Article: Downer EDi restores train (DH73), names it after former manager

[ozbob]

Fraser Coast Chronicle --> Downer EDi restores train, names it after former manager

HUGH Boge spent most of his life working at Downer EDi as an engineering manager, designing and building trains - so it was a fitting tribute to have one restored and named after him in a touching ceremony.

The DH073 diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive built in 1966 by Mr Boge was used for just eight years, and then retired until the owners of Downer EDi decided to restore the train and put it to use.

The train, which travels at 40kmh, was revealed at a tribute ceremony at Downer EDi in Maryborough yesterday and will be used as a shunting locomotive.

Family and friends gave moving speeches at yesterday's naming ceremony, in honour of Mr Boge.

His son Peter Boge said this was the best tribute anyone could give to a man who dedicated his whole life building trains.

He said although his father had died suddenly at 76 two years ago from cancer, the train was a big honour.

"My dad never retired. He was always healthy and he loved his job, so we are honoured," he said.

Fellow engineer Gary Bulgarelli said Mr Boge's determination even got him out of sticky situations.

"We were in India for two weeks during election time and the hotel had a strange rule of sealing their bar fridge until after the election, but Hugh wanted a beer and within an hour, got the manager to open the bar and even offered him to reseal the fridge door - and he did it, for three days straight," he said.

[ozbob]

It would be a smart move for Queensland Rail to get a DH and have it at Mayne on standby for flood recovery etc.

A DH would be very useful in retrieving stranded sparks from tunnels etc when FV floods etc. and OHT killed.  DH can run through significant flood-waters.

It could be used as a local shunt in fair weather ...

Queensland Railways DH class > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland_Railways_DH_class

[petey3801]

Wouldn't be too much point, as these days, whenever water is running over the rail head (especially..), all rail traffic stops, whether it is capable of running through water or not. Part of the way of running now-a-days! Due to possible track deformation etc. mostly (when it comes to DHs etc).

[ozbob]

Still could be useful in moving dead units, need not necessarily have to run through flood water.

[ozbob]

I remember I was in a steam hauled pass heading to Bendigo I think it was, and the loco failed a few miles from Spencer St station.  With a minimum of fuss a Tait suburban set came up behind the train and pushed us into a section where trains could get around.  Eventually another loco (steam) turned up and we carried on.  Crikey to do that today you would probably have to have a thousand authorities or something .. 

[petey3801]

Yeah, could be handy for that, although there is always a shunt loco at Mayne (for the car shed shunt for long distance pax cars) which is sometimes used to shunt dead electrics in to unwired roads etc., so that could be used if needed to rescue a train on the main lines.