E-BLAST - 20 MAY 2012

The photo - boring, boring , boring - but not to the Footplate Padre and this story. 11-14 May Country Town Tour the Grafton Station Master (30 years) gave Mark a tour of the old locomotive depot. Mark told Len the story how as a teenager he with his family travelled to Brisbane a number of occasions on the overnight express arriving in Grafton 5.30am.

Upon arrival, Mark explained it was fascinating watching the 44 Class diesel be detached and then ran towards the locomotive depot (the line in this photo) and the fresh 44 Class diesel in the adjacent line, was then attached onto the train for the Grafton to Brisbane run.

The Station Master exclaimed, that for many years this was his daily duty, hand signalling this movement and attaching the fresh diesel. It bought a delightful link in Footplate Padre ministry.