As the Footplate Padre, 'The Southern Aurora' was the title of my 1989 book. It detailed everything about this iconic express sleeper train which travelled overnight between Melbourne and Sydney, in each direction, seven nights a week, from the sixties to the eighties.
One of the chapters entitled 'Old Time Drivers' tells of the earliest Salaried Drivers of the diesel Southern Aurora who had pedigrees from the grand days of steam.
These 'classic' train drivers were only known by their surnames; they were distinguished gentlemen who were recognised in the community. They always wore white shirts and neck ties when on the diesel locomotive (on steam trains they would wear a sweat rag as a scarf around their necks).
One of the very first drivers to take charge of the Southern Aurora was Mr Butler, an engineman based in Goulburn. Not even the District Locomotive Engineer (DLE) would call him by his first name, and the fireman was never allowed to have a cuppa from Mr Butler's billy.
On the very first occasion Mr Butler took charge of the Southern Aurora at Sydney Central, the guard foolishly climbed into the cabin only to be told he wasn't invited on the locomotive - he was to speak to Mr Butler from ground level.
When the Locomotive Inspector asked the fireman to request permission to come aboard, Mr Butler said nothing for a long fifteen seconds and then grunted his approval and returned to what he was doing.
Another one
Another of these old time drivers from Goulburn was Mr Brown. His bearing was such that a fireman was not permitted to walk alongside him, only ever behind him. He would never condescend to do any part of the fireman's work even when working steam, even when it often took the fireman three trips to collect the necessary items to get a steam engine fired up.
Steam engines didn't have speedometers; drivers drove to time where the driver's watch was the critical component. Accelerating and braking was done by timing from landmarks alongside the railway line.
Diesels, however, had these new fangled instruments which these drivers considered to be agents of the devil, which took all the skill out of driving trains. When driving a diesel, Mr Brown would cover the speedometer with a large rag.
Passengers on the Southern Aurora would inevitably make comments to railway authorities about the delicacy and smoothness of the ride when Mr Brown was driving; once there were twenty such reports on the one trip.
Certainly, Mr Brown was a railway legend in his lifetime, equivalent to any movie star of the golden era. Gentlemanly dedication and attention to doing their job as well as possible was the customs.
Mr Brown and Mr Butler had kept their 'executive trade' alive as they progressed from the age of steam age to a Salaried Driver position on the diesels.
Good customs
As the Footplate Padres these stories reflect an ancient tradition taught throughout the scriptures in that there are many ways to develop good customs in your everyday Christian life.
Some of these are
daily bible readings
prayer
Christian service
community involvement
engaging in the local church
hospitality
visiting the lonely and widows/ers
hospital visitation
leading an example in sports
hobbies
Showing a positive example to your children and grandchildren by observing these customs is a great start in Christian parenthood.
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.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
