Article: Ticket has Doug on the right track

[Golliwog]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/north/ticket-has-doug-on-the-right-track/story-fn8m0rl4-1226089065681

Ticket has doug on the right track
Marnie Ludgate, North West News From: Quest Newspapers July 07, 2011 12:00AM

An Everton Park Digger has hitched a ride to Cairns on a "golden ticket'' issued more than 50 years ago in recognition of his military service.
Doug McIntyre and his wife Elva boarded the train last week using a ticket given to Mr McIntyre the day he retired from the Australian Army on Armistice Day in 1957.
Mr McIntyre said the ticket had lain concealed and forgotten for about 53 years until he uncovered the expired ticket in a cupboard drawer last year.
The first-class rail tickets were issued to returned service men and women.
One was given to the then 24-year-old following his six years of army service, including deployments to Korea and Japan.
"I had to use it within 30 days. I was keen to get on with my life and in business. I put the ticket away and forgot about it,'' Mr McIntyre said.
Despite its age, Mr McIntyre said the novelty-sized ticket  by today's standards at least  was in pristine condition so he contacted Queensland Rail in case they were interested in using it as a historical archive. "I thought they might like it for their museum because it's quite unique,'' he said.

Instead, Queensland Rail surprised Mr McIntyre and his wife by honouring the expired ticket with a trip for two to Cairns.
While the train carries the same name  the Sunlander  as it did 54 years ago, it shaves 11 hours off the journey, down to 30 hours.
"Full marks for Queensland Rail for being so generous, it was a very nice gesture,'' he said.

[WTN]

What an incredible gesture from Queensland Rail.

[ozbob]

   Well deserved Digger!

[colinw]

Every now and then, something comes along which lifts us right out of our cynicism and restores faith in humanity.

This is one such story.

A great gesture from QueenslandRail, and a well deserved reward for someone who served our country. 

[Mr X]

Woah a good one for that  I wonder how much tickets from 1957 are worth 

[colinw]

Don't know, although would like to know as I have a couple of really old ones in my possession: a 1944 Newcastle to Sydney ticket from my father, and my mother's 1932 excursion ticket for the first train across the Clarence River bridge at Grafton.

[Fares_Fair]

Don't know, although would like to know as I have a couple of really old ones in my possession: a 1944 Newcastle to Sydney ticket from my father, and my mother's 1932 excursion ticket for the first train across the Clarence River bridge at Grafton.

Do they have the cost on the ticket, if you recall ..
It'd be in pounds, shillings and or pence being pre-February 14, 1966.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[colinw]

I think the Newcastle Flyer ticket does, not sure about the other one.  Don't recall prices.