2015 – 50th Anniversary of Puffing Billy’s return to Emerald I t was on 31 July 1965, three years after the return to Menzies Creek, that Puffing Billy finally made it up the bank and back to Emerald. e Puffing Billy Preservation Society had extended the line from Menzies Creek, adding a further 2 miles and 23 chains to the journey from Belgrave. Now, 50 years later, we can remember those events of 50 years ago when 6A and its train of 10 vehicles first made the triumphal return to Emerald. It is interesting to note that amongst the vehicles in that reopening train were ‘Mount Lyell’ carriages Nos. 1 and 2 NBL, only recently arrived at Puffing Billy from their former home in Tasmania and used on the day to convey the guests of honour. ese included the then Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delacombe; the Minister of Transport, Mr E.R. Meagher; the Chairman of the Victorian Railways Commissioners, Mr E.H. Brownhill; together with local worthies and representatives of the Society. 2012 marked the 50th anniversary of the principal reopening of Puffing Billy to Menzies Creek, and that event was celebrated in fine style. So this year, the commemoration of the reopening to Emerald will be more low-key. No VR Commissioners (even if they still existed), but we will take the opportunity to recreate that special train from 1965 and also to host the launch of Volume 1 of the Society’s new book – Saving Puffing Billy. is tells the story of the first ten years of the Society from its inception in 1955 through, appropriately enough, to the reopening to Emerald in 1965. e book is edited by David Burke, who should need no introduction and without whose efforts and foresight all those years ago, there might just not be a Puffing Billy today. We would like to welcome along to the celebrations those who were around 50 years ago and who helped to extend Puffing Billy those extra two and a quarter miles to Emerald. Seats on the special 2015 reopening train will be limited, so we would like to ask for expressions of interest from all those who helped to rebuild the Railway, to attend on Sunday 2nd August. Please send your expressions of interest to Jean Clowes at [email protected] and invitations will be issued prior to the event. – Jeff Goodwin GREAT TRAIN RACE Sunday 3 May 2015 Are you interested in supporting this major Society fundraiser? Many volunteers are required to make the Great Train Race happen. Please contact us on [email protected] if you would like to be involved. ere are a number of roles in early to mid April requiring people to assist with mail-outs to runners or with delivery of flyers to local residents. is is another way of helping if you are unable to help on the day. Any queries to... [email protected] Opposite page: As is usual, the 2014 PBPS Annual Report booklet included, on page 2, a list of both Honorary Life Members and Gold Pass recipients. Not usual was the mysterious omission of a few names from the Gold Pass list! To make amends, the list opposite is current as at mid-February 2015 and includes names of recent award recipients. Our apologies to those members whose names had disappeared from the 2014 Annual Report! 5
© Copyright 2024