THE CENTURY-OLD TRADITION OF SITTING ON THE CARRIAGE SILL MAKES ITS LONG-AWAITED RETURN TO PUFFING BILLY RAILWAY
The iconic ride is back from Friday 4 February 2022.
If you haven’t ridden Melbourne’s best loved attraction, Puffing Billy, while sitting on the sills of its open-side carriages, then your wish is about to come true.
Puffing Billy Railway has today re-commenced the time-honoured tradition of sitting on the sills with legs out, much to the delight of Melbournians.
“It’s been a labour of love for our team, partners, and supporters, and we are absolutely delighted to be able to offer the iconic sitting on the sills experience to adults and children aged from four to thirteen once again,” said Peter Abbott, CEO of Puffing Billy Railway.
“Nothing beats the ride through the towering forests, around bends, over bridges and streams, waving at passers-by, all the while sitting on the carriage sill as Puffing Billy steams gently along the tracks,”
For those seeking to add further enjoyment to their experience, lunch can be ordered from the new state-of-the-art Lakeside Visitor Centre café menu, where guests can dine in prior to departure, or fill their picnic baskets with tasty treats to enjoy on the journey, making the experience one that satisfies the ears, eyes, and tastebuds.
For all those parents, grandparents, friends, and families with fond memories of their time sitting on the carriage sill, now is the time to pass on the experience to a new generation.
Excursion Train Journeys depart at the following times:
Friday - Saturday
10.00am – Belgrave to Lakeside
11.00am – Belgrave to Lakeside
12.30pm – Belgrave to Lakeside
Sunday
10.00 am – Belgrave to Lakeside
11.00 am – Belgrave to Gembrook
12.30 pm – Belgrave to Lakeside
Monday – Thursday
11.00am – Belgrave to Lakeside
Sitting on the Sills trains run from Belgrave to Lakeside. Children Sitting on the Sills must be under adult supervision (one adult per two children) at all times.
For more information, please visit puffingbilly.com.au/visit-us/sitting-on-our-carriage-sills/.
Website: www.puffingbilly.com.au
Email: info@pbr.org.au
Phone number: +61 3 9757 0700 during business hours or fax +61 3 9757 0705
Socials: @puffingbillyrailway or facebook.com/PuffingBillyRailway
About Puffing Billy
Puffing Billy Railway has provided Victorians with adventures through the stunning Dandenong Ranges for over 120 years, becoming a beloved part of Melbourne’s history. Located only a 60-minute drive from the east of Melbourne’s CBD, Puffing Billy is located between the famous regions of the Yarra Valley, Phillip Island and Mornington Peninsula.
The railway is an important part of Melbourne’s history, taking its passengers through some of the most characteristic and iconic landscapes that have a settlement history linked to the railway system. The line helped to operate remote areas of Victoria in the 20th Century, providing small townships and holiday makers with essential resources. The historic ride runs from Belgrave through the towns of Menzies Creek, Emerald, Lakeside, and Cockatoo to conclude at the gorgeous Gembrook, providing a glimpse into a landscape distinctly different from Melbourne.
The Puffing Billy Railway experience is far more than travelling on an old train, it strives to capture cultural history and landscape, providing not only a tangible ride, but an experience that encourages the landscape of the imagination.
About the Lakeside Visitor Centre
Not only can visitors ride Victoria’s most iconic railway sitting on the carriage sills, but they will also be able to pay a visit to the highly anticipated $24-million-dollar Lakeside Visitor Centre. Here, visitors can shop for locally designed gifts and handcrafted treasures at a unique gift shop, grab a delicious bite to eat at the modern Railway Café and explore a collection of expertly curated steam artifact displays, including Puffing Billy’s first ever locomotive, 3A, built in 1900.
The railway also offers a range of memorable experiences, including a full day, stand-alone return journey to Lakeside or Gembrook complete with pre-purchased picnic or lunch packs to collect at the visitor centre. Whether it’s a delicious burger with Gembrook Farm fries or Coldstream beer battered fish and chips, there is a meal to suit all tastebuds.
