Travelling the Puffing Billy

October 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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.

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The trestle bridge

July 11, 2010 By 1 Comment

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.

Puffing Billy Train, Selby

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