Enginemen of the Victorian Railways

While the life of a locomotive engineman in the steam era may have appeared glamorous, the reality was often quite different. Long hours, poor conditions, relentless shiftwork and bad pay was the engine crews lot, in an era when men relied on their workmates, and the Victorian Railways were still considered essential to the fortunes of the state. 'Enginemen of the Victorian Railways' provides a rare insight into life on the footplate, through the fascinating recollections of a selection of railwaymen, whose careers were as varied as the locomotives and lines they worked. From Mildura to Cudgewa, from the Spirit of Progress to Puffing Billy and from steam days to modern diesel locomotion, their stories paint a picture of life in a once-proud industry. In recent decades, the importance of railways has receded in the face of improved road transport and government apathy, and the branch lines, the trains and most of the men from this era have all but vanished, taking their stories with them. Memories and photographs are now all that remain of this fascinating era of the Victorian Railways.