A Day at Puffing Billy Railway - 2021

Puffing Billy Railway is one of Australia's most iconic railways, and in this episode we take a look at the railway, and what there is to do on a off the train, including Menzies Creek Railway Museum, the newly opened Visitors information centre at Lakeside as well as some local restaurants.
Puffing Billy Links:
Facebook: PuffingBillyRailway
Website: www.puffingbilly.com.au
The Independent:
Facebook: TheIndependentGembrook
Website: www.theindependentgembrook.com.au
Spencer's Store:
Website: www.spencersstoregembrook.com
Facebook: spencersstoregembrook
My Links:
Instagram: Willjamesrailway
Facebook: willjamesrailways
Website: www.willjamesrailways.com
Railway Mechanise: www.willjamesrailways.com/products
Patreon: www.patreon.com/willjamesrailways
Shot in 4k, best watched in Full HD. Cameras used: A7RIII with SONY 55mm, RX100VII, and DJI Mavic Air with Rode Video Mic Pro +

[@patriciabrasier8862]

Hello, I'm in my late 80s, and grew up in the Dandenongs. The train originally used to run right through to Gembrook from Belgrave. It took mail and deliveries to people who lived there. The tracks you mentioned used to run through to a Potato farm, and the farms were still there around 1946 or so. I remember they used to transport the vegetables on the train from the farms. The farms were owned by a Dutch family, but I can't remember their name. When I was 8 I used to play on the train trucks (carriages that carried the produce), while they were stationed at Belgrave. Lovely video. Brought back many memories. Thank you.

[@WildWillex]

Didn’t the line start at Upper Ferntree Gully?

[@CalebsCrossingsYT]

@@WildWillexYes it did, but i think he meant, there was no stopping at lakeside and whatnot, the trains were a non-stop express. But the V.R. Did remove the section to Belgrave before the closure of the line to make way for broad guage, and the station was then rebuilt.

[@CalebsCrossingsYT]

Upper furntree gully also had a huge transfer yard for the 2 gauges, and some wagons to convert the NA’s to broad and run em over to the bigger powerhouses for overhauls and such

[@allychat8496]

I’ve been going to Puffing Billy for years, nearly every time I visit Melbourne. I always enjoyed riding and watching the Garratts as well as the cute NAs. They are Australia’s most successful preservation railway.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Fantastic to hear! They sure do have a really nice collection!

[@hieronymusbosch9421]

Enjoyed watching that. Lots of memories of my first trip in the mid 70s. Still get some of that excitement when I take my boy on it almost 50 years later.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Great to hear! Also love your user name!

[@thefunnywatermelon2983]

I Remember 3 years ago when I went on puffing billy when I was 9!. And I Waved at some childs on a field we where driving past on the train and that was really cool!. I Even asked the driver If i could help because my dad convinced me into asking lol. Its good memories and I really wanna go on puffing billy again because his name is cute and steam trains are cute so that will be fun. Great video by the way!!!.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks for sharing that! It’s always a great day out!

[@VROllie1]

G'day Will, really enjoyed your video. The tracks at the fire station were put in place when the new station was built. They are there for when and if the puffing billy railway wish to lay tracks to there storage shed which is a little further on past the fire station. If you do a commisioners inspection train you can get a look in the shed. Its also on part of the easement of a timber tramway that was once used at the turn of last century.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thank you very much for that Wayne! I’d love to do the commissioners train, that sounds like an awesome event. How often does it run?

[@locosdownunder7750]

I'm so glad to see that the Puffing Billy railway is still open in 2021!! It's been so long since I've had a ride there. Also, I didn't realise that Puffing Billy and the other locos where narrow gauge engines until now. Thanks for the awesome info!! I'm planning on visiting Emerald lake maybe today or next year for my birthday and go for a ride.

[@WillJamesRailways]

I agree, although it’s only open in a limited capacity at the moment, hopefully with more international tourists return it’ll be back in full swing in no time! Yes they have to get through some very tight terrain! Thanks for watching I hope you enjoy your visit

[@HyperCat72]

What a suprise! you commented on my vid on Australian locomotives, yes?

[@peterlarsen3875]

Great video- loved the shot of the deer running across the road!

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thank you Peter! It very much caught us by surprise, also I had no idea that there is wild deer out there!

[@gavindwyer6504]

Once again, I really enjoyed this - as I said of one of your recent videos, this is informative and entertaining, very well filmed/edited. Love the mix of ground/drone shots. Keep doing what you're doing - it makes me want to come back each time. Cheers

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks Gavin! Really appreciate that!

[@LessonWorldTV]

This is beautiful. I am a train, plane & travel enthusiast based in the UK 🇬🇧. Glad to see what you have in Australia 🇦🇺. New subscriber and excited to enjoy more videos and learn from you as a content creator! Hope to visit Australia soon too!!

[@acesretroonline]

That scenery is stunning.

[@WillJamesRailways]

We're very lucky to have it so close by!

[@vandenbricks]

Great coverage of PBR, I’ve never done the full way to gembrook but the many times I have taken a ride have always been great!

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks mate!

[@ericcoughlan]

Great video. Will definitely have to put Puffing Billy on my schedule whenever borders re-open and I can travel outside NSW without restrictions.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thank you Eric! Ah you certainly should! Let us know what you think when you do!

[@skazztheterrible]

Really nicely shot/produced, Will!

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thank you very much!

[@daniellesalman890]

Such a comprehensive video and a great introduction to PB if you have never been. We just visited. The lake still so pretty and a great day out amongst beautiful surroundings..

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thank you very much Danielle! Great to hear you enjoyed your day there!

[@timgoldie745]

Really loved the vid , informative and well shot .You certainly have a flair for this sort of thing and i can see this channel growing to be quite vig in a few years .You are doing a great job ,keep it up Will👍

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thank you very much Tim!

[@ivanhajncl8833]

In fact the vigour the better

[@carmencuce5927]

Thankyou I really enjoyed the puffing billy 😊 train I will come back again

[@WillJamesRailways]

Always! Great to hear!

[@WildWillex]

Puffing billy railway is such a great back in 2012 I got to ride in the cab of the 8A coupled with the G42 from Belgrave to Lakeside. It was such a great experience. The then owner of the Model railway at lakeside also have me a lifetime pass to the railway about a month before but ever since he sold it the new owner refuses to acknowledge it. Doesn’t seem like it gets updated much anyway. I’ve been to all of the original lines except the Beech Forest one. Rode from Walhalla to Thompson and drove Whitfield to Wangaratta.

[@jimdale6001]

Long time volunteer on puffing Billy. Still love it.

[@jarrodboon7421]

Top video, mate. I'm hoping to visit Puffing Billy, and you gave a really great preview of the experience.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks Jason! Glad you enjoyed it! And I hope you have a great time when you visit!

[@125sloth]

What can I say? Excellent work as always Will. Poor old Puffing billy was struggling financially ages before Covid came along too. it was almost going to shut down temporarily at one stage, and the government wasn't going to help. However it is professional presentations like this that will promote the attraction to both previous and new passengers. They deserve a break, given the past. They do need to drop ticket prices though.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thank you Brian! Oh right! I guess that’s another explanation for the now limited running days as well! I agree it is one of the more expensive days out, but still worth it! Thanks for watching

[@125sloth]

Yes still worth it but if they just lowered the adult price in particular they would get more people and claw their way back to some sort of profit. Especially given that it would be mainly "locals" using it until borders reopen properly. Loyalty from regular or semi regular users should be rewarded.

[@goldfeverreliever]

Enjoyed the video, thanks will. I had an illustrated story book about puffing Billy and the landslide when I was I kid.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks Barry! I reckon I still have that book somewhere no you mention it!

[@robertedwards7695]

Great to see these wonders still choofing. Let's hope they are still for another 1,000000,000 years or more. Real shame NA 1 was made redundant . Thanking you Robbbert from Melbourne Australia.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@liammatthews5656]

Great video! If you're interested in it, considering you've been going there for 30-odd years, I'd recommend volunteering there if you aren't already. (I would if I lived near there!) It would give you a great experience behind the scenes of the railway preservation scene.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks Liam! I’d love to volunteer there, but distance and time seems to be the current hinderance, but one day no doubt!

[@kenfowler1980]

Great video Will

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thank you Ken!

[@tnfsh117]

Really enjoy your video. I am from Taiwan and planning to take a ride and visit the Menzies Creek Museum this spring. This is my first time to go to Australia. I am really looking forward to it and seeing the Shay locomotive NO. 14 coming from Taiwan.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thank you so much! I hope you really enjoy you trip on Puffing Billy! It’s a beautiful part of Victoria! Thank you again for watching!

[@jasonmoore7854]

I travelled on Puffing Billy in 2018, it was an amazing day. I'm hoping to be back in Melbourne in 2024 again, so I will most likely be doing another day on it.

[@peterkinsey6407]

Great vidio Will. Like the wide panoramic screen, like being at the cinema.👍👍👍👍👍

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thank you very much Peter!

[@NicholassTrainChannel]

Great video Will. I was at the PBR a few month ago had a fantastic time their. I have only done the full trip once. I will have to go back again. - Nicholas.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks Nicholas! Certainly should! Thanks for watching.

[@peterainsworth8466]

That's great Will. Really well edited and filmed. You should get a gig on a travel show. 😉

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thank you very much Peter! Ah mate that would be the dream!

[@steveedwards9957]

Great video Will. And look at you as a little tacker, haven't changed a bit. I did the PBR in 2005, one of the best heritage trips I've done. By the looks of it I'll need to find time to do it again when next in Melbourne. Keep up the great work mate, you have a natural flair for it. Steve

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks Steve! Haha nah not at all! I reckon that’s a grouse idea! Thank you very much for the comment!

[@mels1811]

Wonderful video

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thank you so much! It’s one I’m very proud of!

[@shaarz1401]

My cousin and my son in law both drive puff and Billy once a month they gave been doing that over 40 years I love puff and Billy

[@WillJamesRailways]

Ah that’s awesome! Thank you!

[@gnhansen29]

I've been to Puffing Billy once and I wouldn't mind making a second visit.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Always a great day out!

[@PaulBrealey]

Excellent video Will and thank you. Have you given any consideration to doing a similar one on the Walhalla Goldfields Railway?

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks Paul! Certainly have! It’ll happen next year for sure!

[@Revelation21-4-]

Greetings from the UK

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks for watching! Some excellent railways over there!

[@garybaines9714]

Been several years now since I've been on or followed the train taking photos. One thing l was surprised on your video was the model train set, when l was last there, it had lots of things to look out and find, with que cards around the border, has it gone down hill that much? Hreat video btw, keep up the good work.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Time to head back Gary! Yeah last time we went in it was extremely disappointing and an absolute mess, it wasn’t worth the money they charge. Thanks for watching!

[@JasonWood_Escarpment]

Great presentation Will! Was down a few years ago now, but really enjoyed the ride..will have to make another trip. Must admit I was a little disappointed in the model train layout, especially considering the admission costs to get in..cheers

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks Jason! Full agree with you on the model railway out there, hopefully they get some funding behind it and get it up to a better standard

[@Kittiekaos89]

The model railway is owned by a separate entity, nothing to do with PBR

[@michaelbeedallbetts6190]

i love Puffing Billy and i am a member of Puffing Billy as well

[@WillJamesRailways]

Very nice!

[@robnewman6101]

All Aboard. All Aboard. Enjoy the ride.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Welcome aboard!

[@joannamorris4361]

When I was a little girl in Australia 🇦🇺🦘 my mum and dad and my sister Becky and me when on the puffing Billy Train 🚂 I'm living on the isle of wight now and I'm 47 now and I'm married

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks for sharing that Joanna!

[@robnewman6101]

You're a really useful railway.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks Rob

[@robnewman6101]

You're welcome.

[@BeightonJunction]

great video will

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks!

[@joelpackett7582]

very good enjoyed

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thank you Joel!

[@kristianplummer4694]

I believe from the stories I've been told, that rails outside of the fire station are part of the old line that down to what is now Gilwell Park, it used to be a saw mill and there was a line that I believe horses walked a loaded truck of logs up to the steam train to carry them in to the city

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thank you very much for sharing that! Such. Fascinating part of industrial history in the area!

[@peterwalker-ee8fi]

I believe when they biult the new fire station it was planned to put a workshop on the land past the fire station so they put the track in there just in case if it was a mill line would it not been a timber tramway not steel that's what I heard cheers peter

[@smitajky]

It would have been Russel's tramway to Beenak. A steam hauled tramway which was, in the early days, the largest contributor of timber at Gembrook. I could hunt up a couple of photos of it but I don't think I can add them to comments on You tube.

[@andrewh.8403]

Great job Will. One day we'll get on down there. The visitor centre really looks inviting. As a modeller, it really riles me right up when someone promotes a model railway as being something worth looking at and it's ,well, definitely not. (Don't start me on some of the exhibition layouts around!)

[@smitajky]

I another comment I added that the tracks would have been the remnants of Russell's tramway to Beenak. If you walk a little further you will find Russell road as a continuation of the line of this before you reach the Beenak East road that approximately follows the route of the tramway. It was quite a long steam hauled tramway and was the major contributor to timber loading at Gembrook. There is not a lot online but you can see some photos of the 3 foot gauge steam engine here. The photos are the ones with two 6 wheel bogies at each end. This was needed because of the steep gradients on this line. Low speed was sufficient however.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks for that! I’m actually reading Bellbrakes, Bullocks & Bushmen at the moment!

[@gamingwithhazza6152]

I live in Gembrook and I've always wondered why those tracks outside the fire station were really there. either the track was longer back in the day or it was short transport I'm not sure.

[@WillJamesRailways]

I think it’s been answered in the comments, but it was from another tramway!

[@andyspencer3992]

Hi Will, great video it's been a while since I've been to puffing Billy looks like there's been some changes I will have to go back soon, regards Andy

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks Andy! Yeah it’s certainly worth heading out to see what they’ve been up to! Really well presented railway!

[@robnewman6101]

You're a really useful engine.

[@WillJamesRailways]

You think so?

[@naledimosaka2925]

I love love trains. I wpild love to be on this one

[@WillJamesRailways]

It’s a must see for sure!

[@TwmUkLive]

Was this railway also featured in Round the twist ,during the Gum leaf war episode?

[@WillJamesRailways]

I think it was!

[@codystrains8941]

Very nice, it reminds me of pichi richi railway

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks! Ah I can’t wait to visit there!

[@robnewman6101]

21st Century Australian Steam Locomotive Train rides.

[@WillJamesRailways]

The best!

[@robnewman6101]

Thank you.

[@cindycircle11]

Hellooo! What is the best route to choose for 1st timers? Is it upto lakeside or gembrook?

[@WillJamesRailways]

A great question! I like the Belgrave to Gembrook trip, I feel that’s the best day out. However, there is probably a bit more to do at Lakeside especially if you’re with children!

[@robnewman6101]

Sir Topham Hatt the Railway Controller.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Iconic

[@robnewman6101]

Thanks.

[@simonetaylor7286]

The tracks in the driveway use to go to the old lumber 🪵 mill

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thank you Simon! I’d love to know more about it!

[@simonetaylor7286]

My real name is oscar I’m just in as simone and you welcome puffing billy is my favourite railway 👍

[@davidstevens4388]

do you nkow if the pub at gembrook is reopened

[@WillJamesRailways]

No idea! I don’t think so however

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

Can i use your footage for a video I am working on

[@WillJamesRailways]

Can you email me with that request/proposal

[@WillJamesRailways]

The current answer is no and a copyright strike will be issued if you do!

[@robnewman6101]

I have the DORLING KINDERSLEY DK EYEWITNESS GUIDES Book of TRAIN. Discover the story of railways - from the days of steam to the high - speed, sophisticated trains of today. In association with THE NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM.

[@robnewman6101]

I also have a Hardback Book called The Railway Policeman. The Story of the Constable on the Track. By J. R. WHITBREAD.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks for that Rob

[@robnewman6101]

You're very welcome.

[@railroadsdownunder8200]

Spelt Gembrook wrong at the last thing, prob auto correct.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Classic!

[@nicolaiitchenko7610]

Do Puffing Billy Offer the TV series tapes for "COME MIDNIGHT MONDAY" or the books at least?

[@WillJamesRailways]

You would have to ask them, as I do not work for them! It is on KZbin for free if that helps

[@woobyvr9654]

The tracks in that driveway may possibly be left over from the logging tramway that ran out of gembrook, that or someones just having a laugh If you like the place a lot come down and join us, always looking for new people to join the ranks.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Could be both! I’d love to! Hopefully when I’m not trying to balance two full time jobs I can join up as a volunteer, however I feel that might be awhile away.

[@woobyvr9654]

@@WillJamesRailways understandable, all in due time

[@Gaspode_]

Ignore the first comment, I read further into the thread :)

[@WillJamesRailways]

All good, for some reason I can't actually see your comments.

[@StreetDawg55]

watching at school holy sigma

[@WillJamesRailways]

Righto cheers for watching!

[@mr.shadestrains6033]

6️⃣0️⃣3️⃣🚂😎. 🥱. Awsum 👍👍👍

[@WillJamesRailways]

Thanks!

[@robnewman6101]

🌏🇦🇺🦘

[@WillJamesRailways]

Sure is!

[@robnewman6101]

You're welcome.

[@JoeyBlogs007]

All that smoke can't be any good for the wild life.

[@WillJamesRailways]

Not really much in the grand scheme of things! Thanks for watching!