enced ▁in ▁Victoria ▁with ▁the ▁formation ▁of ▁the ▁P uff ing ▁Billy ▁Pres ervation ▁Society ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 5 , ▁and ▁operating ▁under ▁the ▁Emer ald ▁Tour ist ▁Railway ▁Board ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 7 . ▁Form ed ▁to ▁operate ▁the ▁narrow ▁gauge ▁ ▁gauge ▁railway ▁in ▁the ▁D anden ong ▁R anges ▁near ▁Melbourne , ▁the ▁group ▁continues ▁to ▁operate ▁the ▁railway ▁today . ▁ ▁The ▁dem ise ▁of ▁the ▁last ▁of ▁the ▁steam ▁locomot ives ▁in ▁Victoria ▁comm enced ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 6 0 s , ▁with ▁the ▁Australian ▁Railway ▁Historical ▁Society ▁and ▁Association ▁of ▁Railway ▁En th us iast s ▁working ▁with ▁the ▁Victor ian ▁Rail ways ▁to ▁have ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁locomot ives ▁preserved ▁for ▁the ▁future . ▁In ▁ 1 9 6 2 ▁the ▁Australian ▁Railway ▁Historical ▁Society ▁Museum ▁was ▁established ▁at ▁William st own ▁North ▁to ▁house ▁static ▁exhib its , ▁and ▁Ste am ra il ▁Victoria ▁was ▁formed ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 5 ▁to ▁assist ▁in ▁the ▁rest oration ▁of ▁locomot ives ▁and ▁carri ages ▁for ▁use ▁on ▁special ▁trains . ▁ ▁By ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 0 s ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁her itage ▁rail ways ▁had ▁been ▁established ▁in ▁Victoria ▁on ▁closed ▁branch ▁lines . ▁These ▁rail ways ▁serve ▁both ▁as ▁tour ist ▁attra ctions , ▁and ▁to ▁preserve ▁the ▁railway ▁past . ▁The ▁work ▁of ▁railway ▁pres ervation ▁groups ▁has ▁since ▁expanded ▁to ▁retired ▁railway ▁carri ages , ▁electric ▁multiple ▁units , ▁rail ▁mot ors , ▁and