Hey, Joe

Joe selling souvenirs on the Taieri Gorge Railway. Photo by David Lansing.

When I rolled my duffel bag out to the train platform in Dunedin a burly middle-aged man with sky-blue eyes intercepted me and took the bag from my hand, promising me he’d take care of it. He had a walkie-talkie jammed in to his rear pocket and a gold name badge pinned to his chest that said JOE. Not JOE SMITH or JOE JONES, just JOE.

Fifteen or twenty minutes after we departed, Joe showed up in our coach to ask for tickets. A few minutes later he was wheeling a cart down the aisle selling snacks and beverages and half an hour later he was back with a different cart selling souvenirs. Joe appeared out of nowhere to tell us to grab our cameras and go out on the observation deck so we could get a good shot of the Wingatui bridge that was coming up and later walked around answering people’s questions about the historic rail line. Joe, it seemed, was everywhere and did everything on the train. Hell, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if, when he had a free minute, he also ran up to the front of the train to drive it.

A few hours later Joe announced we were arriving in Pukerangi and, would you believe it, when the baggage door was rolled back there was Joe, standing on the edge, ready to hand us our luggage. I guess if you’re going to work on the Taieri Gorge Railway you need to be a Joe-of-all-trades.

The depot at Pukerangi. There’s not much “there” there. Photo by David Lansing.

 

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2 comments

  1. Allan’s avatar

    Joe’s job sounds like something friends encountered on their honeymoon. They booked in to a small sea-side “resort”. One of those lovely old clapboard places.

    The front desk clerk was also their porter, waiter, chef, room-service attendant and provided the turn-down service.

    It’s all a type of multi-tasking.

  2. David’s avatar

    Allan, I think this sort of thing is more common in New Zealand (and maybe Canada) than it is in the States. The B&B operator who also cooks breakfast, turns down your room, and brings you sherry in the evening. The waitress who also pulls the flat white, makes the pavlova, opens the wine, and bartends. We tend to compartmentalize more at home.

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