As a child, Brian Coleman was fascinated by moving things.
At 18, he made it a career by joining the railways.
And at 68, he’s on his way to finishing a book he started 30 years ago, about the industry.
The Melton South retiree has been researching the Victorian Railway’s ‘block-and-signal’ inspectors, who were monumental in shaping the industry in the late 1800s.
“I was always fascinated by signalling and I always wanted to make railways my career,” Mr Coleman says.
“It’s funny that I turned my interests into a hobby and turned my hobby into a career.”
Mr Coleman has finished a few chapters of his book but needs details on some of the inspectors before he can get it bookshelf-ready.
He started research for the book almost three decades ago when an “old fella” relayed personal details about block-and-signal inspectors.
“Nothing had been written about this topic before,” he said.
“So I wanted to explore it because block-and-signal inspectors had such a long-time involvement with the industry.
“A lot of them were involved in the early opening of railways; making sure it was opened smoothly and staff were trained and were charged with making sure regulations and rules were carried out properly.”
FULL LIST OF INSPECTORS
- Mark. F. Baynes, born 1889
- Thomas. F. Beary (1862)
- Ernest. C. Blazey (1864)
- George Bowden (1849)
- Alexander Burns (1864)
- Thomas.B. Cook (1860)
- Thomas Edwards (1871)
- John Evans (1866)
- Edward. M. Hoare (1869)
- John Jackson (1849)
- John Jordan (1885)
- George Kemmis (1868)
- Hugh Lynch (1860)
- Chas Miscamble (1862)
- Alexander Mathieson (1854)
- John. Z. Mullins (1868)
- Alfred. W. Murfitt (1871)
- Daniel Mcfarlane (1849)
- John Mcgee (1848)
- John. T. Nolan (1869)
- Cyril Owen (1903)
- William Phelan (1863)
- John Patrick (1861)
- Charles Ralston (1860)
- John Richmond (1849)
- James Rudd (1837)
- Lawrence. L. Stevens (1866)
- John. A. Watkins (1886)
