Article: Peter Kennedy has a rare place where trains run on time

[ozbob]

From Courier Mail click here!

Peter Kennedy has a rare place where trains run on time

Peter Kennedy has a rare place where trains run on time
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Brian Williams

April 29, 2008 12:00am

RETIRED Queensland Rail employee Peter Kennedy runs his own railway - complete with a daily schedule and a special timetable for public holidays.

Unlike QR, his trains are rarely late and have few cancelled services.

His railway takes up virtually all the space in two bedrooms of his Runcorn home on Brisbane's southside.

He even had to knock down a wall to fit his trains in; and then cut a window in a lounge room wall so he and partner Lorraine Stallybrass can talk while he supervises operations.

The 1950s set includes city, suburban and country railway stations, marshalling yards and turntables.

"When we got together, I said to Lorraine some model train marriages ended in divorce because the husband was always in a shed in the back yard (with his trains) and the wife never saw him," Mr Kennedy said. "She was quite happy with that explanation.

"I retired 13 years ago, so this is a bit of a mental exercise. You've got to keep your brain active."

Mr Kennedy's civil engineering role at QR was managing special loads such as over-size equipment and heavy lifts but he said this work had largely been let go by QR.

"Don't get me started. It's tragic what they've done with QR," he said.

"Our service from Runcorn to the city used to take 31 minutes. Now it takes 37 minutes. They're going backwards."

Trains of all types and sizes will be at the Brisbane Model Train Show at the RNA Showgrounds, Bowen Hills, this weekend from May 3 to 5.

[Huggies]

I' know Peter through A.M.R.A. and he is a decent bloke. I am entering a QR diorama for the Jim Bilby Memorial trophy at the show.