Please note that this social story relates to Regular Excursion Train Journeys onboard Puffing Billy Railway commencing at BELGRAVE STATION. 

I am going with my family/friends/guardians to Puffing Billy Railway to ride the train.

It 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 visitors at the stations and on the train that I need to share the space with.

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Most visitors board Puffing Billy at Belgrave Station.

We may arrive by Metro Train to Belgrave Metro Station. We will walk down the steep hill for approximately 5 minutes from the Metro Train station to Puffing Billy Railway’s Belgrave Station.

Sign at the Belgrave Metro Train station showing the way to Puffing Billy Railway. The sign has an orange background with white text saying "This way to Puffing Billy" with an arrow.

We may arrive by car to Puffing Billy Railway. My Guardians will park the car and we walk down the steep hill to Puffing Billy Railway’s Belgrave Station.

Belgrave Wig Wag And Station Building

At the station, my guardian will go up to the Booking Office window to sign in for the day. We will receive a carriage allocation and I may be given a special wristband to wear while we are travelling onboard the train.

There may be trains moving on the train line and sounding their horn. This is to keep them safe from each other. I will be safe too.

There may be other people and schools arriving at the same time, so it is important I stay with my guardians.

Getting Ticket From Volunteer At Booking Office

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 Belgrave Station because there are no toilets on the train.

We may visit the shop and café at Belgrave Station. I must remember not to touch anything unless I am allowed.

Locomotive 7A

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.

We might meet a Conductor who will welcome us to Puffing Billy Railway.

Rodney

We will board the train at Belgrave Station. On the train I will sit with my guardians, and we will travel for approximately 60 minutes to Lakeside 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 unless told otherwise. 

We cannot stop at each interesting thing we see but can look through the windows of the train.

Young Family Smiling On Board

When travelling onboard the train, I may be able to sit on the sill of Puffing Billy's open-side carriages with my legs hanging out! 

A Puffing Billy volunteer will come into my carriage and talk to passengers about sitting on sills before the train departs.

Sitting on the carriage sills is safe for me. If I don't want to sit on the carriage sills, I can sit on the seats inside the carriage instead. If I feel worried, I can climb back into the carriage at any time.

This experience is only available to me if I am over 4 years of age. I may be given a special wristband that allows me to sit on the carriage sills. It is important that I obtain permission from my parent or guardian before sitting on the carriage sill.

PB SILLS 84

If I am younger than 13 years old, a parent or guardian needs to hold on to me while I am sitting on the sills.

I am not allowed to stand or climb on the carriage sill.

Pictogram showing that children aged between 4-13 years of age need to be held by a guardian when sitting on the carriage sill. The pictogram shows the adult sitting next to the child, holding on to the bar of the carriage with one hand while holding onto the child next to them with the other.

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. 

Puffing Billy Railway - family onboard carriage

Once we reach 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 rail.

We might see some Conductors again at Lakeside Station. We may even here 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. 

Puffing Billy Girl Stepping Off Carriage At Lakeside Station

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 Visitors Centre. I must remember not to touch anything unless I am allowed.

I might have lunch at the Lakeside Café in the Visitor Centre. Many other people may be eating lunch too. It might be loud. I must stay with my group during lunch.

There are also areas around the Visitor Centre where I can explore.

I need to walk on the paths to stay safe around the train.

A cafe inside a building. The interior is made up of wood and black along with concrete. A large number of visitors are seen sitting at tables in the cafe.

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.

PUFFING BILLY EDEP 213

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 leave the space. 

Paved area outside the Main Entrance to the Lakeside Visitor Centre.

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.

Emerald Lake Park

I might drive in my car or go on the train to visit the Menzies Creek Museum.

This is a special place full of things to help the train. I might get to touch some special things to help me learn about Puffing Billy Railway.

If another visitors is holding something I will wait for my turn. If I do get to hold something I will be careful.

Young Boy Standing Under Menzies Creek Sign

After approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours exploring Lakeside Visitor Centre and Emerald Lake Park, we will board the train to return to Belgrave Station. This journey will take approximately 60 minutes. I can use the toilets at Lakeside Station or Lakeside Visitor Centre before boarding, as there are no toilets on the train.

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 unless told otherwise. We cannot stop at each interesting thing we see but can look through the windows of the train.

Children Getting Tickets Checked by one of Puffing Billy Railway's conductors.

Once I reach Belgrave Station, I will get off the train with my Guardians. I must watch my step when getting on and off the train. I can also hold the rail.

Once off the platform I may once again visit Belgrave with my guardians. When our visit is complete, we will walk up the steep hill and return to our car or the train for our journey home.

Young girl in winter clothes at Puffing Billy Railway's platform. She is holding the hand of a guardian and the train carriage can be seen in the background.

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 have to 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, unless told otherwise
  • 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 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 trip to Puffing Billy Railway!

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