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Puffing Billy

Capturing one of Victoria’s most iconic steam trains.

Running 40 minutes late and with sunlight fading fast behind the evening stormclouds, 12A and 8A start the climb uphill from Clematis to Emerald on their way through to Gembrook. The two NAs were transferring carriages to Gembrook ahead of the following day's Kids Fun Run event.

Edge of darkness

Running 40 minutes late and with sunlight fading fast behind the evening stormclouds, 12A and 8A start the climb uphill from Clematis to Emerald on their way through to Gembrook. The two NAs were transferring carriages to Gembrook ahead of the following day's Kids Fun Run event.
On an early morning run from Belgrave prior to its return to traffic after a protracted overhaul, 6A shoots across the Monbulk Creek trestle bridge in perfect spring sunlight.

Green on green

On an early morning run from Belgrave prior to its return to traffic after a protracted overhaul, 6A shoots across the Monbulk Creek trestle bridge in perfect spring sunlight.
Smoke, steam, and soot is sent forth from 12A as it navigates through the curves of Selby with a very full train for Lakeside.

Contre-jour

Smoke, steam, and soot is sent forth from 12A as it navigates through the curves of Selby with a very full train for Lakeside.
The winter solstice is behind us now, and the days are getting longer and theoretically warmer - not that you'd know from this shot! On the day after the solstice, Selbyites woke up to a blanket of thick fog through which 12A and NGG16 129 materialise on their way from Belgrave.

Warmer days ahead

The winter solstice is behind us now, and the days are getting longer and theoretically warmer - not that you'd know from this shot! On the day after the solstice, Selbyites woke up to a blanket of thick fog through which 12A and NGG16 129 materialise on their way from Belgrave.
Surrounded by the warm tones of Autumn, 12A navigates the curves around Landslide with a very full train from Belgrave to Lakeside.

Autumn at Landslide

Surrounded by the warm tones of Autumn, 12A navigates the curves around Landslide with a very full train from Belgrave to Lakeside.
12A leads 8A through the towering gum trees around Lakeside with a shuttle train to Emerald for the Variety children's charity. Regular viewers will note that 12A and 8A are facing different directions: taking advantage of the special event, the crew of 12A opted to turn the locomotive at Emerald station: the loco continued like this through the day, with 8A on one end of the train and 12A on the other, operating in push-pull fashion. On the last departure from Lakeside the two locos were marshalled bunker-to-bunker, possibly for the first time in 20 years.

Backwards and forwards

12A leads 8A through the towering gum trees around Lakeside with a shuttle train to Emerald for the Variety children's charity. Regular viewers will note that 12A and 8A are facing different directions: taking advantage of the special event, the crew of 12A opted to turn the locomotive at Emerald station: the loco continued like this through the day, with 8A on one end of the train and 12A on the other, operating in push-pull fashion. On the last departure from Lakeside the two locos were marshalled bunker-to-bunker, possibly for the first time in 20 years.
Smoke and steam from 14A catches the tips of sunlight peeking above the towering gums as the youngest surviving NA-class locomotive crosses the Monbulk Creek trestle bridge with a Gembrook train from Belgrave.

In the shadows of giants

Smoke and steam from 14A catches the tips of sunlight peeking above the towering gums as the youngest surviving NA-class locomotive crosses the Monbulk Creek trestle bridge with a Gembrook train from Belgrave.
14A struggles to regain adhesion on the greasy rails behind Selby primary school as it heads towards Lakeside station with the first train of the day.

Wheelslip

14A struggles to regain adhesion on the greasy rails behind Selby primary school as it heads towards Lakeside station with the first train of the day.
With the last gasp of daylight sparking across the mountain gray gums above Monbulk Creek, 8A makes light work of its small mixed goods train bound for Gembrook.

Evening Mixed

With the last gasp of daylight sparking across the mountain gray gums above Monbulk Creek, 8A makes light work of its small mixed goods train bound for Gembrook.
The early Spring sun hasn't quite made it over the treetops above a cold and frigid Selby as 12A leads 8A across the Monbulk Creek trestle bridge in August 2021. Just four days later a snap lockdown was announced for Victoria, shutting the railway down for another three months.

Crossing the gap

The early Spring sun hasn't quite made it over the treetops above a cold and frigid Selby as 12A leads 8A across the Monbulk Creek trestle bridge in August 2021. Just four days later a snap lockdown was announced for Victoria, shutting the railway down for another three months.
Melbourne's first taste of summer - a 40-degree day in the Dandenong Ranges - also heralded the relaunch of NG/G16 129 into revenue service. With fellow Garratt-type locomotive G42 in tow, the duo makes a roaring arrival into Menzies Creek with the 12:30 luncheon train from Belgrave. After arrival the "NGG" cut off from the front of the train and meandered up into the museum compound for its official relaunch ceremony.

Triumphant

Melbourne's first taste of summer - a 40-degree day in the Dandenong Ranges - also heralded the relaunch of NG/G16 129 into revenue service. With fellow Garratt-type locomotive G42 in tow, the duo makes a roaring arrival into Menzies Creek with the 12:30 luncheon train from Belgrave. After arrival the "NGG" cut off from the front of the train and meandered up into the museum compound for its official relaunch ceremony.
With early morning light pouring in through the windows, the crew of 8A propel it forward with a burst of steam towards the doors at the front of the running shed on the day of the railway's 119th birthday.

Distraction

With early morning light pouring in through the windows, the crew of 8A propel it forward with a burst of steam towards the doors at the front of the running shed on the day of the railway's 119th birthday.
On its second test run from Belgrave, NG/G16 129 erupts over the Monbulk Creek trestle bridge early one November morning, bound for Gembrook. Unfortunately, the test run was cancelled at Menzies Creek with a fault in the ashpan.The workshops team have a blog full of posts detailing the rebuild of this iconic South African steam locomotive that's well worth a read - https://puffingbilly.com.au/news/workshop-blog/

One bright morning

On its second test run from Belgrave, NG/G16 129 erupts over the Monbulk Creek trestle bridge early one November morning, bound for Gembrook. Unfortunately, the test run was cancelled at Menzies Creek with a fault in the ashpan.The workshops team have a blog full of posts detailing the rebuild of this iconic South African steam locomotive that's well worth a read - https://puffingbilly.com.au/news/workshop-blog/
As the fire is dropped on 14A steam and smoke gather in the still night air, shrouding the youngest surviving NA class locomotive. 14A had just returned from Nobelius Siding with one of Puffing Billy Railway's regular dinner trains.

Night light

As the fire is dropped on 14A steam and smoke gather in the still night air, shrouding the youngest surviving NA class locomotive. 14A had just returned from Nobelius Siding with one of Puffing Billy Railway's regular dinner trains.

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