Aussie Train Stories

"I have known Ed Mertens for over forty years and he has never changed. He is the same good honest man he always was and, as I can attest, a true friend. I was surprised and honored when he asked me to write this foreword for his book, Off The Rails.

On reflection it seemed a logical request, as we were not only friends but ex-railway men. Is one ever really ex-railway? …Perhaps not completely, as to this day I believe Ed still has diesel in his veins and I have steam in mine. This book recounts the daily dose of luck, which accompanies the incidents, accidents, drama, ingenuity, and humor, which comprises a railway mans life"
Frank Stigwood.

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An Intro From 'Ed Mertens'

I have ‘never’ written a book of any description in my life so before I run out of ‘steam’ in my boiler, it may be time to put some of my railway experiences on paper.

My mother always said to my sisters, “never marry a railway man”,

as my father was a ‘First class conductor’ on the ‘Trans Continental’ and the ‘Ghan’ in the days of the Commonwealth Railway. I can still remember the long hours waiting for my father to step off the train, somewhat exhausted, after being away from home for the best part of a week. On many occasions, he would only just get home, when the phone would ring, or a ‘call boy’ would be at the front door. Recalling to work, with only just enough time to collect a few, just washed and ironed white shirts, and pressed conductors jackets, and off he would go again.

I can remember Dad giving mum a quick kiss on his return home and then there would be an almighty rush to the ‘dunny’. It seems, the ‘motion’ of the train would affect his bowel system. If you were reposing on the W.C. at that precise time, you would be in dire peril, as time and tide wait for no man, and my father was no exception. On these occasions he would threaten to sit on your lap if you didn’t vacate the throne at once.

With all this happening to our family,

who would want to become a...

Railway Man

I did,

and for 27 years I sometimes wondered why!

Read a classic yarn now ....
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