Emerald Tourist Railway Board

and

Puffing Billy Preservation Society

The Emerald Tourist Railway Act 1977 (No 9020) established the Emerald Tourist Railway Board (ETRB) with responsibility for the "preservation, development, promotion and maintenance of the narrow gauge steam railway (known as Puffing Billy) and for the operation management and control of the service thereon.... for public recreational purposes." The ETRB consists of four members nominated by the PBPS, one nominated by the Minister of Transport, and two other members appointed by the Government. The ETRB Act is administered by the Tourism Ministry.

Before 1977, the Victorian Railways ran Puffing Billy with the assistance of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society.

While the Board owns and controls all Puffing Billy assets and is the policy making authority, a Management Committee has been established to run the day-to-day operation of the railway. In addition, the Puffing Billy Preservation Society has an elected Executive Committee.

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 1,100. It was first established on 8 June 1955. It has as its stated primary objectives:

To ensure the continued preservation and operation of the historic narrow gauge steam railway between Belgrave and Gembrook popularly known as 'Puffing Billy`.
To support in every possible way the ETRB 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.