Tourists travelling on Puffing Billy were put "at risk of physical harm" during the summer rush after a volunteer fireman drove the train in an apparent attempt to impress a young woman.

The driver was sitting in a carriage with passengers at the time.

Puffing Billy is one of Victoria's most popular tourist attractions.

The January 30 incident at the popular tourist attraction placed “visitors, volunteers and employees at risk of physical harm”, an internal investigation has found.

Just why the train crew decided to do this remains unclear, although sources have suggested the fireman was keen to impress a young woman who may have been with him in the driver's compartment.