-
Puffing Billy started to carry
In 1895 Puffing Billy started to carry. The things Puffing Billy carried were, fruit, veg, timbre and plants. -
14A comes to Belgrave
14A was in 1914 and started it's life at the Beech forest railway in Colac. The Beechy line was closed in 1962 so 14A moved to the Puffing Billy locomotive after a short time in the shed,in 1965. 14A has been taking tourist for Puffing Billy till this day. -
Ten trains
puffing billyThe line was very busy 1 day because there were ten trains on the line at once running each way.This the record level. -
Tecoma station
Tecoma didn't have a station untill 1924. On dec the 1st lot of people came to see Puffing Billy at the station in Tecoma. -
Big losses
Even though the service was popular, the Gembrook line lost$26,ooo in one year. This was the worst performing line in the whole Victorian Railway network. -
50th Aniversary of railway
1950the railway celebrates its 50th Anniversary. -
Small rock fall
In 1952 there was a small rock fall. -
Rock fall
In 1953, there was a big rock fall, so Puffing billy got closed down. They left the rocks for a long time because they dindn't have the money to move the rocks. Then grass started to grow though the rocks so it got really hard to move. -
last trip
The railway closed in Dec 1954. The Sun newspaper organised the young Sun specials to Upper Frentree Gully and Belgrave. To give the kids one last time to say good bye to puffing Billy. -
Tourist trains
The Buffing billy Preseration Society coninues to take tourist trains. Between Upper Ferntree Gully and Belgrave untill 1958. -
Bushfire
There were bushfires during the summer in 1956-57. One of them took away one of the trestle bridges between Wright and Cockatoo Creek. -
Belgrave platform
The new Belgrave platform got build in 1960 -
Puffing Billy reopened
In 1961 Puffing Billy reopened. Menzies Creek opened in 1962, Emerald opened in 1965, Lakeside opened in 1975 and then Gembrook opened in 1998 -
100,000th passenger
In May 1963 the railway has celebrated its 100,000 passenger. -
Twilight Specials
In the long summer evernings 1973, there were 7 Twilight Specials. The Specials went to Menzies Creek and Emerald. -
14A is stolen
An unusual thing happened in 1974 , when 14A was stolen. They had driven as far as Selby but got intecepted by police and railway staff. -
Preservation Society
The Puffing Billy preservation Society celebrates its 50th anniversary. -
8,000,000th passenger
Puffing Billy carries its 8,000,000th passenger. Since the reopening in 1962. -
Numbers continue to grow
Around 250,00 poeple travel onthe railway. Many from interstate and overseas. -
Bad Weather
A large tree fell on Puffing Billy shed at the Belgrave Station. This made a lot of damage like collapsing a part of the roof.
