Australia’s Puffing Billy Railway 2019 - Part 1 - Belgrave to Lakeside

No visit to Melbourne, Australia would be complete without taking a trip through the Dandenong Ranges aboard a beautifully restored railway carriage hauled by a Puffing Billy steam locomotive. The line can be reached by a direct train from Melbourne to Belgrave station, just a short walk from the Puffing Billy station.
Billed as Australia’s premiere tourist railway, the Puffing Billy is a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge heritage railway located in the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne. The railway was originally one of five narrow gauge lines opened by Victorian Railways around the beginning of the 20th century.
Most trains start from Belgrave and travel to Lakeside, or the terminus at Gembrook, passing through the Wright State Forest, composed mainly of Tree Ferns, Mountain Grey Gum and other Eucalypt Trees. Please join me for a trip along this unique railway to see for yourself the amazing locomotives, scenery and wildlife.
Filmed - 23rd to 25th Feb 2019
To learn more about the history, locomotives and rolling stock, please click on this link - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puffing...
To find and maybe book a ride please click on this this link - puffingbilly.com.au/
I would like to express my special thanks to Puffin Pete for treating my sister and I to a trip along the line with ample opportunities for photography and a look inside the signal box at Menzies Creek. I would also like to thank Jeff Evans for his hospitality, driving us to a number of locations including Lakeside to photograph and watch trains making their leisurely way between stations.
We also owe the friendly staff and volunteers a massive thank-you for making this a very special visit, with their warm welcome and help in capturing this memorable railway on film.
Music - Track - Composer - Source
ES_Outback Hunter - Jon Björk. - epidemicsound.com
Birdsong - ES_Australian Rainforest - SFX Producer - epidemicsound

[@robertcoleman4861]

Hi tim wonderful vid showing part of our great australian bush and unique birds cheer's bob.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Cheers Bob, I really enjoyed the sights, smells and sounds of the Bush. Parrots, kookaburras and cockatoos all came to be fed on the veranda of the B&B accommodation we were staying at, great fun.

[@SammyBFilms]

Those locos, with those coaches, going over that trestle bridge, really does look awesome!! :-)

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi just watched your Welshpool and Llanfair video, nice camera work. Puffing Billy has a lot in common with the Welsh narrow gauge railways, they've even got an ex South African Garratt NGG16 No.129. There are two more trestles on the Puffing Billy line, all of them would look great from above. The foliage, wildlife and trains would really suit your style of film-making.

[@SammyBFilms]

@@Timsvideochannel1 - Hi Tim. Thanks man! I'm pleased you like it! :-D Well Australia is on my "places to visit" list, so hopefully one day I can make it there. :-)

[@mikioni]

Wonderful .

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

[@winders128]

Visited the railway last Sunday, Staff were so very friendly. Enjoyed the trip from Belgrave to Lakeside. Lots of smoke, steam and noise. Great day out.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I'm pleased you enjoyed your visit, it's one of the best heritage lines I've had the pleasure to travel on.

[@kippen64]

I used to live in Belgrave so this is cool.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I enjoyed my short break in Belgrade, it must have been a nice place live.

[@KOLEJ22DrogaPrzygody]

ach good video , like 4 👍👍👍👍🏆🥇

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

[@annawitter5161]

Great journey! Thanks Tim. Quite a train for the old Puffer! Slipping a bit there on the hills. Really enjoyed and when I finally return to Down Under, this is on my bucket list.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi Anna, this railway was fun to ride, the staff and volunteers go the extra mile to make sure you enjoy your visit. Melbourne and Puffing Billy are both well worth visiting if you get the chance.

[@Lyxzzzzzzzzzzzzz1]

Bring back memories I have been on t before the diesels have the loudest horns

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I hope the memories are good ones, I really enjoyed my visit, although I didn't get to hear a diesel horn, just the steam whistles.

[@neilforbes416]

Great stuff! I keenly await Part 2! Cheers, Tim!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I'm glad you liked it Neil, I'll start work on Part 2 this evening, hopefully it will be ready for next weekend.

[@neilforbes416]

Cheers, Tim!

[@johncorby8302]

Sir William McAlpine

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@johncorby8302 Hi, I am not sure whether William McAlpine had any connection with Puffing Billy, although he did have a big influence on the Ffestiniog Railway in North Wales. Sadly Bill McAlpine has passed on now. Please click on this link to learn more - www.festrail.co.uk/content/publish/news/Sir_William_McAlpine.shtml

[@brodieatlas7295]

I know I'm pretty randomly asking but does anybody know of a good site to watch new movies online ?

[@johnmchardy1229]

Watched the train cross that curved viaduct once. Live in country Vic will have to go on it. We have a steam train nearby travels from Maldon to Castlemaine.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

www.vgr.com.au/homepage.php Thanks for bringing it to my attention, It looks interesting, if I get the opportunity I'll have to call in and take a look. Both Australia and New Zealand have more steam action than I was aware of.

[@TheVioletDivide]

I was a child when I last rode on Puffing Billy -- this took me back immediately, a powerful nostalgia trip! Thank you for not narrating the footage, it's ridiculously soothing to just imagine that I'm right there in the carriage and this is just me taking a ride again.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I'm pleased this rekindled your own childhood experience of Puffing Billy. Riding the train is a reminder of a slower pace of life from a time when the journey was as pleasurable as arriving at the destination. I don't think much has changed since you visited, maybe the line is a little longer now.

[@TheVioletDivide]

@@Timsvideochannel1 I hope to ride on Puffing Billy again, so we'll see how my memory stacks up against the real thing! In general I've found train travel to be very relaxing, and hope to do more of it. A multi-day trip across several states is on my bucket list. 😊

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@TheVioletDivide Hi, I hope your return visit lives up to your memories of the last time you rode Puf. I love to watch the world passing by from the window of a train, all those glimpses of the lives other people live are fascinating, plus the wonderful scenery and wild animals. I'd like to know which trip/trips are on your bucket list ... the "Canadian" or one of the excellent trips offered by Queensland Rail such as the "Spirit of the Outback"? there are so many to choose from.

[@TheVioletDivide]

@@Timsvideochannel1 My partner has mentioned starting us off with the basic XPT one from Melbourne to Brisbane (before they upgrade the trains), but honestly I'm up for any of them! I just love travelling, and train journeys are so unhurried and relaxing. I can't remember the name of it, but there's one I think that goes across the country from east to west?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@TheVioletDivide When I was in Brisbane, I had the choose between the XPT to Sydney or the "Spirit of the Outback" to Longreach, I didn't have time to do both, it was a tough choice, they both looked good, I really enjoyed the trip to Longreach, maybe I'll travel by train all the way from Melbourne to Brisbane next time. So much to do and so little time to do it, not helped by the current travel restrictions. If you do any of the longer train rides, I'd like to hear about your experiences it would be useful in helping me make choices for future trips.

[@borderreiver3288]

yes...we got a view of the engine...pity there was a scandal about the line and one of its members who the rest actively protected...love the fire patrol cart that follows the engine...some nice birds to be seen too with the Purple Gallinules or Swamphen at the end...

[@irelandbloke]

Very nice 👍🏻

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@irelandbloke]

@@Timsvideochannel1 You're welcome ! :)

[@BorisLu]

Nice video!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you.

[@philipsalmon6934]

I travelled part way on this one back in 2005!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

The first time I saw this railway in 2014, I was on a coach tour starting from Melbourne and touring the Yarra Valley, with a trip between Belgrave and Menzies Creek on the Puffing Billy included.

[@MrPeerum]

nice to see the railway crossing,the same look like the Dutch railroad crossings.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

The rail/road crossings are similar to those found throughout Europe where train speeds are not high.

[@joselitoeliaspereira2853]

Qui lugar muito lindo!!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Sim, é lindo.

[@johntyjp]

Very nice Tim, hot hot hot!!!! could do with rack n pinion on some sections of the line reckon!!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

It was pleasantly warm and the locos were struggling with the heavy load, rack and pinion would have helped.

[@hosunja]

그리운 증기기관차(steam locomotive) 소리 감사합니다.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

감사 합니다, 나는 당신이 비디오를 즐겼다 기쁘게 생각 합니다.

[@melkiorwiseman5234]

A relative of mine lives in one of the towns where this train stops. Perhaps strangely, I haven't gone for a ride on this railway since I was a toddler with my parents. Maybe it's time I considered renewing the accquantance. :) I still remember that smell of mixed water vapor (what most people incorrectly call steam) and coal smoke.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I love the smell of a working steam locomotive. I'm sure you'll find visiting the line again a rewarding experience.

[@melkiorwiseman5234]

@@Timsvideochannel1 My daily routine is a bit "off" from what most people would consider normal so it may take me a while to visit, but I love trains and especially steam trains. There's something about them which seems almost alive, although I'm sure that's not what's meant by the expression "live steam." ;)

[@Timsvideochannel1]

​@@melkiorwiseman5234 Hi, I associate "live steam" with garden railways and "steam" with the real thing. A steam engine talks, you know when it is working hard because it blots out the sun and makes a magnificent noise, I know an old diesel on its last legs can emulate steam, but its not the same and an electric locomotive just gets on with job with little or no fuss. I hope you do make it to Puffing Billy some day :-)

[@dieterlindhoff3339]

Ich bin mit dem Puffing Billy von Belgrave nach Emerald gefahren. Das liegt aber eine ganze Zeit bereits zurück. Damals war Emerald noch Endstation. Ganz großes Erlebnis!!! Greetings from Berlin/Germany

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hallo, es ist gut, aus Berlin zu hören, ich hoffe, Sie halten gut. Die Puffing Billy Railway ist bei Touristen und Einheimischen sehr beliebt. Ich hoffe, dieses Video kaufte gute Erinnerungen von Ihrer eigenen Reise zurück. Es muss Spaß haben, einen der Motoren zu fahren. Hello, it is good to hear from Berlin, I hope you are keeping well. The Puffing Billy Railway is very popular with tourists and local people. I hope this video bought back good memories from your own trip. It must have fun to drive one of the engines.

[@MrPeerum]

Tim,,lets enjoy this video.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I hope you did enjoy the ride.

[@pega17pl]

(34:53) Hello Tim, did you think about to become member of fire patrol? :D - Heinz (Btw: I like singing of exotic birds at stations.)

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi Heinz, I'd love to have followed the train in one of the fire control vehicles, looks like fun just so long as there no fires to put out. The birds are really entertaining, the cockatoos are like naughty children, always stealing food.

[@brackenboy6321]

The whole train is called Puffing Billy, not just the locomotive.

[@johnestowell]

I'm sure i've seen the Stationmaster at Menzies Creek before, might have been in Slovakia!!!!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Pete the stationmaster appears in a number of my videos, we have both participated in the same Railway Touring Company tours on a number of occasions and it was nice to catch up with him on his home railway. I was interested to see you share the same surname as Pete.

[@johnestowell]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Yes Tim my brother. I've been watching a lot of your videos over the months, most enjoyable.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@johnestowell Hi John, I've been fortunate to enjoy Pete's company on a number of occasions, including a day on the Bluebell Railway in the UK. I hope you have enjoyed watching some of his adventures. Are you based In Australia or the UK?

[@johnestowell]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Yes Tim i'm stuck here in NE Vic, not a traveler like Pete is.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@johnestowell Hi John, from what I saw of North East Victoria, it's a nice place to be.

[@MrPeerum]

Tim how wide is this rail track in CM?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

2 ft 6 in (762 mm)

[@MrPeerum]

Tim when i looking good,is this not a train,but one steamtram?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, the difference between a train and a tram can get confusing. Trams tend to run on or near roads and the wheels are often guarded, like Toby the tram engine in the Thomas the Tank engine books. Trains usually consist of several vehicles and run on dedicated rails away from roads. Some modern trams consist of a number of vehicles and look more trains than trams. There doesn't seem to be much difference between light rail and trams.

[@panikrystyna1]

Bardzo cieszyła mnie ta wycieczka. Żałuję, że nie postawiłeś siostry pod napisem: " to jest moja siostra". Znam z widzenia Twoją żonę, córkę, psy i najważniejsze Ciebie. A siostry nie poznałam. Serdecznie was pozdrawiam.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Witam, Cieszę się, że podobała Ci się ta wycieczka. Moja siostra czasami towarzyszy mi podczas wizyt w kolejach w Wielkiej Brytanii i Europie, ale była to nasza pierwsza podróż długodystansowa do Australii i Nowej Zelandii. Odwiedziłem Nowa Zelandia/Australia z moją żoną, dwiema córkami, matką i bratem w ciągu ostatnich 15 lat, aby zobaczyć mojego syna, który wyemigrował do Nowej Zelandii. Najlepsze życzenia. Tim. Google Translate - Hello, I am pleased you enjoyed this trip. My sister does occasionally accompany me on visits to railways in Britain and Europe, but this was our first long distance trip to Australia and New Zealand. I have visited New Zealand/Australia with my Wife, Two Daughters, Mother and Brother over the last 15 years to see my son who emigrated to New Zealand. Best wishes. Tim.

[@geoffreymartin2764]

You look like you both had a great day. 🏳‍🌈

[@Timsvideochannel1]

We had a really nice day at the raiway, the staff and voluteers make sure visitors get the best from their visit 😊.

[@jaroslavdrahokoupil9839]

Australia - what a nature, what a land...will you marry me?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

It's a nice place, not sure you can marry a country, but there is a first time for everything 😉.

[@johannperaus6890]

Hello Tim! That was really wonderful journey by train. I thought that the two steam locomotives would not work. They have really attached many cars. They had to work properly. I'm looking forward to the second part. One more question Tim. Is that you who is smiling out of the steam locomotive? (17min45sec) in Menzies Creek. I've already seen this face in another video of you. Greetings from Hans from the Mühlviertel.☺🚂👍

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Hans, the engines had to work very hard, exciting stuff, plenty of noise and smoke. The train was unusually long for a narrow gauge railway. Part 2 should be ready for next weekend and "Yes" that is me pretending to be the driver at 17:45 Best wishes. Tim.

[@jimrager4770]

How is anybody who has to be wheelchair bound ever going to get a chair on one of those small people cars, one maby if you do some shuffling around. I hope somebody reads this.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi Jim, the railway caters for people with limited mobility. Please click on this link to learn more - puffingbilly.com.au/visit-us/accessibility/