A man with a passion for old trains – and his wife who has no interest in them – have teamed up to arrange an excursion in an old red rattler to raise money for Maitland Palliative Care.
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Trish Short and her husband Rodney from Telarah are inviting people to take a step back in time on a Rail Motor Society trip from Maitland to Cessnock and back on Saturday, March 19.
Mr Short will be driving the train – and he has all the qualifications to do so.
He was a train driver for many years, he is also vice-president of the Rail Motor Society.
Mr Short said the trip would be just the occasion for people to enjoy themselves as did their relatives from a bygone age.
“The red rattler will leave Maitland Station at 10am, returning from Cessnock at 4pm,” Mr Short said, as he walked alongside the red rattler at Paterson.
“The cost of the trip is $60, including lunch at Neath Hotel,” he said.
The journey will be made in Red Rattler 721, one of the last of its type.
“The engine was built in 1962 and there are none in regular service today,” Mr Short said.
“This particular one has done thousands and thousands of kilometres.
“They are very hard to drive.
“They don’t have computers as modern engines do.
“On hot days they are also very, very hot [because of course there is no airconditioning].
“But they are still a joy to drive.”
Mrs Short said they hoped for a full train of 92 passengers on the big day.
“I myself have no interest in trains, but I thought it would be great to work with my husband and we would raise money for charity with a special red rattler journey," she said.
The Rail Motor society train trip is also being organised through South Maitland Railways.
For further information, ring Trish Short on 0413 672 408 or 4932 6967.
STEAMFEST 2016
The Burton Automotive Group Maitland Steamfest is tipped to feature a number of firsts this year to celebrate the event's 30th anniversary.
A four-train race, a record crowd and the opening of the railway line through to Cessnock are just three of the highlights organisers hope they can pull off.
One of the event's organisers and Maitland councillor Peter Garnham said Steamfest 2016 had attracted widespread national and international attention and he tipped an 80,000-strong crowd to visit Maitland over the two days on April 9 and 10.