The next twelve miles to beech Forest offered the most picturesque and spectacular scenery, the line climbing almost continuously on a 1 in 30 grade, through countless cuttings and snaking around an abundance of tight curves. Although rarely in sight of the van, G42 could be heard valiantly battling the grade, its double-barrelled exhaust occasionally bursting into a muffled roar as one or both engine units slipped on wet or grass covered rails. The rhythmic knocking and clanking of loose bearings in the running gear could be heard amidst the din and on the sharper curves the side rods could be seen hammering against the cab steps. Another typical narrow gauge sound was the ringing, screaming, singing of wheel flanges fighting against rails on the three chain curves.

This was really living. Through the ever—present gum trees on this narrow gauge railway, the exhilaration of the experience gave that carefree feeling of being remote from the outside world, where the worries of the working day faded into insignificance. It was difficult to comprehend that at this very moment, all those other students were at the "Tech" engaged in their normal Wednesday pursuits.

A brief downgrade respite from the climb brought the train through Banool where a lonely, empty NQ stood on the loop siding. Up hill and down dole again, the road crossing and shed at Wimba rolled by before G42 came to a stand at Wimba water tank. On the move again, a couple of the travellers decided to venture ahead along the train for a closer look at the Garratt in its articulating convulsions. The full—length hand— rails and steps on 5NC provided access to the adjacent NQ then it was simply a matter of stepping from one to the next. Although to the casual observer all empty NQ trucks are identical in appearance, each one assumes its own distinct character when on the run. One may have a loose-sounding jangle in its running gear, another a series of squeaks and rattles or a droning vibration, another a loud drumming in its sheetmetal while some rumble along with a tuneful rhythm produced by the "clonk clonk thud bank" of various flats on the wheels.

Circumnavigation of the NU van was achieved by waiting for a clearing in the lineside scrub, leaping overboard and racing ahead to the next NQ, the sides of which appear alarmingly high above ground at 15 mph! Past McDevitt a distant farmer turned in his tractor seat to wave to the train as he had done every Wednesday for many years. The friendliness of country people was displayed at almost every homestead and farm along the way; a raised hand or tea-towel being acknowledged by the familiar "pip-pip-pip" from the engine’s whistle.

Arrival at Dinmont brought another stop for water and here the travelling trio decided to test the mood of the crew.

"Yeah, you can ride on the b*** engine — up on the b*** roof".

Fair enough, at least that would give an unusual slant on things. The secret purpose of the attempted wooing of the crew was to con a ride on the run down to Layers Hill, a resolve unshaken even if it meant hanging onto the truss rods under the NC

 Off on the last lap to Beech Forest, the grade continued upwards, the track viewed from the cab roof appearing impossibly narrow. The sensation was one of riding an elephant on a tightrope, so wide did the Garratt’s coal bunker appear. Soon after passing the site of Ditchley, with Beech Forest visible across the valley, the branch line to Weeaproinah and beyond curved into view under a road bridge and ran parallel to the main line, past the twin home signals and into Beech Forest yard.

Arrival in Beech Forest at 11. 15 brought a crushing disappointment in the news that the train could go no further that day, there being no water in the tank beside the coal stage. The crew would not risk running even to Weeaproinah as it was most doubtful if G42 would cover the round eighteen miles back to Dinmont before running dry. Some consolation was gained in that the train would now return to Colac that day and that the three travellers would have free passage — small compensation for the loss of the eagerly awaited venture to Layers Hill.

G42 had trundled down to the coal stage for its bunker to be tapped up before departure on the homeward run in mid-afternoon. It was rather sad to look out of the NC at the string of NQs and to think that here was a train carrying out of existence a part of its own railway. Running downgrade towards Gellibrand, the repetitive jingle jangle of loose fishplates gave evidence of neglect of maintenance to the track in latter years, yet provided another typical sound which added to the narrow gauge atmosphere of the line.

 · . · carrying out of existence a part of its own railway...Photo: J. E. Thompson

Each time the train gathered speed on a downgrade section, the tempo of wheels striking rail joints would quicken then the "Psssss . ." of escaping air beneath the floor would precede the grinding rumble of brake shoes fighting to retard the train’s momentum.

Pausing to take water at Dinmont and Barongarook tank, the return run was otherwise non-stop and uneventful save for an additional passenger in the person of an old bushman who passed most of the time extolling the beauties of the native flora abounding on the lineside. In the late afternoon the train rolled into Colac yard where its load of rails would be transhipped into broad gauge wagons and where G42 would rest for the following six days unless a special was to run.

The Wednesday goods was destined to operate for the ensuing fifteen months, the end of which brought the final blow to Victorian narrow gauge branch line operations. However all was not lost as only one month was to elapse before the triumphant restoration to service of "Puffing Billy" on a four mile portion of the former Ferntree Gully to Gembrook narrow gauge line in the Dandenong Ranges. Since that reopening in July, 1962, a new lease of life has been given to many of the NQ trucks from Colac, guards van 5NC is regularly used in service and locomotive 14A has been overhauled and put to work. Early in 1968, G42 was taken from storage at the V.R. Newport Workshops and transported to Belgrave where its three sections were assembled on 2' 6" metals once again. Never before had the Gembrook line felt the wheels of a Garratt until G42 was hauled the four miles from Belgrave to Menzies Creek to be placed under shelter in the Puffing Billy Museum. On this journey the sight of those masses of thrashing side rods and balance weights, the hiss of air from the working pistons and the articulating action of the engine were enough to stimulate a severe attack of nostalgia

 · . . the train rolled into Colac yard...

Photo: J. F. Thompson

Puffing Billy has now become firmly established as a major Victorian tourist attraction and when fully restored will operate through eight miles of unrivalled scenery. But even then the scene will not really be complete. The spirit of the Victorian narrow gauge in all its fascination will only be fully recaptured when the staccato exhaust and "peanut" whistle of G42 are someday heard to echo around the hills.