Nostalgia is a wonderful things to enjoy. For me, working as a qualified Acting Fireman in the Goulburn Roundhouse on the New South Wales Government Railways in the 1960's gave me, as a young enthusiastic trainee engineman, many opportunities to experience the workings of both steam and diesel locomotives.
After my fortnight working as a trainee fireman (as was required before fully qualifying as an Acting Fireman), it was back to the Goulburn Roundhouse until my Fireman's appointment came through.
The way to advance more quickly through the system was to be willing to transfer to a less desirable Locomotive Depot. In July 1969 I did this by transferring to the Port Kembla Locomotive Depot, which is part of the City of Wollongong and the district of Illawarra.
In the period between my qualification as an Acting Fireman and my transfer from Goulburn to Port Kembla Locomotive Depots, I worked several express steam engines to fast freighters hauled by main line diesels on the main south.
When a scheduled fireman called in sick at the last moment, I was often called upon, as the senior Acting Fireman next on duty at the Goulburn Roundhouse, to fill that gap.
But the majority of duty in this period was in the Roundhouse and this was in the midst of a period of major change on the NSWGR. The final vestige of steam was drawing to a close and the second generation of diesel locomotives was being introduced.
I worked on, or prepared, the following steam engine Classes: 38, 59, 36 (main line), 51 (slow goods), 32 Class (shunter).
The diesels
It was, however, the diesels that drew my greater attention, and the Goulburn Roundhouse saw them all. I worked on or prepared the original 40 Class diesel, of hood design, the main streamline diesels 42, 43, 44, 421 Classes, the main line hood 45 Class and the branch line 48 and 49 Class diesels.
Then the day came when we had the first of the 2nd generation diesels come into the Roundhouse for refuelling, the magnificent 422 Class; followed a few months later by the 442 Class.
Everyone in the Roundhouse took the time to inspect these new Locomotives. These were heady times for the railway enthusiast.
I enjoyed this period of my railway development, preparing the various diesels, being part of the team that drove them down to the Goulburn north and south yards and often to the station.
There were times I was called upon to meet the Southern Highlands Express hauled by the magnificent 38 Class at Goulburn platform. The train came in, the Sydney Eveleigh crew alighted, and the Round House crew (me) would take over.
This meant having the engine detached from the train, travel light engine to the round house and on the way ditch the ashes over the ash pit and have the 38 Class prepped for its outward journey back to Sydney the following morning on the same Southern Highlands Express. This was the last NSWGR passenger express hauled by steam.
A different power house
As I reflected upon that exciting period of change from steam to diesel in which I was a part, along with the last passenger train hauled by steam, I couldn't help but think of that time I made a decision to follow a different path for my life.
For me, I made a choice, I became a follower of Jesus Christ. I asked Jesus to forgive my sin, as he died on the Cross of Calvary for me, and I invited Him to become the Lord of my life. This change of direction was more dramatic and exciting for me than was even the enthralling changes I was witnessing first hand as the steam era came to a close.
The Apostle Paul speaks of this change when writing to the Christians in the region of Galatia (the Galatians) in Chapter 2 verse 20: "I am crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."
I had a different power house for my life now.
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