The Don River Railway community is mourning the sudden loss of their highly respected General Manager, Eamonn Seddon.
Seddon, a prominent figure in Tasmanian railway history, played a pivotal role in the restoration of the Abt Railway, now known as the West Coast Wilderness Railway, in the early 2000s.
The railway’s management said Seddon’s unexpected passing on October 18th came as a “shock”.
“Eamonn was the ultimate professional and brought a lifetime of rail experience to us,” they shared online.
“Eamonn joined us with a passion and ambition to grow the railway and was a relentless advocate for the strategic direction of the railway, working tirelessly to put us in a strong position to secure the funding to return us to the mainline.”
The railway said he “will be dearly missed”.
“Eamonn was a passionate wine connoisseur and we welcome the day we can enjoy a glass of red on a train to Penguin in his name. We know he will be right there with us.”
In recent years, Seddon played a key role in the Don River Railway’s recovery from a devastating fire in 2023 that caused $4 million in damage.
The railway is now seeking approximately $19 million for its redevelopment, having already received $2 million from the Tasmanian Government.
The volunteer team and board will continue operating the railway while they search for a new General Manager.
