Day 85 Melbourne (Puffing Billy)

There are signs that we are all very weary travellers now.  Another sleep in until 0800 today, and still woke up before the kids did.  It has only taken us 85 days to wear the kids out...HOORAY!

The week has been planned out for a nice relaxed pace, without too many activities, so hopefully we won't be shattered when it's time to leave.  First things first though, we were in desperate need of basics...bread, milk, bacon, chocolate, bourbon...so it was off to the shop for a morning of frivolity.

On the agenda first up was getting the boys a haircut.  No more snow, means no more shaggy morning hair.  Gotta love the way they both wanted punking up with colour spray.  Emma was insisting that they both wanted pink spray but unfortunately the lady had run out. 

From here we went to unlose one of Ashley's jackets, and managed to unlose two in the process as there was a sale on.  At the same time, we unlost a jacket for Rowan and undestroyed a pair of tracksuit pants for him...somehow cost us an UNDRED bucks...

Grocery shopping was an absolute joy with the three kids endlessly pestering us for treats and complaining about how long it was taking, and when we were going to be able to entertain them.


From the shop, we went to visit the Jayco factory briefly to see if they were able to fix our door, but the wait list was around 18 weeks, so we submitted to spending too much in their accessory store and then left.

We were saving some $'s today (apparently) so it was a hearty lunch at the caravan before setting off for Puffing Billy. 

Belgrave station is only about 20km from the caravan park but is a 35 minute drive in the Melbourne traffic.  We found a parking spot, and actually had plenty of time to buy our tickets and get onto the station.  In fact, come to think of it, it is one of the first times that we haven't been rushed at getting to an activity.

Puffing Billy is a bit of a unique railway in that it is part of the original rail network.  All of the engines and carriages are restorations of the original units.  It is mostly maintained by volunteer workers, and historians and the money raised by fares are completely used for the care maintenance and operation of the railway.

You are also allowed to sit on the window sill and dangle your feet out of the train whilst it is running.

I can't think of another place in the world where you can do this, except for pictures I have seen of trains and buses in Afghanistan or India.

If you have never ridden a steam train, then you have missed out.  There is something a little bit spiritual about the rattle of the carriage, and the hiss of the boiler venting off steam. 

Burning coal in the boiler has a particular odour as well which is strangely enjoyable.  Perhaps the whole idea is somewhat archaic and a little bit romantic, but the experience is brilliant.

From Belgrave station, Puffing Billy makes its way up into the Dandenong Ranges and winds up the mountain side.  The trestle bridges are quite amazing, especially when you are sat on the window sill with your feet dangling 20m off the forest floor. 

Lisa got up on the window sill as well, and we dangled our legs outside in the breeze whilst talking to Kelvin the Head Conductor for the train.  He talked to us about his trip around Australia in a caravan, and pointed out all the good sites to us whilst we were travelling to a stopover station where the returning train could pass at Menzies Creek. 

We then proceded to Emerald which was the terminus for the train today, although both Lisa and I had left the window sill after Menzies Creek with pins and needles in both feet.  The carriage we were in was certainly not made for 40 something year old parents with oversizes and somewhat tender behinds.

The kids rode out the trip talking to Kelvin about their experiences, and relaying all of their favourite stories.  It is really nice to see them interact with other people and display that they have learnt, seen and experienced things that they won't talk to us about.

Kelvin informed us that the best thing to do when we got to Emerald was visit the bakery for afternoon tea.  I'm sure he must have shares in the place, but by the end of our visit we had paid for part ownership. 

The assortment of breads and cakes was mind boggling, and we came close to missing the return train whilst trying to choose one treat each for the journey back.  The Australian in me came out to play and I found a delectable vanilla slice to go with my coffee.  


Back on the train, Kelvin let us choose the carriage we were going to ride in, and we pretty much had the front car to ourselves for the trip back.  He was pretty cool, reigniting the drop bear debate with the kids, and threatening to throw them off the train whenever they made to loud a noise.

At Menzies Creek, the Engineer, let the kids get into the Engine Car, and have a picture taken.  All of the staff were really lovely to the kids and to us.

The trip back was a little faster with the assistance of gravity, but no less spectacular.  The large tree ferns growing throughout the area made natural tunnels around the train, and we saw fields of pastoral land with cows, sheep, goats, horses, and at one point a garden that was full of yellow tulips.

The new carriage we were in had a much wider window sill, so it was far more comfortable sitting on the edge.

It was great when we were passing through the cutouts, and the steam was curling around our feet as the trees rolled on by.

As much as I love the mining trains, they have nothing on the feeling of these beautiful restorations.  I recall having visited Puffing Billy many years ago when I was still in high school, so it was nice for the kids to ride on it as well.  I think that they had an absolute blast of a time.


Kelvin was even nice enough to take our photo for us on the way back, hanging out of the train.  It was amusing to see the head conductor remove his hat and lean all the way out of the door to take the photo.

His repartee, and attitude made the journey for us.  Instead of just being on a train ride, we were thoroughly engaged by his conversation and the knowledge that he had of the railway and the trains themselves.  He certainly kept the kids in line too, and had them guessing the whole time.

Upon returning to Belgrave station, we were treated to the sight of th three engines lined up.  Kelvin was handing out honorary assistant conductor certificates for each of the kids for doing such a good job at retelling stories of their travels. 

All of us really enjoyed the trip on Puffing Billy, and had a great time of the afternoon.  Sadly though, all good things end, so with only one more photo opportunity, we were off home to settle in for a great meal and an early night...except that it is now 11:59pm and I am still blogging.