|PIC1|Barry's other media interests include writing media releases for numerous organisations, contributing editor for the Australian Newspaper History Group Newsletter, and editor of Media Monitoring Ministry e-news, an electronic news alert for clergy throughout Australia.
Footplate Padre Mark Tronson said of Barry Blair, living in semi-retirement in Tamworth, and in his early seventies, "He has had more years as a railway enthusiast than most of us have had hot dinners".
The Inside Rail e-news is a regular electronic publication sent by Barry Blair to those with a serious interest in rail, and his team of spies and 'secret agents' across the nation keep Barry well supplied with URL links to newspaper and magazine resources on all things 'railway'.
"These articles range from political announcements, to news about disasters such as failed ticketing machines or derailments, to announcement of changes such as new locomotives or old rolling stock going under the hammer, to anything else that is of serious railway interest," M V Tronson stated.
Some days, the Inside Rail e-news has several editions while for two or three days it might not get a run at all. It all depends on what Barry Blair receives from his 'operatives' and what he gets a chance to edit and publish online.
He also lets his readers know when the 'On Track' e-Railway magazine is coming out; this is the regular online magazine, which includes the Footplate Padre monthly article written by Mark Tronson.
Barry Blair noted, "The Footplate Padre articles and the associated press releases always get a mention in the Inside Rail e-news."
Barry Blair and Mark Tronson caught up at the Australasian Religious Press Association conference held in Brisbane recently.
"It was the first time I'd actually met Barry face-to-face, although we've corresponded over many years," M V Tronson explained.
Barry Blair was at pains to point out that his free Inside Rail e-news is driven not primarily by his personal interests, but by the inputs of its long-time readers as well as new subscribers.
Once an interest group establishes its own niche, it gains ownership and the group grows from within. This, M V Tronson, noted is the perfect 'modern' model illustrating how quickly the early Church grew exponentially.
Barry Blair's other role is as editor of The Link for Anglicans in and around New England and the north-western region of New South Wales.
As editor, Barry Blair ensures that The Link also gives the popular Footplate Padre a run, as its readership includes many died-in-the-wool railway enthusiasts.