Sometimes the best way to preserve our links to the past is by talking to blokes like Tom Rigg. The former St Albans train station master, author and St Albans Historical Society founder spoke to BEN CAMERON about his long and rich life in the area.
So what brought you to St Albans?
I came from Morwell (in 1971). I got a promotion through the rail. I could tell you where the houses ended – there was no Cairnlea, Delahey, a little bit of Taylors Lakes and Kealba. It’s grown enormously.
You founded St Albans Historical Society?
It goes back to 1986 … three children from the Sacred Heart school came to see me; they asked me a lot of questions. And my answer was ‘I don’t know’. They asked me when the station was built, who was the first station master. I went to a friend of mine, a chap by the name of Michael, who I regard as a top railway historian, there was nobody better. He said St Albans will be 100 years old on the first of February 1987. He said: ‘You should do something about it’.
So what did you do?
We formed the St Albans centenary rail committee, of which I was president. We ran three special trains to Sunbury, steam trains, on the Sunday. I always remember the second train, there were so many people it was like in Japan. It was a huge success. One of the ironies was steam trains can’t run on total fire ban days. On the Saturday before, it was a total fire ban, and the following Monday. But the Sunday, there wasn’t a ban and we ran the trains.
That was a pretty good first effort.
From there, we organised the St Albans Historical Society … I was the first president. Since I’ve been sick, I’ve toned down things.
Did you raise a family here?
My wife is in the home here with me … Beryl. And I have seven children, 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
You’ve also written more than 10 books?
A book I wrote was about the Sunshine rail disaster in 1908. The Ballarat train on Easter Monday came into the platform at Sunshine, and the Bendigo train ran into the back of it – 44 killed, 500 injured. That’s my masterpiece.
Where did your love of trains come from?
I worked in the railways for 40 years; 19 of our family have worked in the rail since 1870.
What do you make of the new station at St Albans?
They’ve done a wonderful job, I was over there the other week. I was amazed. I couldn’t believe it. I was on committees in the beginning, agitating. Somebody had to bite the bullet with the money.
Both governments are to blame (for the lack of progress).
And you also played a role in naming the Ginifer station?
It was named after (former Labor politician) Jack Ginifer, the local member. Labor was elected and Jack was made a minister, but unfortunately he became ill and he died. I was talking to a previous minister for transport and he said to me: ‘You should push to have that station named Ginifer’. I then wrote to the transport minister Steve Crabb and sold him the idea. It was most unique, they’d already named it Furlong. We got it through in memory of him (Jack Ginifer) – he was a good fellow.
