Puffing Billy Preservation Society
The Puffing Billy Preservation Society (PBPS) is incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee (ACN 004 621 505) (ABN 79 004 621 505) and has a membership in the order of 1,000. It was first established on 8 June 1955.
The Society
The initial role of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society, founded in 1955, was to provide a financial guarantee against loss to the Victorian Railways, which continued to operate the little train between Upper Ferntree Gully and Belgrave. P.B.P.S. volunteers acted as “safety officers” and were involved in promotional and fundraising work. When that section of the line closed in 1958 for conversion to an electrified broad-gauge line, P.B.P.S. members became physically involved in construction and track work under Victorian Railways supervision.
Upon re-opening between Belgrave and Menzies Creek in 1962, volunteer roles extended to station staff (including booking) but loco crews and guards continued to be V.R. staff positions, while the P.B.P.S. Executive Committee acted as Manager of the Railway.
The Board
Upon formation of the Emerald Tourist Railway Board in 1977, the P.B.P.S. Executive Committee (with additional co-opted members) continued as manager of the Railway, and roles previously reserved for V.R. staff (e.g. safeworking & rolling stock maintenance) became available to volunteers. With the growth of railway activity and of paid staff numbers, the E.T.R.B. established a separate management committee but with continued strong Society representation.
Today
Today the P.B.P.S. has some 1,000 members and is governed by an elected Executive Committee of 12, with half retiring each year. It publishes a quality magazine, Narrow Gauge, each quarter, organises events including The Great Train Race and Santa Specials, and contributes annually towards capital projects on the Railway, most significantly the restoration of historic locomotives and rolling stock. Membership of the society carries no obligation to participate in voluntary activities on the railway, however active volunteer participation is encouraged.
Our Achievements
The Railway has seen the preservation and/or restoration of the railway to its original terminus at Gembrook, all but one of the remaining locomotives and most of the remaining passenger rolling stock. Some original buildings and other infrastructure has also been preserved. We have also seen some major infrastructure built to meet the needs of an increasingly popular heritage tourist railway such as new stations at Belgrave and Gembrook and locomotive workshops at Belgrave, as well as other much needed workshops and depots.
The Puffing Billy Railway has firmly established itself as one of the most popular tourist railways in the world with a service frequency almost unmatched.
Our Objectives
The Primary Objectives of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society are
- To ensure the continued preservation and operation of the historic narrow gauge steam railway between Belgrave and Gembrook popularly known as Puffing Billy.
- To maintain as far as possible the historic integrity of the Railway and other conservation and scenic values of the Puffing Billy Corridor from Belgrave to Gembrook.
- To support in every possible way the Emerald Tourist Railway Board in its preservation and operation of the Railway.
To achieve these primary objectives the Society endeavours to maintain a membership of sufficient size and expertise from which to:
- Provide from its executive committee four members of appropriate competence and standing to serve on the ETRB,
- Provide sufficient members of appropriate skill and experience to serve the Board in a management capacity,
- Provide sufficient volunteers in all the categories required to maintain the economic viability of the railway,
- To act as a fund raising base for relevant projects which fall outside the Board's charter or priorities.
In 1975, the P.B.P.S. Executive Committee adopted the 1900–1930 period as the Railway’s Era of Significance (EoS) which would, in time, determine the way the railway would be presented in appearance and “feel” or culture. This has subsequently been adopted as policy by the E.T.R.B. and has been progressively implemented over ensuing years. This means that not only are the locos and rolling stock being restored to represent periods within the EoS, but much more than that; all infrastructure including buildings, signalling, fencing and signage, plus uniforms, platform furniture, even practices and general railway “culture” is and will progressively be made to conform where safety and practicality allow.
AS A SOCIETY MEMBER, you play an important part in the moral and financial support to the continued preservation and restoration of the Puffing Billy Railway—Australia’s Premier Heritage Steam Railway.
Also, you have the opportunity to contribute to policy making through voting for the Executive or standing for office.
GENERAL INQUIRIES: (03) 9757 0700 (Business hours)
EMAIL: info@pbr.org.au
