this train.  This week photos will be of the train at different stations, crossings or on the famous trestle bridge.