Puffing Billy - Belgrave to Emerald

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This century-old steam train continues to run on its original mountain track from Belgrave to Gembrook in the magnificent Dandenong Ranges 40kms east of Melbourne. Puffing Billy was built to serve at the turn of the century and is a genuine relic of our more leisurely days. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

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The route is challenging, involving many sharp curves, and steep grades. It includes three trestle bridges, and four level crossings. From Emerald (altitude 318.5m, or 994 ft) the line steadily falls to Cockatoo Creek bridge (altitude about 160 m or 520 ft) on grades varying between 1 in 40 (2.5%) and 1 in 61 (1.6%), but mostly between 1 in 40 and 1 in 44. The last 0.8km (half mile) from Cockatoo Creek to Cockatoo is on a rising grade of 1 in 30 (33.3%) equal to the steepest on the line. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

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On leaving Emerald the railway immediately crosses Kilvington Drive by level crossing, then commences the descent to Cockatoo Creek, with long distance views toward Westernport Bay on the right hand side of the train. The line then crosses the Emerald-Beaconsfield Road by level crossing. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

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About half a mile from Emerald, on the left hand side, is Nobelius Siding, where the packing shed of the former Nobelius & Co. nursery is located. This was built in 1904. From here products from the nursery - mostly fruit trees - were sent all over Australia, and overseas. The nursery closed in 1955, and the packing shed is now owned by the Puffing Billy Railway and used for special functions, such as dinners and wedding receptions. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

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This famous timber bridge of 15 spans, now classified by the National Trust of Victoria, carries the Railway over Monbulk Creek and the main Gembrook Road. It is 91.4m (300 feet) long, 12.8m (42 feet) high. The car park below is a popular place for viewing and photographing the train. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

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With lush fern gullies brushing past and Mountain Ash trees towering overhead, Puffing Billy makes for a wonderful opportunity to relax and breathe in the fresh air whilst the train makes its way through the temperate rainforest. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

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This century-old steam train continues to run on its original mountain track from Belgrave to Gembrook in the magnificent Dandenong Ranges 40kms east of Melbourne. Puffing Billy was built to serve at the turn of the century and is a genuine relic of our more leisurely days. FROM: Puffing Billy Website. IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth. TAKEN: May 2017

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Visitors from around the world enjoy travelling aboard Puffing Billy. Step back in time whilst dangling your legs over the side of the carriage. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

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The railway now enters the Emerald Lake Park, and a series of sharp curves begins. Two kilometres (1.2 miles) from Emerald the small station of Nobelius is passed on the right hand side, then the railway goes round a large horse-shoe curve before arriving at Lakeside station, which is 3.5 km (2-1/4 miles) from Emerald. This station serves Emerald Lake Park, and was the terminus of the line from 1975 to 1998. Most trains from Belgrave terminate at Lakeside. This will be where the locomotive takes water. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

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Puffing Billy was built to serve at the turn of the century and is a genuine relic of our more leisurely days. The Railway is the major survivor of four experimental lines used to develop rural areas in the early 1900s. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

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The Puffing Billy railway was one of four low-cost 2'6" (762mm) gauge lines constructed in Victoria in the early 1900s to open up remote areas. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

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The present line between Belgrave and Gembrook, through the forests, fern gullies and farmlands of the magnificent Dandenong Ranges, is the major part of the line which opened on 18 December 1900 and operated over 18.2 miles (29km) between Upper Ferntree Gully and Gembrook until 1953. In 1953, a landslide blocked the track and, because of operating losses, the line was closed the following year. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

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After leaving Lakeside the railway crosses the Emerald Lake access road by level crossing and enters the Wright Forest. The next section includes an unusually long straight stretch before crossing Wright Road by level crossing. Wright Road is a minor gravel road. After crossing the road, Wright station - a small corrugated iron waiting shed - is passed on the left hand side. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

0309 Puffing Billy

The Puffing Billy railway was one of four low-cost 2'6" (762mm) gauge lines constructed in Victoria in the early 1900s to open up remote areas. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

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Shortly after the Avonsleigh Station the first trestle bridge is crossed, passing over a small creek. This bridge of four spans is on a slight curve, and is 24.4 m (80 ft) long and 7.6 m (25 ft) high. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

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The line then passes round a five chain radius curve before coming to the highest bridge on the railway, which is on a three chain radius curve crossing a deep gully. This bridge is of ten spans, and is 61 m (200 ft) long and 15.2 m (50 ft) high of ten spans. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

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After crossing that bridge another five chain radius curve takes the railway along the side of a valley, with views to the main Belgrave-Gembrook Road on the left hand side, and the Wright Forest on the right-hand side. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017

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At Cockatoo station you will use the loop siding to run the locomotive round the train. The original Cockatoo station was demolished in about 1961, and the present station accommodation is temporary. FROM: Puffing Billy Website IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: May 2017