Puffing Billy Steam Railway

All aboard for a ride through thick forests and lush fern-filled gullies on Puffing Billy, Australia's oldest surviving steam railway. 

The best way to travel the Dandenongs
Join the kids dangling their feet out of the open-sided carriages as the iconic steam engine chuffs along its 25-kilometre narrow-gauge track through towering forests and cool fern gullies, rumbling across trestle bridges and toiling up hills between Belgrave, Emerald Lake Park and Gembrook. 

Catch the train at any of the stations along the way, or simply watch the hissing, huffing, shiny flanks go by from one of the station refreshment rooms. 

A Puffing Billy experience for all
Imitate the romantic days of steam travel. Book a first class ticket and enjoy fine Yarra Valley food and wines for lunch or dinner in the refurbished dining cars. Go one step further and dress as an Agatha Christie character for an intriguing night of murder, mystery and suspense at the annual Murder on the Puffing Billy Express. 

Take a 'Day Out With Thomas' and see a live in full steam 'Thomas the Tank Engine' and a pantomime at Emerald Station. Challenge yourself against this hulking beast and race against Puffing Billy in the annual 13.2 kilometre Puffing Billy Great Train race. Trumpet along with live jazz music with dinner and drink as part of the Jazz on Puffing Billy Railway event. 

Puffing Billy: the history
The railway line on which Puffing Billy chugs to and fro was built in 1900 to develop the region, but failed when a landslide blocked the line in 1953. Local enthusiasts rallied to save the railway from government closure and got the train running again on its unique narrow-gauge rails.