Puffing Billy Preservation Society 50th Anniversary sign This is the large poster board that was erected at Lakeside to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society in 2005. Established in 1955, the Puffing Billy Preservation Society was formed to operate the narrow gauge trains between Upper Fern Tree Gully and Belgrave following the successful Young Sun specials. With the conversion of the Upper Fern Tree Gully to Belgrave line to broad gauge track, the Puffing Billy Preservation Society was the instigator of restoring the Puffing Billy Railway from Belgrave to Menzies Creek in 1962, Menzies Creek to Emerald in 1965 and Emerald to Lakeside in 1975 and in association with the Emerald Tourist Railway Board, Lakeside to Gembrook in 1998. Historic - Puffing Billy Preservation Society - Station Sign - for the 50th Anniversary of the Preservation SocietyPuffing Billy Preservation Society 50th Anniversary sign Large rectangle metal sign - off white back ground with black lettering Puffing Billy Preservation Society 1955 - 50th Anniversary - 2005 1900 . Line opened by Victorian Railways 1953 . Landslide - Line closed by V.R 1955 . Society established 1962 . Re-opened by Society Today still predominantly volunteer - operated puffing billy, preservation society, station sign, 50th anniversary, lakeside station

Puffing Billy Preservation Society contact sign Contact details of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society on this sign were located at Belgrave in a prominent position. It dates to pre 1994, possibly pre 1977. The sign shows telephone numbers of seven digits in use before the current eight digits were introduced around 1994. The numbers shown here are no longer in use for the Puffing Billy Railway. Historic - Puffing Billy Preservation Society signPuffing Billy Preservation Society contact sign small wooden rectangle painted sign Puffing Billy Preservation Society Enquirespuffing billy, sign

The Puffing Billy Preservation Society came into existence by a popular desire to retain something of our narrow gauge railway past, leisurely in this age but a boon to the sparsely settled areas it served in the past. It served the Wangaratta-Whitefield line, the Upper Ferntree Gully-Gembrook line, the Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes line, and the Moe-Walhalla line, the last railway line served being the Colac-Beech Forest line. None of these railways were a paying proposition but they played an important part in the areas they served. Nowadays, the last bit of line is a portion of the Upper Ferntree Gully-Gembrook line, from Belgrave to Lakeside, run by the Society. The Engine Shed has several small NA-class locomotives with NBH excursion carriages, and at the moment the Garratt G class in pieces. Here comes Puffing Billy! Puffing Billy Preservation Society; Belgrave (Vic); nd (after Aug. 1962). 18 p.; illus., maps. Soft cover.puffing billy preservation society; railways; wangaratta; whitefield; upper frentree gully; gembrook; colac; beech forest; crowes; moe; walhalla;

1NBH - Excursion Car (28) Replica body built by Puffing Billy Preservation Society, Emerald in 1976. Puffing Billy Service History or Notes April 2016 - Being repainted, the new bogie to be fitted for trialsPuffing Billy Railway Excursion carriage1NBH

Victoria's narrow gauge railways were from Wangaratta to Whitfield (covering 30.5 miles/49 km) opening in 1899, Colac to Beech Forest (29 miles/46.7 km) opening in 1902 with an addition to Crowes (14.1 miles/22.7 km) opening in 1910, Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook (18.2 miles/29.3 km) opening in 1900, and Moe to Walhalla (26 miles/41.3 km) opening in 1910. From the outset these narrow gauge lines proved very uneconomical in operation and were plagued with continuing financial losses. The lines most difficult to work were those carrying the most business, and in particular the trains from Colac and Moe with their 1 in 30 grades and countless curves precluded having engines with large coupled driving wheels operating. Having examined the possible use of articulated locomotives to reduce operating costs on the narrow gauge lines the Victorian Railways decided upon the Beyer-Garratt type of locomotive in 1925 and an order was placed in England for two engines of the 2-6-0 plus 0-6-2 wheel arrangements. These arrived in April 1926. Assembly of the new Garratts was duly completed and steaming trials carried out at Newport, Victoria, the engines being classed as "G" and given the running numbers "41" and "42". G41 was taken to Colac where, on 5 June 1926, it was put to work on the Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes line. G42 soon followed and duly began work on the equally steep and tortuous but shorter Moe-Walhalla line. Following the closure of the Moe line in 1955 G42 was refurbished and went to Colac. G41 was overhauled, but not as thoroughly as G42, at then returned to Colac where both Garratts shared regular work on the line until its closure in 1962. From 1978 G42 continues its operation on the Upper Ferntree Gully-Gembrook line as part of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society.G42: Puffing Billy's Big Brother. Pictorial history of a Beyer-Garratt in Victoria, Australia. Phil A'Vard, Larry James, Ron Peach (concept). Puffing Billy Preservation Society; Belgrave (Vic); 1980. 64 p.; illus; map. Soft cover. ISBN 0 9598392 7 5victorian railways; narrow gauge; moe; walhalla; colac; beech forest; crowes; upper ferntree gully; gembrook; beyer-garratt;

In the earliest years of the Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes line all trains were hauled by NA-class 2-6-2 tank locomotives. From 1926, with the introduction of articulated Beyer Garrett locomotive G41, it hauled the majority of trains with the NAs providing supplementary service as required. Late in 1945 Garratt G41 was again out of action undergoing repairs at the depot in Colac so regular traffic again was handled by an NA for a short time. The line continued to survive on pulpwood long after other VR narrow gauge lines had ceased operation but finally, on 30 June 1962, a dilapidated G42 hauled the last train of goods wagons and vans to Beech Forest and return.Focus on Victoria's Narrow Gauge: Beech Forest Line, Part One. John E. Thompson. Puffing Billy Preservation Society; Belgrave (Vic); Jan 2004. vi, 42 p.; illus; maps. Soft cover. ISBN 0 9579792 4 Xvictorian railways; narrow gauge; beech forest; colac; crowes; edward a. downs; john e. thompson;

NVW 1 - Track Patrol vehicle Rebuilt by Puffing Billy Volunteers given Number NVW 1 as it was built with a (VW) Volks wagon engine Was originally a trolley on the Australian Portland Cement Ltd at Fyansford Victoria Obtained by the Puffing Billy Preservation Society around 1968. Originally 3'6" ( 1067mm) before being rebuilt. Historic - Puffing Billy Track patrol - Rail Vehicle - NVW 1 NVW 1 - Track Patrol vehicle made of metal & steel with canvas vinyl blindsNVW 1puffing billy, nvw 1, trolley, trolly

15NBH - Excursion Car Body built by Puffing Billy Preservation Society 1976. NBH - SECOND CLASS EXCURSION CAR. The H was recognising their use for "Holiday" traffic. Originally 15 of these cars were built in 1919 and numbered 1-15. Four were broken up prior to 1962, and replaced with new vehicles in 1975-76. Two more were built in 1981, and numbered 16 & 17. Two extended versions for wheelchair passengers were built in 1981 & 1983. These were numbered 51 & 52 - a separate number series due to the different type of vehicle. Six, numbered 18-23, were built in 1997-98. These had steel frames, padded seats, and a wide "window sill". At first glance they look the same as the previous NBHs. There are other minor construction differences due to the use of steel framing. 18NBH entered traffic 19/4/1997; 19NBH on 5/12/1997; 20NBH on 19/12/1997, the others added in 1998. VR Service History 8/12/1919 NWS Built new *NBH 15.VA - 8/12/1919 NWS Built new - / 3/1928 - Modified AC Malco BO circa 1955 - Condemned - 1/ 7/1962 - Scrapped. Replica body built by Puffing Billy Preservation Society 1976. Puffing Billy Service History or Notes 8 Dec 1919 - Nos 7 to 15 NBH (new) delivered to UPPER FERN TREE GULLY after this date.Historic - Victorian Railways Narrow Gauge - Passenger Rolling Stock: Excursion Car 15 NBH - Passenger Carriage - Excursion Car made of steel and timber15NBHvictorian railways, puffing billy railway

Station Sign - Fielder Fielder Station is situated on the Puffing Billy Railway in Australia. It opened as a Stopping Place on Monday 10 September 1928, as part of the Gembrook railway line. It was originally an unnamed platform, with time tables noting a station at 38 miles (61 km). In 1929, local Harry Watson constructed a Mallee shed and unofficially named it Ancaster after his home town in Lincolnshire, England, but this was quickly changed by some children to Laura, who was a young local girl. The Victorian Railways officially named it Fielder from Tuesday 5 February 1929, after a nearby resident. It was planned to name the station after the two local residents Cullen and Fielder and combinations of the two names were suggested, however Fielder was the name finally chosen. It remained nothing more than a Mallee shed with small office and a name board for the rest of its operating life. It was closed with the line on 30 April 1954 and the Mallee shed was sold to US Buslines for unknown use. After closure, the site fell into disrepair, and by the 1990s, little trace of Fielder remained. However, by that time, efforts were being made to extend the railway from Lakeside through to Gembrook, which would complete the entire length of the original line. In 1996, a group of volunteers led by Richard Schurmann in collaboration with the descendants of the Fielder family rebuilt the platform and waiting shed, which was officially re-opened on Saturday 19 April 1997 in preparation for the extension of the line which re-opened in 1998. On 18 November 2012 a plaque was unveiled on the station shed in tribute to the Fielder Family Trains do not normally stop at Fielder ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fielder_railway_station photos at http://www.vicrailstations.com/Gembrook/Fielder/Fielder.htmlHistoric - Station sign used at Fielder StationStation Sign - Fielder wooden rectangle Station name sign pained black background with white lettersFielderpuffing billy, station sign, fielder station

5NBH - Excursion Car Replica body built by Puffing Billy Preservation Society, Emerald – 1975. Puffing Billy Service History or Notes : Oct 2009 - In for repairs and a lift. Oct 2016 - In for repairs and repaint. Nov 2016 - Repainted NBH SECOND-CLASS EXCURSION CAR. The H was recognising their use for "Holiday" traffic. 15 of these cars were built in 1919 and numbered 1-15. Two more were built in 1981, and numbered 16 & 17. Two extended versions for wheelchair passengers were built in 1981 & 1983. These were numbered 51 & 52 - a separate number series due to the different type of vehicle. Six, numbered 18-23, were built in 1997-98. These had steel frames, padded seats, and a wide "window sill". At first glance they look the same as the previous NBHs. There are other minor construction differences due to the use of steel framing. 18NBH entered traffic 19/4/1997; 19NBH on 5/12/1997; 20NBH on 19/12/1997, the others added in 1998. Historic - Puffing Billy Railways Narrow Gauge - Passenger Rolling Stock: Excursion Car 5 NBH -Passenger Carriage - Excursion Car made of wrought iron and timber5NBHpuffing billy, 5nbh, 5nbh - excursion car

Puffing Billy Shot Glass - Puffing Billy Preservation Society fund raising item Historic - Puffing Billy Railway - Puffing Billy Preservation Society Fund raising item - Shot GlassPuffing Billy Shot Glass - Puffing Billy Preservation Society fund raising item puffing billy, shot glass, pbps fund raising item

non-fictionLineside Guide showing where all the lines were put in Puffing Billy railway linelakeside and paradise valley stations, nobelius siding

30 cmnon-fictionVictoria's narrow gauge Gembrook Line : a pictorial tribute to the late Edward A Downs, railway historianpuffing billy railway, narrow gauge railway

30 cmnon-fictionVictoria's narrow gauge Gembrook Line : a pictorial tribute to the late Edward A Downs, railway historianpuffing billy railway, narrow gauge railway

30 cmnon-fictionVictoria's narrow gauge Gembrook Line : a pictorial tribute to the late Edward A Downs, railway historianpuffing billy railway, narrow gauge railway

ill, maps, p.42.non-fictionA pictorial history by Edward A.Downs of the 2'6" VR narrow gauge railway to Gembrook in Victoria.puffing billy - victoria - history, vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history

ill, maps, p.22.non-fictionA history of the Climax geared locomotive from its time on the Victorian Forestry Commission railway near Erica, to preservation on the Puffing Billy railway.preserved locomotives - victoria - history, puffing billy - victoria - history

ill, maps, p.64.non-fictionA pictorial history of G41 & G42 the Beyer-Garratt in Victoria, Australiagarratt locomotives - australia - history, vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history

ill, maps, p.130.non-fictionThe story of the narrow gauge 2'6" branch lines of the Victorian Railways up to 1963.puffing billy - victoria - history, vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history

ill, maps, p.163.non-fictionThe story of the narrow gauge 2'6" branch lines of the Victorian Railways up to 1963 with an extra chapter covering 1963 to 2017.puffing billy - victoria - history, vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history

index, ill, p.255.non-fictionThe writings of Richard Hughes from The Victorian Railway Magazine 1927-1930. Selected, edited and with commentary by David Burke to provide a nostalgic journey across Victoria's great railways. railroad operations - victoria - history, railroads - victorian railways - personal reminiscence

ill, maps, p.41.non-fictionA Pictorial history of the Victorian Railways narrow gauge 2'6" branch line from Wangaratta to Whitfield in North East Victoria, & a tribute to the late Edward A. Downs, Railway Historian.railroad construction - victoria - history, railroads - victoria - whitfield - history

index, ill, p.217.non-fictionA history of the restoration of the 2'6" narrow gauge railway from Belgrave to Emerald in Victoria between 1955 to 1965.vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history, puffing billy - victoria - history

ill, maps. p.8.non-fictionA brief outline of first 10 year of the preserved 2'6" Puffing Billy railway from Belgrave to Emerald in Victoria from 1962.vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history, puffing billy - victoria - history

ill, p.18.non-fictionA brief outline of the next 10 year of the preserved 2'6" Puffing Billy railway from Belgrave to Lakeside in Victoria from 1973.vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history, puffing billy - victoria - history

ill, maps. p.16.non-fictionA brief outline of the history of the VR 2'6" narrow gauge railways of Victoria and the preserved Puffing Billy railway from Belgrave to Lakeside in Victoria.vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history, puffing billy - victoria - history

ill, maps. p.14.non-fictionA brief outline of the history of the VR 2'6" narrow gauge railways of Victoria and the preserved Puffing Billy railway from Belgrave to Lakeside in Victoria.vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history, puffing billy - victoria - history