Kahla Webb
Venture East
Driving Force A childhood dream comes true for one Puffing Billy enthusiast. When he was a small boy, Graham Cornish’s father would take him to Belgrave, the home of Puffing Billy, Melbourne’s renowned heritage steam railway, to watch the engines being readied. “I remember sitting on the platform and watching the shunting moves, dreaming about being able do what those men do,” recalls Graham. “The highlight of any visit was to be allowed to sit on the driver’s seat and look out the window.”
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It took many years but, finally, in September 2017, his childhood dream was realised and Graham became a Puffing Billy driver. But it’s far more than simply jumping aboard and stoking the coal fire. “The driver is wholly responsible for not only the locomotive and train, but all the passengers as well,” he says. “Every morning, I have to inspect the locomotive and train to ensure it is safe and ready for the day’s running. During the day, I constantly monitor the locomotive, train, and its operation to ensure all the railways regulations are followed.”
Graham Cornish Kathryn Roytel
But the joy of the journey remains, even to this day. “Where else can a visitor travel on a beautiful steam railway where history abounds, plus travel through a wonderfully diverse environment so close to Melbourne?” + puffingbilly.com.au
