Push for return of ‘red rattler’ carriages in Puffing Billy upgrade

TOURISTS may soon be able to catch a heritage train from the city to Belgrave as part of a multimillion-dollar proposal to upgrade Puffing Billy.

John Hall. 60th anniversary of the revival of Puffing Billy. The single track line, built in 1900, was closed in 1953 after a landslide blocked the train lines. A farewell event attracted thousands of people and led to the establishment of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society, who resurrected the Dandenong Ranges service. Picture: Jason Edwards

TOURISTS may soon be able to catch a heritage train from the city to Belgrave as part of a multimillion-dollar proposal to upgrade Puffing Billy.

Under the plan, vintage “red rattler” carriages would run on the suburban network, taking visitors to the historic steam train in the Dandenong Ranges, which runs from Belgrave to Gembrook.

The Herald Sun understands VicTrack, Metro, and Public Transport Victoria have been consulted about the proposal, which could see one inbound and one outbound service run each day.

Liberal MP Jason Wood is pushing for federal funding to transform the popular tourist attraction into a “mega tourism destination”.

Mr Wood said the upgrade could transform Puffing Billy into a “mega tourism destination”.

His proposal also includes funding for a $9 million discovery centre at Emerald Lake — a popular stop on the Puffy Billy line. This would include a restaurant and education centre, and provide much-needed shelter on rainy days.

Mr Wood said the Dandenong Ranges was already a popular day trip but more could be done to entice visitors to stay on, especially midweek.

“I want to encourage people to stay and explore the area ... it would not only have an economic benefit, it could boost local jobs in this growing area and take pressure off the roads,” the member for La Trobe told the Herald Sun.

In recent weeks, Metro engineers inspected the century-old restored carriages, which require minor safety enhancements and a repaint following vandalism.

Twins Tom and Kevin Clark maintain the red rattlers. Picture: Rob Leeson.

Brothers Kevin and Tom Clark have spent the last 35 years restoring the carriages, and hope to get the green light to run the historic “red rattlers” on the suburban network. Problems with accreditation have kept the carriages in the railyards for the past 12 years.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed,” Kevin Clark said.

Puffing Billy chief executive John Robinson welcomed the proposal. He said Puffing Billy patronage had doubled in the past three years, owing to a spike in the number of international tourists, and money was needed to provide better facilities for visitors.

The government has already provided some funding for guided indigenous bush tours, which will begin shortly.

Mr Wood also hopes the new service would attract people to a proposed 14km tourist walk being planned for the area, which would link the villages of Kalorama, Olinda, Sassafras, and Ferny Creek.

He said combining the four projects would deliver a “great benefit” to Victoria.

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