Mark Tronson was in the last batch of NSW trainee enginemen who did their tuition on the main south line firing steam engines in the late '60s. He was a Locomotive Engineman for 10 years before entering theological college and becoming a Baptist minister in 1977. He has been the Australian cricket fraternity chaplain for 24 years, 17 of which he was the Australian team chaplain before retiring in 2000, establishing Life After Cricket and later, in 2007, Cricket Family Respite.
Also during this time, between 1984-1997, he maintained his heritage with the railways by writing 16 books of train drivers' anecdotes, with titles such as 'Tales of the Footplate", "Train Diver Stories", "Grease Rag Yarns" and others.
"Last year Dave Moyle the editor of 'On Track' E-Railway magazine requested I write a monthly Footplate Padre article and it has flourished," M V Tronson explained.
He receives numerous Emails each month and it is now being established into a very productive ministry.
"This was the first invitation to speak at a men's outreach function as the Footplate Padre and the Lord's hand had gone before me and the response was overwhelming," M V Tronson said.
He showed a short DVD and brought the railway books he'd written, he told some railway stories including engineman giving their lives to Christ on the footplate, and challenged the men to follow Christ.
Footplate Padre Mark Tronson is now available for speaking engagements for men's outreach functions such as breakfasts, dinners, services and the like.