Historical information

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.

Significance

This record is testament to the enduring popularity of this (now) tourist train of the Dandenong Ranges.

Physical description

A 45 RPM short-play vinyl record inside a carboard cover with a photograph of Puffing Billy

Inscriptions & markings

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.