will the real puffing billy please stand up

dave06 · Guru

will the real puffing billy please stand up

drongo & wendy · Senior Member

come on there Davo go jump on the puffer vic needs your sa dollars nsw is past saving haha tis a great little trip on the billy u feel like ya always wanna feel, like a kid and ya will enjoy.

might see ya on it

dave06 · Guru

victoria already has all my spare dollars for the forseeable future, this week will be the first pay that I will get to myself since we went on our two week jaunt, (if I can get it past the dragon) so maybe we will be able to eat this week

but I absolutely love the old steamers, gives me back my mispent youth

just booked the week on the houseboat, in may (thank god for the visa) oh boy do they know how to get at you, $1,000 deposit and then $250 per night, but oh well should be nice, just cruising down, or up the river, but hell $1,250 for a week????

with the dragon at the wheel I'll be able to do the nagging, "watch the pedestrians dear" "be carefull around the corner dear" "look out for that tree dear" "watch the ducks dear" cant wait!!!!!!!

Mike47 · Senior Member

At $51 pp they've lost my interest.

dave06 · Guru

oh get out with you, we paid $195 each for the abt railway, and I tell you right now I would, and will do it again the very next time we go over to strahan, which may just be next year

JRH · Guru

Mike47 wrote:

At $51 pp they've lost my interest.

G'day,
In 2004 we paid $52 PP to go on the Pitchie Ritchie Railway from Port Augusta out to Quorn and back and it was worth every cent.

John

jandas fun · Guru

Hi Dave
if you decide to do the Zig Zag ride let me know. Son in law drives the trains there on a roster basis (all volunteers) and doesnt mind if you want to shovel coal, pull the whistle lol
and havachat while he drives.
The website is www.zigzagrailway.com.au

John

dave06 · Guru

thanks for that john, I'll let you know, but south island of new Zealand is also looking pretty good, we'll see, not that much longer and we will be on the trail full time, definitely see all the steamers then

Basil Faulty · Guru

This is the real, original Puffing Billy, like young mister Grace he dosen't get out much these days. But I am told he will be at Rainhill in 2029....
Some good video of the Victorian copy here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5jkHJLntfI
And even some video of the Coffee Pot here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84CnNkEcO5M

Did someone mention the Zig Zag? have a squiz here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQlcWvALy7M&feature=PlayList&p=23C7C36C2230EC1D&index=0&playnext=1

The Zig Zag is a great feet of engineering from the days of pick and shovel, it's a lost art building stone viaducts....
Then a video of CPH 6 arriving at downtown Chakola where you will recall Gracie recently spent a day... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH0-nzBXHJE
and last the Gulflander, a trip one does not forget; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qoa0LPhs6k&feature=related

Yes costs with of fares may outrageous, beyond the pale, extrortionate but unfortunatley this is why state governments shut down railways, they are horrendously expensive to run and maintain even if all your labour is done by vollunteers, the fees imposed by the various beaureaucrats to ensure public safey are unbelievable, the cost of coal is about $300 a ton and even the Coffee Pot would get through a ton a day, then you have to consider the water and it's treatment, let alone the costs of repairs that vollunteers simply can't do because of the physical logistics of getting say patterns made, getting the item cast then the machining. Simply put it costs a fortune, PB at Belgrave is only just turning a profit, enough to pay for some expenses that the vollunteers have worn over the years - and every train that leaves Belgrave is packed.
That Is why I had to sell my beloved steam launch, hell I miss "Eureka" alas insurance, beaureacrats etc just made it too expensive for me to run as an individual, still she went to a good home.

drongo & wendy · Senior Member

Basil have u seen a pic of the first steam train in the ALICE i had it as a screen saver for yonks and do u think i can find that pic again no way

Roostertales · Senior Member

Hi Dave

Puffing Billy is a great day's outing and actually runs from Belgrave through to Gembrook -not "Cranbrook"

I 've been on it a few times with visiting rellies and it s a good journey through the Dandenong ranges.

You should be able to check when they run Thomas the Tank as a childrens event when you are planning the exact dates.

Lunch at the Gembrook pub or in Emerald is also fun.

Mike

Basil Faulty · Guru

You mean this one? The first train to Alice Springs

Basil Faulty · Guru

Roostertales wrote:

Hi Dave

Puffing Billy is a great day's outing and actually runs from Belgrave through to Gembrook -not "Cranbrook"

I 've been on it a few times with visiting rellies and it s a good journey through the Dandenong ranges.

You should be able to check when they run Thomas the Tank as a childrens event when you are planning the exact dates.

Lunch at the Gembrook pub or in Emerald is also fun.

Mike

Alternatley when you exit Gembrook station turn left and up the road about 200m are the Gembrook tearooms where a fine luncheon can be had while you wait the hour for the return service.
Only 1 train each day to Gembrook. Timetable here; http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/info/times/Timetable%202008-9%20(6mths).pdf

Basil Faulty · Guru

dave06 wrote:

thanks for that john, I'll let you know, but south island of new Zealand is also looking pretty good, we'll see, not that much longer and we will be on the trail full time, definitely see all the steamers then

South Is of NZ? Do the 21 day rail trip of NZ, you get to travel on all the crack trains....
Don't know why the pics posted twice though

-- Edited by Basil Faulty at 17:36, 2009-03-04

dave06 · Guru

thought about that one Basil,

put it to the board and she just said, "god, not more train rides, oh well as long as they serve snacks then I guess it'll be O.K"