Dave Moyle is the editor of On Track, an E-Railway magazine which promotes the work of the Stringybark Express Museum and Heritage Park. Almost three years ago, he sought out Mark Tronson (chairman of the respite ministry, Well-Being Australia) to write the monthly Footplate Padre column.
The relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ that M V Tronson discussed in his column blossomed, and the Footplate Padre has became a regular feature of the magazine which now has a world-wide rail enthusiast audience.
When Dave Moyle learned of Well-Being Australia's Country Town Tour program to rural and regional centres, he asked Mark if he could participate. Usually, athletes and coaches run activities as mentors for young country sports people on these tours, but Dave did not want an athlete; he thought, instead, that he would give a tour to the Footplate Padre.
He arranged for many inspections to be undertaken by M V Tronson last week; the rolling stock, the repair yard and sheds, as well as the track work and planning for future museum development. It was also decided that a review of the retired broad gauge track was necessary.
Almost ten years ago, the Stringybark Express Museum and Heritage Park was allocated a section of disused Victorian Railways broad gauge track between Rutherglen and Lilliput (near Springhurst).
Springhurst is on the main rail line between Melbourne and Albury, but the closets major railway centre is Wangaratta which is 27 kilometres south. Albury is 23 kilometres to the north from Springhurst.
This old branch line, which saw the last passenger train run in 1993, went from Springhurst directly north to Rutherglen and then on to Wahgunyah, a further nine kilometres, which is located on the Victorian side of the Murray River.
Corowa is on the New South Wales side, connected to Wahgunya by major bridges which span the Murray River; but whereas Wahgunyah's population is 961 persons, Corowa has 8,000 in the town itself and another eight thousand in the surrounding districts.
Dave Moyle and the Footplate Padre, Mark Tronson, prepared the road-rail truck for the inspection trip, first driving to Rutherglen where they lowered the rail wheels, and headed for Lilliput.
This fifteen kilometre section of broad gauge rail track had not been run on for some time and Dave Moyle's inspection trip was to identify where track work was required; and more particularly where the chain-saw could be put to work to clear the numerous small trees and overhanging growth that needed pruning.
Mark Tronson said it was as if he were back on the Footplate as the road-rail truck trundled along.
"This was a very enjoyable part of the Country Town Tour, and it was great to catch up with Dave Moyle whose On Track E-Railway magazine has earned itself quite a reputation," M V Tronson explained.