My Railway Career 20yrs With QR

Today Friday 18.12.2020 marks 20yrs working for Queensland Rail. Infact I have been riding the rails for most of my life. I started going to work with my Dad when I was 3yrs old. And now more than 41yrs ago, I can proudly say I have loved following in my father's footsteps and achieving every little boys dream of Driving a Train. Steam Locomotives included.
I have seen a great lot of Queensland, Joining in Cloncurry as a Rail Operator/Porter. Going to Longreach for the first time in 2001 to sit an Aptitude and Ability Test to become a Trainee Driver, I was unsuccessful although I passed the exam. I continued to Progress through my training to become a Rail Operator level 3/Shunter, and later in 2001 sat the exam for trainee Driver a second time.
I passed this exam with an even better score and was appointed as Trainee Driver Cloncurry in September of 2001. I then had to wait as our school was postponed from January of 2002 to July 2002. I was fortunate enough to be selected to do my Driver's School in Townsville and was there for the remainder of 2002. January 2003 I took up in Cloncurry as a Qualified Diesel Driver.
I transferred to Emerald in July 2004 and work there til a Statewide Call for Depot Transfers was made in 2006. I chose to go to Mayne knowing I had the opportunity to join the Heritage division and Fire and Drive Steam Locos, but deferred my Transfer as late as possible to 2009. This was just prior to the State Government sale of QR's Coal, Minerals & Freight/Livestock Business in 2010.
After 11yrs in Mayne working mostly Suburban Electric Trains, the opportunity to return to Emerald arose and I didn't have to be asked twice. I was missing the bush and knew it was time to leave Brisbane.

I continue to enjoy my job and working with the great bunch of people we have in QR Regional Passenger.