I work for my living in a very high tech stressful job architecting corporate systems for a major water utility. My job often demands long hours and leading people and to be honest at times does my head in. Fortunately I have two escapes, one you know about Local Guides where I can apply my tech skills and succeed in helping my local community through Maps contributions. Local Guides is as relaxing or as intense as you want it to be and you can turn it up or down as life decides for you.
The other is my life long passion for steam and my work on The Puffing Billy Railway in Melbourne. The railway is a living museum and I’ve been involved with it for the last forty two years of my life. I’ve held nearly every volunteer role on the railway. Puffing Billy is one of my happy places. A year ago I was convinced to have a go at learning to be a Steam Fireman. Little did I know just how hard that would be. A year later on Sunday I passed my assessment to become a qualified Steam Fireman and am now allowed to operate the locomotive on my own. Being on the footplate in charge of providing steam safely on a 115 year old machine is exhilarating, stressful and for someone my age exhausting but there is not a chance I’m giving it up.
The railway is an 18 mile (26km) long narrow gauge steam passenger railway existing these days as a living museum carrying passengers through the beautiful Dandenong Ranges between Belgrave and Gembrook. With some of the most challenging gradients you’ll find on a normal railway the fireman has to be ready to provide huge amounts of steam to go up the hills while timing it perfectly so the fire has died down for the next run down the hill so the locomotive will stay quiet and not waste water - a precious resource in the current climate.
I encourage you to visit the railway next time you’re in Melbourne and if I’m on your train, come up the front and say hello, let me know you’re a Local Guide and I’ll show you around “The Office”. That is what we call it. The driver and fireman operate from the best office in the world. Just two humans looking after an ancient machine bringing smiles and pleasure to everyone who rides and people who see the train as we run parallel to the road frequently crossing it.
While operating the train is easily as stressful as my day job it is a different kind of stress and is both relaxing and hugely beneficial. Shoveling a bunker full of coal to feed a hungry fire over a 12 hour shift keeps you fit and healthy. Since starting this I’ve built up muscle and lowered my average heart rate and my blood pressure is back in the normal range. I look forward to every trip where I can relish in being one with my engine and enjoying the sights, sounds and scenery around the train and along the rail corridor. The positive impact on my mental health is very real.
So I encourage you to take up a hobby, something in your community that lets you give back and generate a positive impact for your own wellness.
@PaulPavlinovich maravilloso post! Que genial que hayas mejorado grandes aspectos de tu vida, mĂ consulta serĂa aĂşn usan el tren a vapor? El motor es a carbĂłn o combustible? En Argentina ya no se usan esa clases de trenes.
Felicitaciones por tu nuevo certificado de bombero @PaulPavlinovich , no hay dudas de es algo que te gusta mucho. Agende visitar esa estaciĂłn para cuando pueda ir a Australia y hacer ese recorrido que dices.
The Local Guides program also brings me such a feeling but I think I also need such a non-digital social activity. It will be really amazing and mind-relaxing.
@PaulPavlinovich Congratulation on your success becoming a Steam Fireman. Somethings, I get confused which is your main job. I hardly differentiate between your work and volunteer activities. You give you all towards all. And, sometimes I think you are a professional photographer too. You didn’t mention that.
Meanwhile, I want to appreciate your dedication towards volunteering to make positive impact on your community especially the Local Guides. You inspired many of us!
Hehe yes @EmekaUlor photographer and teacher should probably be in that list because I still do both although not as much lately. I do enough to keep my skills where they need to be and while I don’t actively seek it, I still accept paid photo work and still do free shoots for aspiring models trying to build a career. That path is hard enough without them having to pay to learn.
I love this post @PaulPavlinovich . I love to see people with a great energy like what you do. I still remember the first time we met 6 years ago in Summit 17. I remember what you’re saying to me “We can’t make all people happy”. I don’t know if you remember it or not, but those words are always in my mind when I feel insecure or depressed of something. Thank you Paul!
Btw, my curiosity about your job is the same as what @EmekaUlor said.
You are a grand person @NunungAfuah don’t ever forget it and in your down moments I’m glad you remember something I said, that makes me really happy. It is an important thing to note for mental health and well being is to follow the same rules you follow for physical first aid - keep yourself safe first before looking after others. We all need to remember to spend time on things that are good for us personally :).
So @PaulPavlinovich you’re the manpower behind the horsepower!
I enjoyed your story and therefore worthy of a considered reply…but firstly, congratulations on your achievement in becoming a qualified Steam Fireman. Being from beautiful Melbourne myself, other than The Puffing Billy, I can’t think of any other train/engine that would give you firstly that opportunity and secondly that pleasure that you so obviously are passionate about and deeply enjoy.
How did you develop this life long passion for steam and how did you get involved with The Puffing Billy Railway?
You said that it took you 12 months to learn to be a Steam Fireman and that there’s also an exam…“little did you know just how hard that would be”… From all this, little do I know what’s involved but it suggests to me that there is much more involved than learning how to shovel coal. Also, if you’ve been with The Puffing Billy for the last forty two years of your life and only just became a Steam Fireman, what the hell did you do in those 40+ years…Seems like climbing the ranks on a steam engine involves a hell of a lot!.
Paul, you also mentioned that being a qualified Steam Fireman you are now “allowed to operate the locomotive on your own” so does that mean that you drive the train and shovel coal on your lonesome?
Given that you’re feeding the furnace on your lonesome, does that mean you don’t have a “trimmer”, a person(s) I understand that channels coal to you the firemen while you’re feeding the furnace?
Did you know that there were 176 firemen who shoveled around the clock on the Titanic? Just imagine that!!!
My job also often demands long hours and to be honest at times does my head in but I just can’t see myself shoveling a bunker full of coal to feed a hungry fire over a 12 hour shift so well done you! I shovel stuff all day but it ain’t coal and sadly it isn’t building up any muscle or lowering my average heart rate and I have to add that the negative impact on my mental health is very real.
There are quite a few steam and heritage railways available around Melbourne. I grew up around Puffing Billy because my dad’s Apex club helped from time to time including track work and clearing the way and a bit of building maintenance. I’ve always enjoyed steam.
I’ve held most volunteer jobs around the working side of the railway over the years including:
Serving in the shop
Passenger Guide
Museum
Engine Cleaner (more glamourous than it sounds)
Guard
Signalman
Track Patroller
Diesel Second Person
and of course most recently Steam Fireman.
It takes a long time to learn and a large time commitment because Puffing Billy is a railway like any other. We operate under the same regime as any railway in Australia. My qualifications would allow me with minor additional certification and local route knowledge training to operate anywhere in the country. We had both a classroom based theory over 15 weeks and practical training “on the road”. To get to be allowed to train to be fireman I had previously trained as Safe Worker (16 to 20 weeks classroom) with on the road practical training at all locations along the line.
I can be invited to drive by my driver, and they often do this for their fireman, but no I cannot operate a locomotive by myself. No one does that - we are a two person operation in the cab at all times. This is both for safety and to minimise the medicals you have to do. Single person operation requires an even higher level of medical testing than two person operation.
Our locomotives (even the big ones) are quite small. There isn’t room for someone to feed coal to me. I know the job you mean, only the biggest mainline locomotives would have had such a person and even then it was particularly unusual in the Western world. It was quite common in places such as India where full employment is a goal and consequently it takes five people to operate a locomotive instead of two. Some parts of the USA with a very strong union movement will also have a five person crew. Most operate freight with two and passenger commuter with one.
Thanks for your detailed answers to my many questions @PaulPavlinovich . Yes plenty of questions because knowing of The Puffing Billy I was very interested in learning more. For example, I had no idea that “there are quite a few steam and heritage railways available around Melbourne.”
I now see and can better appreciate that you’ve certainly grown through the different jobs there and wonder what comes next after Steam Fireman! I’ll let you know the day I’d like to visit to see you shovelling
So true @PaulPavlinovich ! I can feel myself resonating with how work can “do our heads in.” Love how you put it! I definitely feel better after exploring and helping to continue to add photos on Local Guides. Or even volunteering at other places- somehow I always leave with my frown turned upside down into a smile.
Loved reading about your work with the railway, and the photo of you is wonderful!
para cuando pueda ir a Australia y hacer ese recorrido que dices.
I appreciate the comment.
