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This is Essex --
A PENSIONER from Brentwood is playing his part in the construction of a continuous railway line from China to Europe.
David Binderbrice, 79, has visited Afghanistan a dozen times since 2007, helping the authorities in the war-torn country to design more than 2,000 kilometres of new tracks in the process.
The railway consultant, whose first job in the industry was in 1958 as a ticket man at Brentwood station, spoke to the Gazette ahead of a talk about his exploits last Friday.
Mr Binderbrice said this week: "My first job in Afghanistan was working for the United Nations.
"It was a three-week job back in 2007 where I was involved in redesigning two stations left over from the Russians. The stations were built for military use, bringing in tanks and other vehicles.
"I helped redesign both to make them appropriate for freight such as food."
"My second was with a Russian team who were bidding to mine the Aynak copper mine.
"As part of this contract they would need to repair miles of railroad.
"The third project was to design 2000km of the Afghan railway.
"There are so many different gauges in the country, with the Russians not using standard gauge track. This makes linking up old with new difficult."
The aim, Mr Binderbrice said, is a continuous line from China to Europe, through Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Turkey.
He continued: "My fourth project was to help with the implementation of the 2,000km of railway.
"The line is currently for freight, with a single track with passing loops every 25km.
"It isn't about the speed like it is with passenger trains – it is all about carrying capacity, how much freight can you get from one place to another."
Mr Binderbrice's time in Afghanistan was not trouble-free and he had several near misses.
"In April 2011 I was travelling to Kabul and two days before I arrived at my guest house it was blown up.
"It was a scary near-miss and really made you realise how dangerous the country can be.
"Just after I had left Afghanistan, after being delayed for a while, an internet café I visited every day was blown up.
"It can be quite scary."
Yet the near misses did not take away from his memories of the country's people.
"The Afghan people were incredibly friendly," he said.
"They asked you three questions, where are you from, how old are you and how many children you had.
"After that, they were the most hospitable people you can find."
Mr Binderbrice has plans to return to the country in the future and will not be retiring any time soon.
The former British Rail employee has trains in his blood, as he explained.
"My grandfather, Ernest Binderbrice, worked on the rails," he said.
"I have worked with railways all my life, I still don't plan on retiring.
"I will keep going until I can't any more, which should be a good few more years.
"It isn't just a job it is my hobby.
"It is great to have a hobby that is also your career and I have always loved working on the trains."
Mr Binderbrice will be giving a talk on Afghanistan at the next meeting of the Brentwood branch of the Royal Naval Association at Blenheim House, in Clive Road, Warley.
It starts at 7pm on Friday and all past and present members of the Royal Navy and the other Admiralty services and their partners are welcome. Reported by This is 1 day ago.
Clik here to view.
This is Essex --A PENSIONER from Brentwood is playing his part in the construction of a continuous railway line from China to Europe.
David Binderbrice, 79, has visited Afghanistan a dozen times since 2007, helping the authorities in the war-torn country to design more than 2,000 kilometres of new tracks in the process.
The railway consultant, whose first job in the industry was in 1958 as a ticket man at Brentwood station, spoke to the Gazette ahead of a talk about his exploits last Friday.
Mr Binderbrice said this week: "My first job in Afghanistan was working for the United Nations.
"It was a three-week job back in 2007 where I was involved in redesigning two stations left over from the Russians. The stations were built for military use, bringing in tanks and other vehicles.
"I helped redesign both to make them appropriate for freight such as food."
"My second was with a Russian team who were bidding to mine the Aynak copper mine.
"As part of this contract they would need to repair miles of railroad.
"The third project was to design 2000km of the Afghan railway.
"There are so many different gauges in the country, with the Russians not using standard gauge track. This makes linking up old with new difficult."
The aim, Mr Binderbrice said, is a continuous line from China to Europe, through Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Turkey.
He continued: "My fourth project was to help with the implementation of the 2,000km of railway.
"The line is currently for freight, with a single track with passing loops every 25km.
"It isn't about the speed like it is with passenger trains – it is all about carrying capacity, how much freight can you get from one place to another."
Mr Binderbrice's time in Afghanistan was not trouble-free and he had several near misses.
"In April 2011 I was travelling to Kabul and two days before I arrived at my guest house it was blown up.
"It was a scary near-miss and really made you realise how dangerous the country can be.
"Just after I had left Afghanistan, after being delayed for a while, an internet café I visited every day was blown up.
"It can be quite scary."
Yet the near misses did not take away from his memories of the country's people.
"The Afghan people were incredibly friendly," he said.
"They asked you three questions, where are you from, how old are you and how many children you had.
"After that, they were the most hospitable people you can find."
Mr Binderbrice has plans to return to the country in the future and will not be retiring any time soon.
The former British Rail employee has trains in his blood, as he explained.
"My grandfather, Ernest Binderbrice, worked on the rails," he said.
"I have worked with railways all my life, I still don't plan on retiring.
"I will keep going until I can't any more, which should be a good few more years.
"It isn't just a job it is my hobby.
"It is great to have a hobby that is also your career and I have always loved working on the trains."
Mr Binderbrice will be giving a talk on Afghanistan at the next meeting of the Brentwood branch of the Royal Naval Association at Blenheim House, in Clive Road, Warley.
It starts at 7pm on Friday and all past and present members of the Royal Navy and the other Admiralty services and their partners are welcome. Reported by This is 1 day ago.