Born in 1962, son of Bruce and Grace Ayling and brother to Russell,
I grew up in the Ryde area of Sydney.
From a very early age I took a keen interest in trains,
a passion that persists to this day. As a child I had model trains,
but my interest in real railways grew more as I got older.
In my teenage years I got into photography, a hobby which naturally
combined with my fascination for railways.
On completion of schooling I took up work as a technician surveyor,
a career that was initially pursued for about five years.
In 1987 I moved into the computing industry where I worked as an
Analyst Programmer on large mainframe systems for 15 years or so.
Changes in the IT industry have recently seen me return to surveying.
My adopted home is the Blue Mountains of New South Wales,
where I live with my partner Lea Harris and our son Myles Harris-Ayling.
Although I have spent some time tinkering with cars, and enjoy walking and cycling,
my main interest is still railway photography, a pursuit which has led me to
such interesting and diverse countries as China,
Zimbabwe,
Cuba
and Poland,
as well as to many lesser known places closer to home.
