One of these Angels Unawares was Wal Schumaker.
Mark Tronson picks up the story: Wal Schumaker like a previous Angel Unaware, Ernie Goodlett, was a Port Kembla Locomotive Depot train driver. Wal Schumaker transferred from Muswellbrook Locomotive Depot, a country town on the New England Highway between Singleton and Tamworth.
The nature of so many transfers in the 1960s from small country locomotive depots, specifically related to the steam era drawing to a close. Steam engines required regular tender filling and numerous repairs. When diesels began taking over these routes, they ran through non-stop these previously busy small railway communities, such as Muswellbrook.
This created a displacement of locomotive crews. Senior drivers chose depots where they might settle down with a view to long term retirement. They were not willing to select depots that might be closed in a few years, and few if any wanted to move to Sydney.
Locomotive Depots such as Port Kembla, Albury, Broadmeadow, Taree, South Grafton and South Brisbane were favourites as there were locomotive depots that would not be closed down. This in turn, meant that fireman seeking promotion to "Driver" in those highly prized depots became very difficult as 'senior drivers' kept transferring in from those rural steam depots.
Wal Schumaker was an example of a senior driver transferring to Port Kembla. His reputation was renown even before transferring to Port Kembla. He was a man of precision. He dressed like it, his neatness reflected this attitude and his expectation was the same.
Railway guards and Station Masters' never tried putting one over Wal Schumaker. Fireman rostered to work with Wal Schuemaker felt safe and secure. Wal Schumaker had a 100% attitude to "detail".
I greatly admired Wal Scumnaker, and was welcomed into his home. Wal wrote numerous "anecdotes" for my railway books including the very detailed article on the 1955 Maitland Flood.
The area that Wal Schumaker influenced me so much which has been an enormous asset to my Ministries over these 34 years was his attention to detail.
Wal Schumaker understood the principal that if you get the tiny detail right, everything else follows. This proved to be so-right in Ministry. Wal Schumaker was another Angel Unawares.
