Fergus Moffat

FERGUS MOFFAT HAS WORKED in the rail transport environment for over 50 years. He grew up on a sheep farm in the New Zealand province of South Otago and began his career in 1970 at age 17 as an engine cleaner in the Dunedin steam locomotive depot of New Zealand railways. He went on to become a locomotive engineman on passenger and freight operations with diesel and electric traction in various locations around the country. In 1981 he accepted a position as a locomotive driver with Mt Newman...See more

FERGUS MOFFAT HAS WORKED in the rail transport environment for over 50 years. He grew up on a sheep farm in the New Zealand province of South Otago and began his career in 1970 at age 17 as an engine cleaner in the Dunedin steam locomotive depot of New Zealand railways. He went on to become a locomotive engineman on passenger and freight operations with diesel and electric traction in various locations around the country. In 1981 he accepted a position as a locomotive driver with Mt Newman Mining (later to become BHP Iron Ore) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and he and his wife moved to Port Hedland. Fergus went on to training and supervisory positions within the BHP Iron Ore Railroad Operations division. After 13 years in this environment--with both BHP and Robe River Iron Associates--Fergus took up an operations position with National Rail Corporation (now Pacific National).In the ensuing 20 years he has worked in a private contract capacity as a locomotive driver, operating from various locations throughout Western Australia and New South Wales, and in contract linehaul service between Adelaide and Perth. Along the way he spent four months in India, training locomotive and supervisory staff in the operation of the LOCOTROL distributed motive power system, and a year in SE Asia and two years in Queensland in technical management roles involving the establishment of luxury tourist passenger train services.Fergus now lives in Melbourne, Australia, and having worked for almost 16 years for an independent government agency as a transport safety investigator, is now retired. He is a foundation member of the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby club, and continues to support the New Zealand All Blacks. He enjoys the V8 Supercars competition, and although the financial burdens of life have rendered him a lapsed private pilot, he still pursues an active interest in aviation and enjoys travel. See less