Grand Reopening to Gembrook

  • On Sunday 18 October 1998, Puffing Billy has returned home to Gembrook, the original terminus of the railway.
  • As the line never had an original official reopening in 1900, we took the opportunity to officially open, as well as reopen, the Gembrook line.
  • What happened on the day?  See the article by Roderick Smith and Ted Godwin reproduced with permission from Rail News Victoria.
  • Who built it?  Here is the Honour Roll of volunteers who built the new line.
  • Here are some photos of the ceremony!

 

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Mark Owen and Peter Bruce hold the ceremonial hammer and Golden Spike just before the track laying ceremony.		 gemspike.jpg (11209 bytes)
The Transport Minister drives the Golden Spike in at Lakeside.
Breakthrough!
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The Minister for Transport, Hon. Robin Cooper officially declares the Railway open, while Her Brittanic Majesty Queen Victoria looks on.

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Photos taken by Mal Austin, Alexander McCooke, Donald Sharp and Craig Potter.  Thanks to Matthew Botherway, Greg Seedsman and Andrew Richards for arranging  digital photos on the day!  Thanks also to Rail News Victoria for supplying some of these pictures.

This information is Copyright © Emerald Tourist Railway Board, 2005,  and is maintained by Craig Potter,  webmaster@puffingbilly.com.au