Puffing Billy

(information sourced via Puffing Billy Official website with thanks)

 

The Puffing Billy Railway runs from Belgrave to Gembrook (24km or 15 miles). You will be driving on the 7.6 km (4.8 miles) section between Emerald and Cockatoo. You will travel the section from Lakeside to Cockatoo (4.1 km or 2.5 miles) twice, so the total distance travelled will be 23.4 km (14.7 miles).

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.

The Victorian Railways Curves and Gradients book shows forty curves in the section between Emerald and Cockatoo, seven of which are of 3 chains radius (200ft or 60m). Twelve curves are between 4 and 6 chain radius (264 and 400ft or 80 and 120m).

 

Description of the route

 

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.

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.

 

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 your locomotive takes water, and you will have lunch.

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.

This station was built to serve the township of Avonsleigh, about two kilometres north. Shortly after this 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.

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.

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.

After a further one-and-a-half kilometres Cockatoo Creek is reached. This is crossed by a ten-span trestle bridge 45.7 metre (150 ft) long bridge, which is only 4.6 metres (15 ft) high. Now the long falling grade from Emerald changes to a steep rising grade for the remaining 800 metres (half-mile) into Cockatoo station. The grade is 1 in 30 (3.33%).

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. 

 

For more information on timetables, ticket pricing and other useful information, please visit the main Puffing Billy website.

 

 

Jerry the Railway Dog

 

 

If you have travelled on Puffing Billy in the last few years, you would have seen a grave marker near Cockatoo for a very special little pooch named Jerry.

 

In the 1930’s, this little black and white dog took it upon himself to be the mascot of the Gembrook train line. A little stray who was unloved and unwanted he took his destiny in his own paws and taught the train travellers of the hills to love him.

 

Eighty years on and the people of the Gembrook area still talk about this special little dog.

From The Argus (Melbourne, Vic) Saturday 19 August, 1950.  “Jerry was a dog who spent his life on the railway track between Upper Ferntree Gully and Gembrook, following the little mountain train its entire distance three or four times each week.

 

He was a small black and white dog of doubtful origin and no home ties, radiating the joy of living.  The trip was 18 miles of wandering 2 ft 6 in track. Although he often rode on the engine, for a good part of the trip he ran behind, cunningly taking short cuts through the bush when the train got ahead of him.

 

At Gembrook he would often go to sleep before the evening trip back. He possibly did a bit of rabbiting on the side. Then, full of enthusiasm, he would be ready for the return journey.

 

Perhaps fame turned his head, for becoming too venturesome, he was one day run over by the engine and killed. He was buried near Cockatoo Creek beside the line he had raced over so long and joyously.”

 

 

Jerry

 

Exactly where he came from

No-one really knows

But he is part of this town’s history

Or so the story goes

 

Jerry was a little dog

In life he had no home

But a friendly little pup was he

When about town he would roam

 

In 1929

while he was wandering about

He met a Puffing Billy driver

And showed what loyalty is about

 

For he followed the train day & night

Along the winding track

From Ferntree Gully up to Gembrook

And then the round trip back

 

Upon arriving up in Gemmy

He would stop to have a nap

But as soon as the train departed

He was off to run his lap

 

Sometimes he’d take it easy

And hitch a ride on the train

But it wasn’t long before he ran

Beside the tracks again

 

Darting through the bush

To try and beat that train

Through the harshest Aussie Summer

Through sleet & snow & rain.

 

For 5 long years this was his life

So well known around the town

A celebrity of Cockatoo

His story really got around

 

It was on April 29

Back in 1934

That this wonderful chapter had to close

For Jerry was no more

 

For on this day in history

Scared by the wooshing of the train

Jerry ran across the tracks

And would never run again

 

In life he had his freedom

To frolic & to roam

In death he found the missing piece

The place he could call home.

 

Elise L Turnedge 25/4/2013