The very fact that I'm on social media & am a train driver (and don't hide away from saying so) means that I'm more likely to get asked for these sort of things by uni students. Unlike aviation where you get to see a lot of the behind the scenes things, railways have always seem to have a secret squirrel approach to things. Queensland Rail do really well on social media.
Well a couple of ancient stories about my interactions with QR.
January 1966.Driving to Cairns with 2 mates.Started raining as soon as we got to QLD.Got to Mackay.Spent a fun night in the dressing sheds on the beach near town.Drove north the next morning to see a creek rising before our eyes.Decided to go south.Just after Sarina the same problem.So another night in the dressing sheds.Next morning driving into town for brekkie we got rear ended.One fellow had an uncle in Brissy with a smash repair business so put the car on the train for Brisbane.
We then walked to Mackay station in pouring rain.got there ~0930.The station master is out in the rain sweeping the platform.We go to him and ask when is the next train for Brisbane.Now you have to imagine this reply in a really slow drawl."The........Sunlander.....goes.........at 9.30 Every........morning.A few blasts and expletives and then he said-"don't worry,Yesterday's.......train....is.....due...in.....half.....an...hour.
24 hours later we were in Brisbane.
Fast forward to 1991.I was doing a locum on the Sunshine Coast.Mrsdrron was with me but had to go back early.I drove her to Brisbane to catch the XPT.Coming back I was listening to the ABC news.There had been a derailment near Roma street and power lines brought down.The Mackay tation master had obviously been promoted-
ABC reporter-"So no trains can get through?"
Manager city rail-"Diesel......trains....can.....get....through"
ABC reporter-"So there are some passenger services?"
Manager-"Oh no,........we.....ain't.......got....no....diesel....trains."
I nearly drove straight off the Bruce Highway.
