The 27-year-old forward, whose imposing 6ft 1in, 19st 5lb frame is being unleashed on First Utility Super League defences this year with Catalans Dragons, says he got the name simply because of father Logan’s job.
“My old man actually drives a coal train so that’s where the nickname comes from,” Taylor said. “I’ve had it my whole life.
“When I was about seven years old – and I was a big kid for my age – the mum of one of my real good mates started calling me Coal Train.
“I just kept growing and it sort of stuck.”
The Coal Train will hit West Yorkshire for the first time on Sunday when Taylor, fresh from a devastating two-try performance against Leeds Rhinos, and his new Dragons team-mates take on Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at Belle Vue in the day’s only Super League game.
The former Brisbane Broncos, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Gold Coast Titans forward missed the Catalans’ pre-season trial game at Huddersfield Giants through injury and made a low-key debut in their opening league defeat at Wigan Warriors.
But Taylor provided a demonstration of the awesome strength and power that earned him eight caps for Queensland and a debut for Australia in 2012 as the French club broke their duck against reigning champions Leeds in Perpignan last Saturday.
“I was quite happy with it,” he said. “It was good to get a few more minutes than the week before and hopefully I can get a few more out this week.
“After missing the trials, it’s been good to get a few games under my belt.
“We’re a pretty new team and we knew it was going to take a couple of weeks to get used to playing with each other and hopefully that gelling continues.”
The Catalans are hoping their much-needed win over the Rhinos will kick-start their season, although Taylor admits there is much scope for improvement after relying on the boot of goal-kicking winger Pat Richards for 12 of their points in a 32-28 victory.
“We let some awful tries through and, if Paddy Richards wasn’t on his game, it could have been a different story,” he said.