The Old Billy Photo

Photographer’s Note

Nothing quite beats the thrill of riding in an open train carriage, legs dangling, while the plaintive sound of the steam whistle echoes across the valley. Traveling for 24 kilometers through cool, temperate rainforest and offering glimpses of the state’s railway heritage, Puffing Billy is one of Victoria’s most loved tourist attractions.

Puffing Billy is Australia’s oldest steam locomotive and was originally used to haul timber in the Dandenong Ranges, east of Melbourne. The railway line it runs on is an example of the experimental narrow-gauge lines that were constructed at the turn of the century. Although the track was first built in 1900 to open up the remote area for settlement, it soon became a popular means for city dwellers to enjoy the tranquility of the Dandenongs during the holiday period.

However, the construction of roads in the area during the 1950s saw fewer people taking up this option, and, following a landslide in 1953, the railway line was closed. It wasn’t until nearly ten years later that the Puffing Billy Preservation Society succeeded in reopening part of the line for tourists. Restoration was completed in stages. The completion of the Emerald to Gembrook section in 1998 means that tourists can now travel the whole of the original line.

I was accompanied by Bill(Trekks)on this occassion. We were standing about a metre beside railway track as the train approaches on a curved section of an wooden bridge.

FL 52mm
F/7.1
ISO 800
Exp 1/400 sec

PixelTerror, macondo, jusninasirun, Kielia, ktanska, Sergey13, trekks, axiotea has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

PixelTerror (86853) 2009-10-10 3:14

Hi Alfred
I love trains and vintage ones are a bonus, a well captured scene that has also excellent potential for turning it into an early XXth century postcard
Have a nice day JY

phwall (5705) 2009-10-10 4:20

Hi Alfred,
A classic shot of one of Melbourne's finest. You know all the years I lived in Melbourne I never got to see "Puffing Billy".
For an overcast day you managed a very nice image, perfectly composed, and very good exposure.
I'm so sorry I missed the Melbourne TE Summit, I hope Lisa behaved herself. Hmmmm, not possible I'm thinking.

Best regards
Peter

macondo (13271) 2009-10-10 5:00

Hi Alfred.
Yes, this is a 'classic' view, and you've done it very well, combining a sufficiently high shutter speed with a high ISO to counter the dull lighting on the day. But paying attention to DOF, too, of course! I think you got the exposure of the white steam just right. I remember taking some b/w film shots from this position about 28 years ago. There are some good train shots in the gallery of Kari (ktanska) if you're interested in them. The Puffing Billy certainly is a great little railway, by any standards.
Regards,
Andrew

magalik (1424) 2009-10-10 5:46

Hello Alfred,

Very nice photo with a perfect sharpness and an incredible POV !
All is good : composition (the locomative placed perfectly is really attractive with its smoke), nice bridge, nice and natural colors, well framing.
Perfect work. Sincere congratulations.
Have a good WE.
Magali

jusninasirun (10213) 2009-10-10 7:33

Hi Alfred. This shot is so well framed and very sharp. I'm not sure if there are passengers sitting on the window panes taking picture that I see here. Rustic appeal with Billy puffing well in white smoke.

Hope you are having fun with Bill there as well.

Regards,
Jusni

bergese (615) 2009-10-10 11:03

Bonsoir Alfred
Il manque le bruit de la locomotive et l'on s'y croirait...Belle image.
Bonne soirée Isa

sacimar (7694) 2009-10-10 14:26

Hi Alfred,

interesting image, I like this old train, the composition is beautiful with the wood bridge, great job,

Best regards

Sergio

delpeoples (6764) 2009-10-10 18:06

Hi Alfred, it's wonderful that they still have such an amazing relic of the past. Your POV here is excellent and the sharpness of the image is impressive, given that it was moving at speed. You have also done really well with the available light here. What? The Three Amigos were onyl two on this day? What a shame. I hope Bill enjoyed his visit. Nice work jere and thanks for the Note, Lisa.

Kielia (8735) 2009-10-12 4:01

Hi ALfred,
what a wonderful capture of this steam locomotive, accompanied by a very nice and informative note. I like your POV, emphasizing the dynamic of the train. A classic shot in every sense! TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

ktanska (16695) 2009-10-12 4:02

Hi Alfred,
Great to see this steam train in action on the spectacular trestle. Success of this railway shows how important it is to preserve historical means of travel. Optimally framed and exposed action shot.
When I visited this place in last January steam engines were banned due to high risk of forest fire.
Kari

skippy007 (7343) 2009-10-12 4:59

Hello Alfred, Well done with this one, dull, grey, cold & miserable day but your patience was well rewarded, I have seen puffing billy several times but I don't have a reasonable shot of him, this is, I think taken in the most appropriate part of it's journey, over the wooden bridge, on a sweeping curve. Nice colour & detail, Pubbing Billy, with a full head of steam looks great. Was it Klaudio who said that they were purchasing some of these narrow gauge steam trains from Sri Lanka ??
Well done
Cheers
Santo

patdeph (18346) 2009-10-13 10:44

hello Alfred
I like very much this old train,and I guess it must be very impressive to cross this bridge with nothing to protect on the sides!The steam above and under the train gives a superb effect!Very well done!
Best regards
Pascale

daddo (11557) 2009-10-13 19:25

When did this happen- before or after our visit to the station? Wonderful shot which puts mine to shame.excellent exposure and composition. The white smoke both above and below the locomotive adds some drama to the image.My compliments. Pity I 'll never get to see Bill's version since he turned his back on TE. Regards. Klaudio.

Sergey13 (66) 2009-10-13 21:28

Hi Alfred,

Great timing in this shot! And you've managed to deliver ideal exposure. I like this picture very much.

Thank you,
Sergey

axiotea (16293) 2009-10-19 23:07

Bonjour Alfred
For a split second I thought the 'old Billy' was your good friend (joking;) Love to see this old steam locomotive and the way you have captured (you were very close to it) is very nice. I can see some people sitting on the windows with their legs hanging outside...The wooden structure, the cloud of smoke are very interesting details to look at!
Is Bill still around?
Have a nice day
Marilyn

burraburra (906) 2009-10-20 4:17

Hi Alfred,
Perfect capture of the puffin billy on the wooden bridge at the slow curve of the corner with puffs of steam everywhere. Colourful shot which is very well framed.
Regaards,
Graham.

mozzy27 (367) 2009-10-26 14:11

Gooday Alfred
Nicely composed shot of the Melbourne's icon the "Puffing Billy" great POV. Where were you standing at the time you took the shot? You must have cropped the origonal image. Nicely exposed and good DOF.
TFS Mozzy

shevchenko (10072) 2009-11-16 23:29

Hi Alfred,
This is really one of the world heritage, I wonder the track is hold by woods, distinct photo to show the old locomotive, clear to see steams, interesting composition, thanks for sharing.
Ally

boa (1406) 2009-11-28 14:09

Hi Alfred,
I love it ! Old steam trains and mechanics is one of my passions! Excellent Pov and composition were we can see all important in this scene. I wish I could hear the wonderful sound of this old beauty also :) Tfs !
Best regards.
Boa

mark88 (5860) 2009-12-22 4:57

Puffing Billy is a great attraction. I also have some photos of the train journey, i made them while in Australia in 2003.
Billy in your picture looks great.
Best regards
Marek