A FRIENDLY construction worker taking his break from replacing a section of rail track in Featherston, spots me leaning against the fence at Alexander Park on Saturday and figures I'm the guy to talk to. I'm watching the Westpac rescue helicopter, which is about to be loaded with a burns victim.
The worker cheerfully reckons he's seen more action and drama in Featherston than his home beat of Cannons Creek, Porirua. Like many from that infamous neighbourhood, he's Samoan, massive and chatty.
He had a point. Only the previous day, while they were getting set up, a car gets clipped by a logging train.
Then on Saturday, with sections of the track lifted, the siren goes off again, and the fire truck diverts around his crew to race to the Lotto shop to help a man suffering from burns.
There's always some trepidation when I follow the Featherston fire truck because, initially, they are the only show in town, and they could be facing anything.