It all began in 1984 when as a former railway man and wanting to find a railway book on the nature of hands-on instruction of driving a train, I felt inspired to write of my own experiences as a locomotive engineman from the shed to the driving seat.
Clyde Engineering was sought out and Kevin Thompson the ten marketing manager saw merit in this and sponsored the back cover, which in effect meant the cost of printing 5,000 copies had been met.
This first book was originally titled "Driving Trains – The Australian Way" and one of the men at Shell Australia where I was the Industrial Padre (Chaplain) for 2 days a week, suggested I add a second title, "From Grease Rag to the Cloth". This idea was taken up and included in the title.
This first book led to fifteen additional railway books, making a total of 16 books, most of which consisted of train driver's anecdotes and photos that I had and ones that were sent to me. I ensured there were many photos in each book.
They were 160 pages in length, and this in effect was the measurement determined by the printer as the print rolls are done in 32 pages – hence 5 rolls are 160 pages. Anything over becomes a waste of paper we're paying for.
This was a niche market whereby many Australian families have had a railway person somewhere in their family history – the railways in effect put bread and butter on the kitchen table.
These 16 railway books ran from 1984 through to 1996 and over the years I have utilised stories from their pages as Footplate Padre articles to great effect. Everyone enjoys a good story, and many railway anecdotes.
From the Driver's Seat
My 1989 book 'From the Driver's Seat' details 'accounts of driving' Australian trains. The drivers themselves relate 14 different rail trips, and as one reads along, the reader feels as if they are the driver as the train travels along.
These are blow by blow accounts of what a driver does and sees when on the driver's seat.
The fourteen rail trips are:
Julie Creek to Richmond, Qld., by Clive Dunsdale
Albury to Goulburn, NSW, by Bruce McAlister
Katoomba Snow Trip, NSW, by Bob Farguhar
Cowra to Harden, NSW, by Ern Goodlet
Parkes to Broken Hill, NSW, by Tony Priestly
Sydney to Lithgow, NSW, by Ken Ames
Albury to Melbourne, VIC by Barry Dunn
Nowra to Wollongong, NSW, by Mark Tronson
Brisbane to Gladstone, Qld., by Allan Davis
Goulburn to Sydney, NSW, by Terry Ryan
Melbourne to Wolseley, VIC by Peter Redfern
South Grafton to Taree, NSW, by Pat McCarthy
Helidon to Brisbane, Qld., by Allan Davis
Port Kembla to Moss Vale, NSW, by Mark Tronson
Sydney to Taree, NSW, by Laurie Hill
Of these accounts, the first six are driving steam engines including the magnificent streamlined 38 class steam engine hauling 'The Limited'; and of the diesel locomotive driving stories, several are Australian 'name' trains such as The Sunlander, The Spirit of Progress, The Brisbane Limited and The Overland.
Journey of life
Although this book was published 27 years ago, the driving requirements and experiences remain the same as today. It made me reflect on the journey of life. The 'good book' is a whole lot older but it too reflects the human experience through the centuries, and in an astonishing way relates to our experiences today.
This is the message: We have sinned and the Lord Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross for our sin and 'the wonderful news' is that he rose again to defeat both death and sin. He who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. This applies to each one of us today, as it did when it was written.
This offers purpose, in that my life has supernatural meaning. Life with the God of the Universe, who is right here and now helping me along life's journey, which will move on to life with Christ into eternity. That's a remarkable journey!
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html