Cobden on track for a return for railway fun on New Year's Eve

He is on track to take it for a run on New Year's Eve as part of a fund-raising effort by the club to build a new all-abilities path to the playground.

And after nine months of lockdowns and lost income, the club is hoping to raise $10,000 for the project that has so far been overlooked for funding grants.

Mr Ralph said he had always been interested in trains from a young age, but it wasn't until later in life that he took a real interest.

He said he wasn't like other train buffs who had a collection of model trains. "I just went for the big ones," he said.

Mr Ralph said he watched the tourist railway at Cobden grow in the early 1990s and decided to help out, and his interest grew from there.

"I was over here helping the boys work on the track and I thought I might as well become a member, so that was it. The bug hit me then," he said.

He spent six months building his own train from scratch back in 1997. "I've only got one, that's enough for me. I'd be lost now if I didn't have one," Mr Ralph said.

His train, that he calls The Spirit of Cobden, is modelled after one that currently runs on the main lines in Australia.

Mr Ralph is usually one of the first to take to the track before each event to make sure the track is safe.

Cobden trains will run from 5pm on New Year's Eve.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Now just one tap with our new app: Digital subscribers now have the convenience of faster news, right at your fingertips with The Standard:

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.