This booklet recounts the story of Puffing Billy's inception in 1900; the landslide in 1952 which led to closure in 1958; the public campaign for re-opening of the line; a partial reopening in 1962 followed by a return to Emerald Station in 1965. It also discusses the history and role of the Puffing Billy Presentation Society which produced this booklet c. 1960s.This booklet recounts the history of a Victorian tourist icon, Puffing Billy.Paperback booklet entitled 'The Puffing Billy Story'. Color front photograph with black and white photographs inside. 18 pages.On the front printed: 'THE PUFFING BILLY STORY' On the back printed: 'The / Good Old / Days / Engine 8A on the Gembrook / car-goods train at the / water tank between Selby / and Menzie's Creek. /The landslide which was / responsible for the / closing of the line in 1953 / occurred near this spot.'puffing billy, puffing billy presentation society, 1960s

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;

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

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;

This 7-inch vinyl 45 RPM children's record 'The Puffing Billy Song' was produced in 1975 with organ by Tom Mitchell and vocal and lyrics by Alan Rowe. It was a song about Puffing Billy, the famous tourist steam train operating in the Dandenong Ranges. Puffing Billy started its life in 1900 as a narrow-gauge railway line linking Ferntree Gully to Gembrook and provided an invaluable transport connection for hills communities and their businesses to Melbourne. On the flip side of this record is another children's song entitled 'The Local Baby Show' which is also written and sung by Alan Rowe.This record is testament to the enduring popularity of this (now) tourist train of the Dandenong Ranges.A 45 RPM short-play vinyl record inside a carboard cover with a photograph of Puffing Billy On front cover: 'The / PUFFING / BILLY / Song/ WITH / Alan Rowe' On back cover: On back cover, handwritten 'Best Wishes / Alan Rowe' plus printed information about the two songs on the record, about Puffing Billy and about the production company.puffing billy, dandenong ranges

Historic - Puffing Billy Railway Locomotive Head Board used on Young Volunteers Operating Days Historic - Puffing Billy Railway Locomotive Head Board used on Young Volunteers Operating Days Locomotive Head Board - Puffing Billy Railway - Young Volunteers Operating Day tin sign with Black vinyl letteringYoung Volunteers Operating Day Puffing Billy Railway puffing billy, young vounteers day, head board

Puffing Billy Memorial Wine Glass - Return to Gembrook 1900 - 1998Historic - Puffing Billy Railway - Commemorative Wine glassPuffing Billy Memorial Wine Glass - Return to Gembrook 1900 - 1998 Made of Glass with gold edged rim Has Black Logo design and writing Puffing Billy Return to Gembrook 1900 - 1998puffing billy memorial wine glass - return to gembrook 1900 - 1998

Station Sign - Puffing Billy Direction Trains At Menzies Creek, a Puffing Billy train has had to pass another train since 1966, due to a single line in operation from Belgrave or Emerald / Lakeside / Cockatoo / Gembrook to enable more trains to operate. When two trains passed at Menzies Creek, to assist passengers to travel on the correct train, this sign was erected. The arrows pointed towards the direction of travel as well as the locomotive that was hauling the train. This sign dates from 1975 when the line was re-opened to Lakeside. Historic - Puffing Billy Railway - Station Sign used at Menzies Creek to show next station directionStation Sign - Puffing Billy Direction Trains to Belgrave - Emerald & Lakeside Large rectangle wooden sign Puffing Billy Trains to BELGRAVE Trains to EMERALD & LAKESIDEpuffing billy, menzies creek, station sign

Carriage Sign - Early Puffing Billy Volunteer Advertising These signs were fitted to NBH style carriages. Historic - Puffing Billy Railway Carriage Sign - Early Puffing Billy Volunteer AdvertisingCarriage Sign - Early Puffing Billy Preservation Society Volunteer Advertising Grey timber sign with black painted text.Looking for a Hobby if you like - steam trains - meeting people - handy man jobs - working outdoors Become a Puffing Billy Volunteer Enquire at Puffing Billy's Belgrave Station on your return puffing billy, nbh, advertising

Historic - Puffing Billy Railway Locomotive Head Board - used in the Celebrating 100 years of the Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook railway. Historic - Puffing Billy Railway Locomotive Head Board - used in the Celebrating 100 years of the Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook railway. Locomotive Head Board - Puffing Billy 100 Years Celebration Tin head board with cream, red, white and black vinyl.Puffing Billy 18 December 1900 - 18 December 2000 100 Yearspuffing billy, head board, 100 years

Carriage Sign - Puffing Billy Museum Advertising This board was used to advertise the Menzies Creek Museum after it opened in 1970. This particular sign was displayed inside, on the end of the Puffing Billy NBH type carriages. Historic - Puffing Billy Railway - Carriage Sign - Puffing Billy Museum Advertising fitted to NBH carriages.Carriage Sign - Puffing Billy Museum Advertising metal signVisit the Puffing Billy Steam Museum you can see - Steam Locomotives - Working Exhibits - Early Rolling Stock - Souvenirs available the museum is located at Menzies Creek & opens every Sunday 11am to 5pmpuffing billy, puffing billy museum, carriage sign

Historic - early period - Puffing Billy Railway Museum Sign Historic - early Puffing Billy Railway Museum Sign Puffing Billy Museum Entry Sign Large painted metal Puffing Billy Museum Entry Signpuffing billy, entry sign, puffing billy museum

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

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

The Museum was first considered in 1963 when it was felt that Victorian narrow gauge railway history was quickly being destroyed by progress. Originally it was planned to only cater for two locomotives and some rolling stock associated with the Moe and Walhalla Railway. Construction of the site commenced on Labour Day Weekend in March 1964, the area was then fenced. The first exhibit arrived soon after and companies with locomotives and other railway features offered items to the Museum. When interesting exhibits from the "Steam Era " were known to be coming available,discussions were held with the owners in an attempt to obtain the item for preservation. In 1965 an Umbrella style shed was built and by May, the first locomotive ex Erica State Saw Mill (CLIMAX) had arrived. The Museum was opened to the public in November 1970 but was officially opened by His Excellency the Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delacombe on Saturday 7th April 1973.Historic - Puffing Billy Museum Entry SignPuffing Billy Museum Entry Sign Rectangular hand painted sign in use from 1970.Puffing Billy Museum This is one of the Volunteer activities of The Puffing Billy Preservation Society Preserving part of our National Heritage Proud to Help Preserve Australia's Heritage puffing billy, menzies creek, sir rohan delacombe, narrow gauge, steam

Imaginative children's story about how Puffing Billy came back into operation after a long period of disuse. (Puffing Billy was closed in 1955 following a landslide and reopened after a community campaign to save it.)Soft cover. Full colour illustration on the front and colour illustrations throughout book. (All drawings.)On front cover: ' Puffing Billy / Back on the Rails / by Gwen Ryder Elkins / Illustrations by / Robyn Matthews'puffing billy railway

used to Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Belgrave to Menzies Creek line reopening used to Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Belgrave to Menzies Creek line reopening Locomotive Head Board - Puffing Billy 30 Years White round tin head board with black vinyl letters.Puffing Billy 30 Years 1962-1992 Belgrave - Menzies Creekpuffing billy, head board

31 cmnon-fictionHistory of Puffing Billy and its stations with lovely colour photosbelgrave, gembrook, lakeside, steam musuem

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

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