The Fogarty family enjoys a school holiday visit to Puffing Billy.By Laura Gilmartin
PUFFING Billy has just completed its most successful year yet.
The famous steam train carried more than 260,000 passengers in the past 12 months.
Almost 25 per cent of passengers were international visitors.
In particular, the railway has received exposure in China and Korea.
Puffing Billy international sales manager David Eaton said rising petrol prices combined with good positioning meant a large percentage of south-east Melbourne residents were visiting Puffy Billy during the school holidays.
“From a business perspective, a lack of rain in recent years has also helped us out,” he said.
Mr Eaton said another reason for the popularity was that people just loved the Dandenongs and the steam train.
But Puffing Billy Railway has not always enjoyed such success.
It was built in the early 1900s as part of a government plan to develop rural areas.
The 25-kilometre Gembrook railway, as it was known, closed in 1954 because it was considered a financial liability for Victoria Railways.
The Puffing Billy Preservation Society fought hard to keep the train running until the establishment of the Emerald Tourist Railway Board in 1977, which secured Puffing Billy’s protection.
The railway lost international customers following the 11 September terrorist attacks in 2001 and again during last year’s Australian pilots’ strike.
Today it aims to preserve a leisurely way of life established long ago in Australia’s history.
To continue prospering, Puffing Billy aims to entertain the public by consistently updating its programs.
CEO of Puffing Billy Railway Eamonn Seddon said the visitor numbers reflected the success of campaigns being undertaken by Tourism Victoria within Australia and overseas. He also praised the personnel.
“This record year is a credit to the staff and huge band of dedicated volunteers who have laboured tirelessly to preserve Puffing Billy for the enjoyment of all,” Mr Seddon said.
