AT first it sounded like a large crash: Maybe the train had come off the tracks, or was it a bomb attack in the quiet Southern Highlands?
No - the loud thudding sound was the noise of Vince Holloway’s colleagues banging the walls of the platform as he pulled into Moss Vale Railway Station on Tuesday on his last run of a 40 year career.
The veteran train driver has called it a day at the age of 58, and family, friends and staff were on hand to give him the send off he deserved.
Mr Holloway, who lives in Moss Vale with wife Judy, has driven trains from Enfield, Lithgow, Newcastle and Port Kembla. He said he had mixed feelings about retiring.
“It is sad to leave what I do and I will miss the compassion of the work crews and I enjoyed providing a public service,” he said.
Mr Holloway said one of his fondest memories was picking up a koala in the Alymerton tunnel before handing it over to WIRES when the train pulled into Mittagong.
Shift work is one aspect of working for RailCorp Mr Holloway won’t misss. He plans to head off with his caravan to Mount Isa in Queensland with Judy to kick off his retirement.
Mr Holloway will continue to share his love for trains as a volunteer at the Thirlmere Rail Heritage Centre.
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