Puffing Billy Railway is proud to support the Variety Dream Day on Thursday 17th August 2023. We have developed a social story for you to read with your children before visiting the Variety Dream Day. We look forward to welcoming you!
Read or download social story
Use this social story to plan a visit to Puffing Billy Railway with children. Read it online below or download the PDF document to print.
I am attending Variety Dream Day with my family/friends/guardians at Puffing Billy Railway.
Puffing Billy Railway is a place where I can see trains, ride on them, and learn all about their history, mechanics and the people that work with them.
There will be other children and families at the stations and on the train that I need to share the space with.
We will be visiting Puffing Billy Railway’s Lakeside Visitor Centre located at Emerald Lake Park. We will be boarding the train from Lakeside Station.
We will arrive by car and walk down a ramp from the carpark to the Lakeside Visitor Centre. Here my guardian will go up to the Variety leaders to sign in for the day. We will receive a train journey time and carriage allocation.
There may be other people, schools and families arriving at the same time, so it is important I stay with my guardians.
There may be loud and unusual noises around the stations. These are the trains on Puffing Billy Railway. These noises keep people and the trains safe. I will be safe too.
I must stay back from the train tracks and behind the yellow line. I must not touch the Locomotive as it may be hot.
I must not touch the train while it is moving.
We will visit the toilets at the Lakeside Visitor Centre because there are no toilets on the train.
We may visit the shop and café at the Lakeside Visitor Centre. I must remember not to touch anything unless I am allowed.
There are lots of staff and volunteers at Puffing Billy Railway who are there to help me and answer my questions. If I get lost from my group, I can ask them for help. If I feel unsafe, I can also ask them for help.
They may be wearing all different types of clothing, even olden day clothes. They will have a special logo on their clothing. They might have a radio to talk to other people.
I might meet a Train Driver and a Train Guard. I may even meet some characters from TV shows and movies.
We might meet a Conductor who will welcome us to Puffing Billy Railway.
We will board the train at Lakeside Station. Different families and groups may have different train journey times. On the train I will sit with my guardians, and we will travel for approximately 15 minutes to Emerald Station.
The train might be loud and bumpy, it cannot hurt me. I will be safe if I stay seated with my family / friends / guardians.
I must keep my arms, legs and body inside the train at all times.
We cannot stop at each interesting thing we see but can look through the windows of the train.
On the journey I might see animals living in the trees, on the ground and around the train.
I might see bridges, creeks and rivers that run along and underneath the train.
While traveling on the train I might see lots of plants, trees and big ferns that are important for the animals and forest.
It is important that I look at these things through the window of the train and stay seated with my guardians. It is important that I listen to my guardians’ directions and stay with the group.
Once we arrive at Emerald Station our train must stop for approximately 5 minutes for safe working. During this time, I must remain on the train and patiently wait with my guardians/family until our journey re-starts.
Once the locomotive is ready to go, we will begin our 15-minute journey back to Lakeside Station.
I must keep my arms, legs and body inside the train at all times.
We cannot stop at each interesting thing we see but can look through the windows of the train.
Once we return to Lakeside Station, we will get off the train. We must watch our step when getting on and off the train. We can also hold the handrail.
We might see some Conductors again at Lakeside Station. We may even hear the Station Master making announcements. It is important we listen to the announcements and our guardians’ directions and stay with the group when at the station.
Before or after the train ride I might visit a Museum inside the Lakeside Visitor Centre that tells me all about Puffing Billy Railway. I may visit a shop at the Lakeside Visitor Centre. I must remember not to touch anything unless I am allowed.
I might have lunch at the Lakeside Café in the Lakeside Visitor Centre. Many other people may be eating lunch too. It might be loud. I must stay with my group during lunch.
There may be videos showing on big screens at the Visitor Centre. This video may have loud noises and whistles.
If I feel uncomfortable, I can tell my Guardians with me, and we can leave the room.
There are areas at Lakeside that are big and bright and areas that are dark. This is to keep the trains safe from the outside. It is safe for me too.
If I feel uncomfortable, I can tell my Guardians with me, and we can move to another space.
I may have lunch at Emerald Lake Park. I may even get to play on the playground and explore the park. It is important I stay with my group while outside.
In Emerald Lake Park there are bridges, waterways and pools I need to be careful of. I must listen to my guardians while moving around this park.
We may see some wild birds in the park. I must remember not chase them or feed them, just watch them quietly.
I might see some performers and characters at Lakeside Station. I can greet them and get a photo with them if I feel comfortable.
There may be arts, crafts and colouring activities inside the Lakeside Visitor Centre. There may be a staff member in this room. I must listen to the staff members instructions and remember to share the art and craft equipment.
I may visitor a tattoo station where I can get a temporary tattoo if I like. I must remember to line up and wait my turn.
If I feel uncomfortable, I can tell my guardians with me, and we can leave the space.
There may be live music inside the Lakeside Visitor Centre. I can sit and listen, or stand up and dance. I must remember to listen to my guardians and staff members instructions when around the singers/band.
If I feel uncomfortable, I can tell my guardians and we can leave the space.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:
- Stay with my guardians and group
- Listen to my guardians
- Walk and not run
- Speak with my quiet voice, even though it may be loud and noisy. There will be whistle sounds at every crossing
- Wait patiently when I must line up
- Only touch and climb on things that my guardian says I am allowed to
- Listen carefully when an adult is talking to me
- Stand back from the train tracks and do not cross them unless an adult is with you
- Keep my hands, arms, legs and body back behind the line on the station, away from the train tracks
- When we are on the train, no legs or arms are to be outside the carriage.
- There are no windows on the train, so it is very cold. Soot can come in, but I will be safe
- We want you to feel safe during your time here, so if something makes you uncomfortable or unsafe, please speak to your guardians or someone in a Puffing Billy Railway uniform
- Your feedback is important to us please tell a staff member or volunteer if you have had an amazing time at the Railway and they may be able to pass it on!
I am excited for my Variety Dream Day at Puffing Billy Railway!
