NEW YEAR'S STEAM 2024 - PUFFING BILLY - 6 January 2024

Railfans looking for a 'steam fix' in Australia's summer months often head to the Puffing Billy Railway in Victoria's lush Dandenong Ranges. A five train timetable on Saturday, 6 January 2024  resulted in four locomotives being in steam. Three NA class 2-6-2 tank engines and ex-South African Railways NGG16 class Garratt (converted from its original 2 ft gauge to the Victorian Railways 2ft 6in narrow gauge. It was a hot, humid and sunny day in the hills with the temperature climbing into the low 30 degrees Celsius, nullifying  steam effects, however, it was still a very successful day, photographically.
The video starts with scenes of the double-headed NA hauled 10.00 a.m. departure from Belgrave followed by one scene of the 11.00 a.m. train arriving at Menzies Creek. The balance of the video features NG129 hauling the Gembrook service. Mountain scenery, timber trestles, tall trees and steep grades, combined with hard-working narrow gauge steam locomotives, what a great way to start the New Year!