The Patterson Family. (L-R) Marie, Kelly, Jacob, Jackson, Natasha, Helen.

THE Patterson family gathered from different areas of Sydney for Sunday’s second trip behind heritage locomotive 3801, celebrating the journey on David Patterson’s (deceased) favourite train.

His wife Helen said “We had a great day. The driver Michael Potter was a great friend of David’s and we were able to chat with him whilst 3801 was receiving water. Michael is a long-term Railwayman and is now a Manager at the Thirlmere Railway Museum.

“David was a huge fan of 3801 and it was his favourite train,” Helen said. “He worked as a Railwayman in several roles, including Fireman, Driver, Inspector, and then Manager at the Coal Division in Wollongong prior to his retirement.

“David had been a long-term member of the Thirlmere Railway Museum and now I’m a member,” she said.

The youngest member of the group Jackson had also made up their own sign welcoming 3801 back to Penrith and was subsequently featured in a FB post from Transport Heritage.

The love of railway travel and working on the railway has continued down the line, with Helen and David’s son James now also a driver, with the Indian Pacific one of his regular trains.