Summary

Locomotive Enginemen of ?Tasmania is a tribute to the men at the coal face of Tasmania's railways, whose fascinating stories paint a vivid picture of days long gone, from a time when the 'iron roads' were crucial to the fortunes of the state. The book features stories from nine Tasmanian enginemen, who worked all manner of trains throughout the state from the 1940s to the 1980s. From Hobart suburbans to Fingal coal trains to the glamorous Tasman Limited, and from the Garratts of the Emu Bay Railway to the Mount Lyell Rack. The enginemen who operated these trains were, by necessity, a special breed - tough, resourceful and independent. Footplate crews endured long hours, with relentless shiftwork and poor conditions. Resilience and humour were essential qualities, particularly in the steam era, when teamwork and mateship ruled. AUTHOR: Author/photographer Nick Anchen was born with railways in the blood. His father and great grandfather were both railwaymen, so many stories were passed down through the family. Eventually, Nick joined what was left of the Victorian Railways in 1999, becoming a driver on Melbourne's suburban network. Over the years he heard many stories and yarns, told with great gusto by the drivers who had joined the job when the VR was a united system, with its own unique history and culture. Becoming a fireman on the Puffing Billy Railway added another dimension to his experience, and a taste of the steam days of old.