The Minister for Transport (Sir Arthur Warner) announced this yesterday. The new line will mean the end of Victoria's best-loved train, Puffing Billy. The picturesque narrow-gauge line through the bush to Be!grave will be torn up to make way for the new line. First Extension It will be the first major extension to the suburban rail network since the completion of the Glen Waverley line in 1929. This financial year, £20,000 has been allocated to the new project for land acquisition, survey work, bridge construction and earth-works. Full-scale construction will begin in 1958-59.

Puffing Billy c. 1950 Credit:Percy Spiden All present level-crossings on the narrow gauge line will be replaced by bridges. Station buildings at Upwey, Tecoma and Belgrave will be rebuilt. The platform used by Puffing Billy at Upper Fern Tree Gully will be converted for use by electric trains to Belgrave. Tecoma will have an island platform with a double line to enable trains to pass each other.

The new Belgrave station will be east of the present buildings and will also have an island platform. The president of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society (Mr. H. L. Hewett) said last night every effort would be made to save Puffing Billy. It would cost £10,000 to reopen the line between Belgrave and Emerald. It would be necessary to bypass a landslide and completely overhaul the old line. "We have no final plans yet, but we may open a public appeal to save Puffing Billy. "Even if we cannot reopen the line, we will do our best to preserve the historic train," he added.