Who are you and what do you do?

Bradley Ingram. I am a Train Driver hauling coal from the mines to the port in the Blackwater System.

When did you start in the mining industry and what was your first job?

I started as a Driver in Hughenden in 2002 as a freight Driver. Previously I was a Sheetmetal Tradesman at the Rockhampton Railway Workshops.

How different is your job now to what you had wanted to be when you were a kid?

Completely different as I thought I might like to be a plumber or electrician.

What does a usual day at work look like?

Usual day for me means starting my shift at our Stanwell depot and taking an empty coal train to either Bluff or Blackwater and handing that train to a Bluff/Blackwater crew to take to the mines to load. And then return on a loaded train to Stanwell to hand that one over to a Callemondah crew to take to the port to unload.

What is the best thing about your job?

The people I work with are the best thing about the job.

The worst thing?

The worst thing is the roster. As we are a 24/7 operation my start times vary from shift to shift, all 10 hour shifts.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?

Keeping up with changes to policies and procedures constantly.

What was your proudest achievement?

Achieving 20 years of service and soon to be 25 years as of February 2, 2024.

What’s something about your job that would surprise people?

Train driving is not just pressing a button lol.

What’s a funny story about work that you can tell?

Funny stories are left in the cab!

What do you do in your downtime?

Hanging out with family and friends.

The mining industry gets its fair share of criticism. What is your view of the industry and the impact that it has?

The criticism the industry gets is purely about the wages we are on. The impact of these wages to our region means the industry supports small business, clubs, groups and charities all across the board with employees spending the previously mentioned wages.