puffing billy | Great Train Race 6 May 2012

Great Train Race 6 May 2012

Puffing Billy's Great Train Race is one of the longest running 'Fun Runs' on the Australian running calendar.

The race isn’t simply a race amongst the competitors…

The exciting challenge is competing against the steam locomotive, Puffing Billy, over 13.2 kilometres through the hills and fern gullies of the picturesque Dandenong Ranges from Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park.

The continual popularity and growth of this unique event of running against a steam train is what makes the Great Train Race an event not to be missed.

The Great Train Race is organised by Puffing Billy Railway volunteers and all proceeds go towards the maintenance of Puffing Billy’s family of locomotives.

The 2012 Great Train Race will take place on Sunday 6th May.

Important Information

9.30am start - 13.2km Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park.
Register early as runner numbers are restricted to 3,200 competitors.
Unless already fully subscribed, entries will close at 9.00am on Friday 4th May 2012.
NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED ON THE RACE DAY.

About the Race Route

Horizontal and Elevation Maps of the Race Route - Download here - compliments of Cool Runnings website.
Road map of the Race Route - Download here
Route Map - Click here

Entry fees

	Early Bird	Late Bird
Adult	$50.00	$60.00
Child	$30.00	$40.00

Early bird entry: Prior to 15 March 2012

Race Train Tickets

Adults $49.00
Children $34.00

There are 600 train tickets available for family and friends of runners from Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park return. Please note that runners don't need to purchase a ticket for themselves - transport back to Belgrave from the Race Finish is available aboard Puffing Billy or chartered bus. This transport is included in the Entry Fee for runners.

Car parking at Emerald Lake Park

Family and friends of runners who want to watch the Race Finish at Emerald Lake Park must prepurchase a car park pass. These car park passes cost $7.00 and can be purchased in conjunction with the Race Entry. Please note that there are only 350 car park spaces available. There is no entry to Emerald Lake Park on Race Day without a prepurchased Car Park Pass.

DON'T MISS OUT!

An email notification will be sent out to our runner database when the online entries have opened. In 2011, all 3,200 Race entries were filled within 5 weeks of opening!

UPDATE OR CHECK YOUR DETAILS

To ensure that you receive email notification when entries for the 2012 Great Train Race have opened, click here to check that we have your current email address. You will need to know your Person ID number which is located on your 2010 or 2011 Race Certificate.

JOIN THE GREAT TRAIN RACE MAILING LIST

If you have never run in the Great Train Race but would like to be added to our mailing list, please click here. By joining our mailing list, you will receive email notification when entries have opened.

RACE RESULTS AND CERTIFICATES - Click here to retrieve your results and your certificate from previous years.

Race features

The maximum number of entries for the Great Train Race is 3,200 runners.
Train tickets are available for a limited number of family and friends of runners. Please note that these tickets sell very fast so we encourage you to purchase them at the time of entry.
Seeded start: To ensure a safe event for all runners, 3 seeded starts were introduced in 2011. Upon registering, you will be required to enter their personal best time for a 10 kilometre run over the previous six months. If you have not run this distance, you will be asked to indicate their estimated best time for this distance. Seeded starts have been introduced due to the request of previous runners, making it crucial for you to give a true indication of your personal best time.
A range of prizes including placegetter, team and beat the train prizes are on offer. Will you beat Puffing Billy in 2012?
Race certificates will be available online approx one week after the Race listing your time, your place, whether you beat Puffing Billy and if so by how many minutes and seconds.
Age restrictions: On advice from Athletics Victoria and the Australian Medical Association, all runners must be a minimum of 13 years of age on the day of the Race.
A 2 hour time limit to complete the Great Train Race is enforced. After this time, a pick-up bus collects runners and takes them to the race finish area at Emerald Lake Park. Any participant who remains on the course after this time does so at their own risk and their time will not be recorded.