By Staff Writers
First published in The Age on July 30, 1962
Puffing Billy Makes Comeback
WITH a full load of cheering youngsters, Puffing Billy took to the rails again on Saturday, chugging its way through the Dandenong Ranges.
The Puffing Billy in 1962.Credit: The Age Archives
The old steam train was watched by thousands of sightseers on its first regular trip for several years from Belgrave to Menzies Creek.
Side by side at the controls sat 14-year-old Peter, a blind boy devoted to steam trains, and the deputy chairman of the Victorian Railway Commissioners (Mr G. F. Brown).
Thirty minutes after leaving a cheering crowd at Belgrave, Puffing Billy — belching smoke and whistling triumphantly — pulled into Menzies Creek, a little more than four miles away.
Years of Work
The train’s reinstatement was the culmination of years of work by the Puffing Billy Preservation Society.
The line was officially reopened by the Assistant Minister for Transport (Mr Meagher).
The president of the preservation society (Mr A. P. Wyland), answering criticism on the fire risk of Puffing Billy, pointed out that in the early history of the train no fire had ever been caused.
But fire precautions would be set up under the control of the railways, and on high fire-risk days extra measures would be taken.
Puffing Billy will operate at regular times on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.