Laurie Birgan and Neil Linnehan are volunteers at the Ipswich Railway Workshops
Blokes like Laurie and Neil turn up every week to make sure the trades of yesteryear are not forgotten and the experience of riding in a steam train is not lost for future generations. Ipswich First caught up with them both to find out what it was like then, and what it is like now.
For the past 117 years, there has been a Linnehan working at Queensland Rail.
Neil Linnehan, 82, has been a fitter with Queensland Rail since 1950.
Neil is a third generation fitter and his son is also a fitter.
“Our family is a railway family,” he said.
His Grandfather, also a fitter, started at the Ipswich Railway Workshops about 1910.
Neil’s uncle, father, daughter and son also worked there.
Neil started his career on steam locomotives at the Ipswich Railway Workshops.
He worked in a gang of about 40 men.
A locomotive would come in and the gang would strip it down, send the parts off for repairs.
Once the parts were back they would reassemble it again.
It would take about six weeks for this process to be completed.
He started at the same time as the Garrett locomotive were being assembled and by chance they were both retired at the same time.
Neil transferred to Redbank Railway Workshops in 1955 and worked there on diesel engines for the next 27 years before returning full circle to the Ipswich Railway Workshops in 1992 to do restoration work on Blue Baby.
The Blue Baby (DD17) was the last steam locomotive ever built at the Ipswich Railway Workshops in 1952.
Neil is currently restoring it. Again.
This time as a volunteer back at the Ipswich Railway Workshops.
It is the only one left.
“I’ve got all the memories still here,” he says tapping his forehead.
“I saw the first diesel engine come off the line and now I am working with the last of the steam engines.”
The DD17 1051 when it was operational in 2008.
It’s departing Roma Street Station.
Laurie Birgan, 80, was known as ‘Sandy’ to his workmates.
He started at the Ipswich Railway Workshops in 1952 and started his apprenticeship as a turner in 1953.
“I was one of 500 apprentices that year.
“Can you imagine 3000 people working in here?
“The noise was unbelievable.
“We used to come to work in a singlet, shorts and boots.”
Laurie remembers the magic of the workshops in full flight.
“I had my pick of three jobs when I left school.
“I came out here and walked into the sheds and that was it.
“That’s all I needed, I just walked into here.
“I loved coming to work, I enjoyed every second of it.
“My foreman, George Hall, told me ‘Everything you make, go and find out where it fits, how it fits and what it does. So I did.”
Laurie started volunteering back at the Ipswich Railway Workshops one week after he retired.
“We offer a bit of advice now and then.
“We bring the locomotives back to life. That is something special.”
Laurie and Neil agree seeing their mates from back in the day plays a part too.
Neil believes every child should have the opportunity to stick their head out of the train and get a face full of soot.
“When I was a kid growing up I never thought I’d see the day when steam trains were no longer operating.
“Some kids of today have never seen a steam train run. It’s more of an experience, you can see it happening, the rods going around, the steam coming out. These days you can’t see the engine,” Neil said.
You can visit the operating Workshops on a 30 minute tour. Tours depart at 10:30am and noon, but are subject to change so check with the ticket office when you arrive. Enclosed footwear is required for your safety.
