Puffing Billy: Call to let passengers dangle legs from train again

The driver of a bus that slammed into the iconic Puffing Billy train last year has still eluded investigators — and the tradition to let passengers dangle their legs from the train remains on hold.

The driver of a bus that slammed into the side of Puffing Billy last year has eluded investigators, with passengers still waiting to learn if they will ever be able to dangle their legs from the famous train again.

The decades-old tradition was stopped in March last year while experts probed the crash in which a mini bus hit the tourist train at a level crossing in Menzies Creek.

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No train passengers were seriously hurt but four people from the bus were either treated by paramedics or taken to hospital.

Now a year on from the crash, investigators are yet to deliver their final report and the bus driver involved is unable to be found.

It is understood they may have left the country not long after local groups began looking into the smash.

Staff working at the attraction told the Herald Sun they had noticed a decline in visitors once the practice was stopped but international visitor numbers have continued to be strong.

A petition to end the ban has 17,705 signatures.

In its most recent annual report, the Emerald Tourist Railway Board said the crash and subsequent move to suspend leg dangling had made an impact on domestic visitations.

The mini bus and Puffing Billy steam train collision. Picture: @firdauswong/Instagram

La Trobe MP Jason Wood, whose electorate encompasses the railway, said it was time to move on and bring back the practice.

“My biggest advice for them is don’t change the act of hanging out the window,” he said.

“This is the whole experience of the journey of Puffing Billy. It would be like going to Bondi Beach and not going for a swim.

“They have had 500,000 passengers each year and lets not let one incident spoil the experience for generations to come.

“If it means we need get road funding money to make the crossing safer let’s focus on that.”

Puffing Billy Railway interim CEO Steve O’Brien said a decision was yet to be made over the future of the much-loved practice.

“The driver of the bus was unable to be contacted. However, Puffing Billy Railway has progressed with the investigation regardless,” he said.

“Some works have recently been done such as ensuring sight lines for drivers are clear.

“The investigation has included a number of specialist reports, looking into areas such as road safety at level crossings and passenger safety on the train.”