Almost every resident in the Dandenong Ranges would have heard the subtle whistle of Puffing Billy as it choofs around the hills, a plume of smoke coming from its chimney.
That sound and that sight has been gracing the Dandenong Ranges for more than 100 years and Puffing Billy’s engine 6A turned 116 on 18 July.
The locomotive was one of the first Puffing Billy engines to be used when the line reopened as a tourist railway in the mid-1950s but it originally began work on 18 July 1901 and was used during the construction of the Colac to Beech Forest line.
The renowned green steam train is the oldest train the Puffing Billy line has and the engine has been restored as far as possible to its as-built condition, including early style side tanks, low level coal bunker and original size windows.
Puffing Billy workshop manager David Clowes said the train was probably in better condition now than it was all those years ago and that she’s still got a lot of years in front of her.
“She’s the oldest one we have and is really a collector’s item so we, of course, treat her like one.
“She’s probably running better than she used to,” he said.
