Updated on November 10th, 2026
Culture and heritage always attract the human mind, and their roots nourish our growth. Life moves in the present, but the past still shapes our present and future. Many things from the past can make our lives more beautiful and worth living.
Puffing Billy’s steam train is one of those things from the past worth preserving forever. I visited this dreamland during my visit to Melbourne in June 2010. As I feel on every trip, you see beautiful things; seeing the rail preserved in its original form was a wonderful, memorable experience.
It is a 24 km railway track running through dense and beautiful forests. Volunteers of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society are working to ensure the continued preservation and operation of the historic narrow-gauge steam railway between Belgrave and Gembrook.
Built in 1900, Puffing Billy is Australia’s oldest steam railway. On the 18th of December 1900, this narrow-gauge railway was opened to serve the farmers in the area by transporting their goods to markets in Melbourne.
…reaching there
Belgrave, the gateway to the Dandenong Ranges, is situated 35 km east of Melbourne. You can plan your way to get there. If you are not driving your own car, there is a second option: public transport. Metro train service is available from Melbourne City to Belgrave via Ringwood. Belgrave is the primary starting point of this railway. It takes about an hour to get there. When I visited for the first time, I used public transport, which was easy and cost-effective. After reaching Belgrave Station, take a short walk to Puffing Billy Station.
Open-sided carriages add to the fascination of the travel experience, as you feel closer to the forest and nature. The track winds through many curves, making it easy to capture the train’s view on camera. You’ll never forget the thrilling sensation of passing over an iconic wooden bridge. The train also has several enclosed carriages, both saloon and compartment cars.
Menzies Creek, Clematis, Emerald, Nobelius, Lakeside, Wright, Cockatoo, and Fielder are the main railway stations between Belgrave and Gembrook. Neal Menzies Creek station has a narrow-gauge railway museum.
Emerald is a good place to stop off and eat, and Lakeside is good for a walk. Emerald is also the destination as well as the departure point of many Puffing Billy trains.
..stop to relax at Lakeside
At Lakeside, there are many cafés, refreshment points, lawns, supervised swimming pools, playgrounds, barbecues, and other picnic facilities, so passengers can alight here for a few pleasant hours and enjoy bushwalking, swimming, or just relaxing in peaceful surroundings. This station is 13.2 Km from Belgrave.
The operations and administration centre, main refreshment room (which also sells souvenirs), and ticket purchasing are located at Belgrave station.
Most trains start from Belgrave, travel to Lakeside, and return. Except for Christmas Day, the railway operates every day of the year. One service each day offers first-class carriages and lunch.
..once decided to close, but preserved
This railway track was blocked in 1953 after a heavy landslide, but reopened in 1962 to Menzies Creek and in 1988 at Gembrook Station. The line was planned to close, and a farewell day was organised. However, when people gathered to say goodbye, a dedicated group of train enthusiasts came together to save the Puffing Billy.
Before you plan your trip, there are a few important things that you need to take care of. You must know the timetable for daily trains departing from Belgrave. There were four trains daily when I last visited. Check it when you plan to go. You also need to book tickets well in advance to avoid any issues later.
Travelling on the Puffing Billy train feels like recapturing the romance and charm of the steam-engine era. The Puffing Billy steam train takes you through the dense, beautiful forest of the Dandenong Ranges, and you feel like you’re moving through a dreamland. It’s really worth visiting again and again.
Special events train for couples & families
If you think the puffing train is only for kids, families, picnics, and fast food, you are not quite right. Sometimes, special carriages are set out for parties with special cuisines, delicious foods, drinks, chocolates, soups, baked chicken, and various desserts. If you want a unique, lifelong experience, plan to join special event trains. Puffing Billy is great for families and children, but it is also fantastic for couples, singles, and groups.
The century-old tradition of leg tangling outside train windows is banned
A minibus driver crashed the iconic Puffing Billy train in March 2018. One passenger on the bus was injured, but no one was injured on the Puffing Billy. The court ended the century-old tradition of children hanging their legs out of trains. Many people protested the court’s decision, but it ended a long-standing practice. Safety matters, but people still love it as kids, so they bring their kids, then their grandchildren. Families have done it for generations. It would just be so sad to see that tradition disappear forever. The court’s decision is also seen as a complete overreaction by many people.
Heritage Train in India: Indian Puffing Billy- Kalka Shimla Train
I will end my article by saying that travelling always helps us understand the meaning of life, become better people, keep travelling and keep exploring, and never forget to visit this beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime adventure: the Puffing Billy train in Melbourne. Read about more Beautiful Places around Melbourne
Puffing Billy-Monbulk Creek Trestle Bridge
Beautiful Places around Melbourne
Beautiful Places Around Melbourne | Top Attractions & Day Trips Near Melbourne
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