As Christmas 2016 approached, and Puffing Billy’s 6 train running began in order to accommodate the annual summer rush, G42 was taken out of traffic and rolled into the workshops for a ‘B’ exam.  Now removing our biggest locomotive from service at the busiest time of year might sound a little counter-intuitive to some, but…

Quite a range of jobs have been carried out or are now under way, and there is plenty of work to do, as the photographs demonstrate. Above, the NG/G16 boiler cradle, complete with boiler, sits suspended between the 2 engine units for the first time in nearly 20 years. Brake hanger brackets, shafts, air reservoirs…

The air box has been modified somewhat from the original concept, in order to increase clearances around the rear pony truck. Above and below, the first stage of the redesign, with damper fitted, can be seen. Each hopper has its own bottom slide fitted, in order to dump ash, and these two photographs show the…

Whilst attempting to better cater for massive patronage growth, the need for us to call into service every available item of rolling stock is becoming more the norm than the exception. This includes all the converted NQR open wagons with cyclone mesh doors, noisy vibrating steel floors and dark, claustrophobic interiors. With the introduction to…

One of the benefits of working with Puffing Billy locomotives is the chance to discover the rich industrial heritage that come with them, such as the eccentric strap (above and below) which currently resides on 6A, and yet is clearly marked ‘5’. Of the 17 NA class locomotives built, sadly only 6 still exist, and…

When D21, the trusty Belgrave yard shunter, came in for its last exam, it was deemed time to re-tyre the wheelsets based on the level of wear and how close they were to the condemning limit. Removal of the tyres revealed issues with the wheelsets which necessitated pressing the wheels off the axles as well.…

Sparks! The bane of any steam railway in the summertime, and, in bush fire prone Victoria, Puffing Billy is certainly no exception. With progressively longer and drier summers we are seeing our fire danger season extended year on year. Luckily, a history of good engineering design has resulted in our locomotives starting fewer and fewer…

What, you may wonder, is the next step in the development of the new Fox bogie? The answer is easy; testing and more testing! Shortly after completion, the new bogie was transferred to the carriage workshops at Emerald, where it had the body of 91 NQR attached. Following some shunting around Emerald yard – backwards…

The restoration of 216 NQR, being run by our Tuesday volunteer team, is progressing well. The brand new underframe has been fully welded and, after cleaning up with a grinder, has received a coat of primer. The new underframe has been designed to use steel sections to the current Australian Standards, and these differ from…

The boiler was recently removed from the boiler cradle, in order for work on the piping and brake rigging to continue. The cradle will soon be turned over for fitting of the completed brake shaft hanger brackets (above). Above and below, the brake shafts are seen under construction. The shaft in the lower photograph has…