On June 6, the 71-year-old officially marked 50 years on the job with the company now called Pacific National, which was followed by a celebratory barbecue with colleagues the next day at their Parkes premises at the Parkes Railway Station.

To Ron, you just come into work and do your job – it’s as simple as that.

Although his workmates – some of 43 years and who were present for his milestone celebration this month – may have a colourful tale or two to tell about Ron.

Ron began working on the railway as a trainee engineman in 1968 when he was 21.

By that stage steam engine trains were on their way out.

Ron and his retired colleagues recalled one remained around the Parkes Station and only moved up and down the tracks in the area.

Ron did get a taste of being a fireman (the equivalent of an engineman on a steam train) back then.

“It was a very physical job,” he said, describing that firemen shovelled a number of tonne of coal for a train trip just between Parkes and Orange.

Ron undertook five exams over his first nine years on the job and became an acting driver in 1973.

By 1982 he was a fully qualified driver and remains one to this day.

He mainly drives wheat trains, with his circuit covering Broken Hill, Cootamundra, Gulgong, Lithgow and Coonamble.

Over the years, Ron has watched the company go through several name changes, beginning as the NSW Government Railway.

Then it became Public Transport Company, State Rail Authority, Freight Rail, Freight Corp and finally Pacific National.

Ron said he didn’t expect to be working on the railway for this long.

“I just turned up for a job one day and before you know it, here I am,” he said.

“I just take each day as it comes.

“[My 50^th anniversary] felt like another day, no different to any other.”

And Ron admitted he has no plans for retirement just yet either.

“I will walk in one day and retire,” he laughed.

As modest a man Ron is, his operations manager Paul Hopwood praised his significant achievement.

“I’ve only known Ron for a short time compared to others who have worked with him longer,” Paul said.

“[Fifty years] – it’s not often seen these days and it’s uncommon in the rail industry.

“Ron has been blessed with good health – not many people get to work this long.”

At June 7’s celebration, Paul took the opportunity to congratulate Ron and thank him for his service to Pacific National.

He presented Ron with a model Pacific National locomotive mounted on a plaque.

More than 20 people gathered for the barbecue.

A close colleague, Colin Monkerud, shared a few stories on Ron before the man of the moment thanked everyone for their words and sharing the day with him.

Ron also cut not one but two ‘50-year’ cakes made especially for him.

Ron is married to Dolly Simmons and is a father of four.