BOB KEOGH has plenty of experience firing up a train and launching a plane, but sending a memoir into the world was a first.

From trenches to tracks and eventually to the skies, Mr Keogh has seen Warwick from every possible angle.

Born in 1934 during the depression, Mr Keogh collected a lifetime of precious memories that he has distilled in a memoir 'Around the Circle', which launched at Cafe Jaqui's on Saturday, the day after his 84th birthday.

Surrounded by friends and family at the cosy cafe, Mr Keogh was pleased to call his memoir a completed piece of work.

"It's a terrific relief... I didn't think I would ever get it finished," he said.

Mr Keogh never set out to write a novel, but when he started to jot down some memories for his children and grandchildren the stories started pouring out.

"I wanted to leave a bit of history for my children and grand children and it grew from there and became quite a story when I actually finished it up," he said.

But although Mr Keogh has spent a life time on the railway line his career has been no straight track.

The book's title 'Around the Circle' is a poignant nod to the cyclical progression of his working life, which began flying a Tiger Moth, ended up working 26 years on the railway line, before returning to establish a flight school around Warwick and the Southern Downs.

But the circle reached full completion in Bob's latest venture: starting and operating the Southern Downs Steam Railway 22 years ago.

Since 2009 the popular tourist venture has been successfully operating steam trains on the main line and has won two Southern Downs Regional Council Community Event of the Year awards.

Mr Keogh said he hopes the book will give readers a sense of Warwick through the ages.

"It offers a lot of history for the Warwick area and a lot of people don't really realise what Warwick was like in the war years," he said.

Mr Keogh remembers digging trenches and doing air raid drills at Warwick Central State School.

"It looked like Australia would be invaded and they were going to start a defence line from Brisbane over to Perth so we would have been in the thick of it," he said.

He also recalled life working on the rails.

"Things like operating and firing a steam engine were trades that are now long forgotten. But back then there was only one way to travel because we didn't have any roads."

Mr Keogh's book forms an important part of Warwick's history and is sure to be enjoyed by long-time locals and newbies alike.

Mr Keogh's daughter Julia would also like to thank editor Brian Clarke for his help and coaching.

The book is printed by Creed and Lang and will be available locally at Hynes and other news agencies and can also be purchased by calling Julia Keogh on 0438665440 or emailing aroundthecirclebkeogh@outlook.com.