Puffing Billy Heritage Standards

INTRODUCTION

Puffing Billy is a preserved and restored narrow gauge railway which, through its historic character, geographical situation and wide community appeal has become an important living museum and major tourist attraction. Since the founding of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society in 1955, the primary objective has been to activate a significant portion of the original Upper Fern Tree Gully and Gembrook railway and maintain its historic character. The railway exists today through the efforts of all those who have supported its preservation. The Puffing Billy Railway also has the role of representing the other historic narrow gauge railways in Victoria and as a broader objective preserving in its collection, narrow gauge locomotives, rolling stock and artefacts from other states and from other parts of the world.

As an operating historic tourist railway, Puffing Billy maintains its preservation and restoration objectives while also meeting needs of each succeeding generation of passengers. High standards in service, safety, presentation, lineside conservation and overall integrity are upheld on the community's be half. The Puffing Billy Preservation Society and the Emerald Tourist Railway Board are entrusted with an important community asset; the promotion, development and interpretation of the railway's essential character is intrinsic to its ongoing operation. It should be understood that the term "essential character" refers to a diversity of elements and methods of operation each linked in some way to the life of the railway since its inception in the late 19th century. An 'Era of Significance" in the original operating period has been set down as being 1900 to 1930, with additional emphasis on the peak years of operation the early 1920s. The Era of Significance is to be a primary consideration in laying down guidelines and policies which relate to all aspects of preservation, restoration, appearance, function, interpretation and atmosphere this has traditionally been termed the 'image' of the railway.

Aims and Objectives of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society

Primary Objectives

1. To ensure the continued preservation and operation of the historic narrow gauge steam railway between Belgrave and Gembrook popularly known as "Puffing Billy"
2. To maintain as far as possible the historic integrity of the Puffing Billy Railway and other conservation and scenic values of the Puffing Billy Corridor from Belgrave to Gembrook.
3. To support in every possible way the Emerald Tourist Railway Board (hereinafter "the Board") in its preservation and operation of the railway.
   To achieve these primary objectives the Society must maintain a membership of sufficient size and expertise from which to:
   1. Provide from its Executive Committee four members of appropriate competence and standing to serve on the Emerald Tourist Railway Board.
   2. Provide sufficient members of appropriate skill and experience to serve the Board in a management capacity.
   3. Provide sufficient volunteers in all the categories required to maintain the economic viability of the railway.
   4. To act as a fund raising base for relevant projects which fall outside the Board's charter or priorities,

Secondary Objectives

1. To collect, restore display in working or static condition, examples of railway and associated equipment contemporary with Puffing Billy with emphasis on narrow gauge railways.
2. To promote the Society and its activities to the general public in order to maintain an awareness of its vital role in the successful presentation of the railway.
3. To collect, store, catalogue and make available for research purposes archival material relating to the Victorian Railways narrow gauge lines, the Puffing Billy Preservation Society and the Emerald Tourist Railway Board.
4. To communicate to members current activities of the Society and the Board by means of a medium such as the publication "Narrow Gauge"
5. To seek new members in an active and determined manner in order to achieve all of the above objectives and to undertake activities which will maintain membership interest.

The Philosophies of Preservation

Two key words appear in the stated objectives of the Society; preservation and operation. Primary Objective (1) is given thus: To ensure the continued preservation and operation of the historic narrow gauge steam railway between Belgrave and Gembrook popularly known as "Puffing Biliy"

Widely accepted definitions of terms such as preservation, maintenance, conservation, restoration and reconstruction are important in clarifying the various approaches to questions which arise within the objectives of the Society. The name Puffing Bill Preservation Society has always implied operation as an essential part of its role. Preservation allied to operation is keeping in existence all of the historic components which make up the railway while continuing or reviving its active identity.

When making comparisons with the preservation and restoration of historic objects or places, the railway can be considered as a single entity. Some parts are original, some restored, others reconstructed, recreated or adapted. Original parts are subject to maintenance which means continuous protective care to preserve and retain. Parts which are returned to a known earlier state are said to be restored. By strict definition, restoration means working on the existing fabric and not introducing new material. Accretions are removed or existing components reassembled.

Reconstruction means to construct again; to rebuild. Materials both new and old can be introduced into the fabric to achieve as nearly as possible, a known earlier state. When something is recreated such as a carriage or station building, it is made again from evidence of original examples. Adaptation means modifying an existing object or place to suit a particular need.

Some parts of the railway are new creations to cope with changing demands. Where possible they should achieve an appearance which is compatible with the character of the railway in its Era of Significance (1900-1930). Some parts of the railway such as level crossing signs need to meet modern requirements which means conforming to current standards as set out by the relevant authorities.

THE ERA OF SIGNIFICANCE

Background to the 'Image' or 'Heritage' Era

It is logical that the most important period in its original time a a working railway should be chosen as the Era of Significance. Dating back to the first 'Image' policy adopted by the Executive Committee in 1975, the era chosen spans the years from 1900 to 1930. In these three decades, the Upper Ferntree Gully and Gembrook Railway, grew into a busy and relatively successful operation. Its overall identity was well established by the 1920s and apart from minor changes and the effects of declining patronage in later years, it retained this identity.

The choice of the first three decades with a particular emphasis on the early 1920s, focusses on the Railway's most active and optimistic period. It also offers the greatest scope in the presentation and interpretation of a whole range of developments. Four historic colour schemes for NA locomotives can be represented within the chosen era, as can the full range of rolling stock. It is also interesting to note that the steam locomotives from other 2 ft 6 inch (762 mm) gauge lines all date from the Era of Significance: (Taiwan Shay - 1912; G42 - 1925; Peckett - 1926; Climax - 1928). The TACL tractor dating from 1928 also fits the era.

Interpretation of the Era of Significance

1. The Era of significance is a period in the history of the Railway selected to establish positive guidelines. Restorations, reconstructions, general works and new developments will conform to specifications based on detailed research into the period 1900 - 1930.
2. Where modern requirements must be considered, they will be designed to harmonize with the elements which do conform to the chosen era.
3. When a later era is represented, it should not be to the detriment of the overall period character of the railway as set out in this manual. The years from 1930 to 1953 might be called the Era of decline and that beginning in 1954 the Era of Preservation.