Visitors to the iconic Puffing Billy Railway can once again enjoy the century-old tradition of sitting on the sills on open-side carriages for the full length of the railway journey for the first time since 2018.
More than 400,000 visitors enjoy the preserved heritage steam railway every year, and the return of leg dangling all the way from Belgrave to Gembrook is a very welcome development. It joins the recent upgrade to both the Gembrook Historic Station and Menzies Creek Station.
The project has restored Gembrook station’s facade back to its original glory – celebrating its rich heritage dating back to the opening of the line between Belgrave and Gembrook in 1900.
These works follow the 2021 opening of the Lakeside Visitor Centre, which won the prestigious global award for Best New International Architecture at the 2022 International Architecture Awards.
Puffing Billy Railway has been part of Victoria’s railway history for 123 years, with generations of families making the journey through the Dandenong Ranges at the much-loved attraction.
The Victorian Government has invested $1.4 million in the upgrade of Gembrook Historic Station and Menzies Creek Station, and $12.7 million in the Lakeside Visitor Centre.
Learn more about Puffing Billy and the iconic Puffing Billy Running Festival taking place this September on the Puffing Billy website.
