Thanks for that John.

Visits to friends and relatives were always by train before we got a car in 1965, a chance to visit other areas and make unusual "cops". One of our regular trips from Birmingham was to see the Great Aunts in Newark, via Derby. Near always good for about half an hour on Derby Station, where we had to change.

Best wishes for 2009.

John H-T.

We had relatives at Doncaster. I remember going by car, on what I assume was the A1, and seeing 60025 "Falcon" crossing the road on an overbridge.
I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I was about 8 or 9 at the time.
Happy days.
Paul.

Welcome to the forum GHQ.
I was in Mandurah 5 years ago. Absolutely beautiful. Perfect!.
Paul.

It was exactly the same for me Mike. I can remember crying and running to my mum as a steam locomotive (probably a V1/V3) arrived at Hedon station to take us on a shopping trip to Hull. Even worse, my dad used to work at King George Dock in Hull as a fitter, and when he was on holiday, I used to go with him to pick up his wages. To get to the pay office, we had to cross the maze of railway lines that were between the dock and the main road...always full of WD's and shunters. I was still terrified, and got across the tracks as fast as I could. I've regretted those silly fears ever since!:(

I never really had a great interest in railways when I was young although the Glasgow Underground always fascinated me and I had a lifelong ambition fulfilled a couple of years ago when I got to ride in the drivers cab round the outer circle. While this may not be the most adventurous trip ever it was for me 15 minutes of pleasure.
As the years passed my interest in railways became greater and I suppose stemming from being an engineer the long straight rail lines and the uniformity of it all drew me to the wonder of it all.

Having the RH&DR at the bottom of the garden didn't help

I live about 200 metres from the cambrian coast line, and as I was growing up I'd watch 37s racing by on lengthy passenger trains and heavy ballast trains.

I got older and my dad started taking me out on 37s from Crewe to Chester, and 33s/37s to Cardiff. I was well and truly hooked then. Spent most of my childhood travelling behind 37s and 47s and spent many a day at Newport watching 37s and 56s screaming by. Then everything got modernised, and I found myself watching all the traction I grew up to know and love, dissappearing, so turned to photography and chasing down the remaining heritage traction. Now I can't seem to part myself from my camera, and I'll be on railway bridges or up rock faces most weekends. Beer and Girls can wait, for now :p

Hello David (SalopianGrowler) and welcome to the Railway Forum. Hope you enjoy the sites gallery and add to it as well. Looking forward to seeing some of photos

Thank you for the warm welcome, I hope to be adding a few of my photos to the gallery very soon :)

Regards
David

Strangely enough, it was insomnia.

I was born and raised here in Leicester. Railway memories include watching steam trains on the Great Central from the footpath between Thurcaston Rd and Birstall Station; the last train terminating at Belgrave Road Station (now a Sainsburys store!); Leicester London Road Station with a full glass roof and the blue Midland Pullmans.
That was it really - I didn't show much interest in the railways as a teenager.
I grew up and worked for a couple of years in London. Willesden Junction with its Freightliner depot was at the back of the house I shared with some mates!

Returning to Leicester in the late 70s I found myself living a few hundred yards away from Leicester London Rd Stn. One summer night, unable to sleep, I drifted down towards the station where the clanking noise of parcels vans being shunted attracted my interest. There I found a few 'spotters' who accepted me into their ranks straight away.

During the late 70s and into the 80s in Leicester we had Class 45s (and the popular double header on Sunday afternoons!) running the St Pancras - Sheffield services, Class 31s on the Norwich - Birmingham service and in the summer - double-headed 20s on the Skegness specials.
One exceptional regular working I do remember was in the early hours of Saturday mornings when a Class 50 would arrive (light), refuel at the depot and take parcels vans back to Birmingham (Lawlor Street?) parcels depot.
This was also the age of the 'Merrymaker' and affordable RailRover tickets - that was how we got around then! Sadly, I had to leave the hobby in the mid 80s when lifestyle and job demands changed.

So here I am now in 2009 - returned to the hobby and making plans already to do at least a Heart of England + an East Midlands Rover before the summer is out.

:)

Welcome back to the hobby! Always nice to hear of people returning to it after years away from the scene.

For me, I really got hooked in autumn 2003 when I had just started university in Swansea. To this day, I don't know why I went, but I had popped to the station. As a kid I liked trains but wasn't a spotter or owt. Anyway, I watched a HST leave for London and that was it. The noise, the clag and the looks of the magnificent beast grabbed me and I've never looked back.

In 2005 I had for a while considered giving up at the end of the year. Thankfully, almost 4 years since then, I'm still going at it and refuse to give up until I'm too old to get out of the house on my own. Well, I might after the final HST run on the mainline retiring to railtours and such like, but that's a long way off.

I know what you mean Kington TramBasher. The thrill of the powerful engine accelerating away is superbly exciting.

I was travelling across America two years ago and was equally excited by the locomotives that hauled us. These were the P-42 Genesis class which worked the intercontinental trains on Amtrak. There were two on the California Zephyr since it had to cross the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada. Total HP in excess of 8000.

Regards.

Owning a railway station
 

I loved travelling around Hampshire and surrounding areas by train as a kid and teenager. I had a friend who's father was a driver on Southern and he knew all the best, most out of the way places to visit on the network.

I recently bought a station house that was originally part of the Reseau Breton network in Brittany. The station is still live and sees about 5 or 6 trains stopping a day. It's pretty delapidated at the moment but I have high hopes for it.

The influence of my wife and the father in law (who used to work at Lime Street in Liverpool) and moving to the wirral played a big part.

I've been on a few steam train trips on the Duchess of Hamiliton and the Sir Nigel Greasley and Union of South Africa (The Duchesses and A4s are my all time favourite steam engines along with the 9F), a couple of Black Fives and some diesels - the Deltic class being my favourite along with the Class 37s.

The reason I enjoy the railway as a hobby, is because it encompasses alot of my interests such as modelling (i'm currently attempting my first proper railway layout), photography, history, reading about the subject and nothing beats the sheer presence of steam engine in full steam or the roar of a diesel engine.

I'm also interested in the modern stuff such as the EMUs as Lime Street station is across the water.

For me its the sight and smells of old steam locomotives thundering down to track. My Great Great Grandfather was a steam locomotive engineer for the AT&SF Railroad

when standing at grove park station when i was 6,a 4-cig passed me at speed and was in NSE livery and it was mid summer,the sound of the traction motors and the beutiful sound of it just made me fall in love with trains,and thats where it all started,and i was upset when the slammers were withdrawn but since loving trains ive always had somthing for the class 465 'networker'!the thrill i still get when im standing on a bridge and a 465 passes me at speed with the sound of the loud traction motors just sets me off!

It all started in 1988 for me after my dad telling me about when he
used to trainspott at tweedmouth depot 52d when he was a kid sadly
tweedmouth is all gone now. but he did get me hooked on trains and
after all these years later i love it now as the first day i started

What started my interest....
 

My grandad lived in Plymouth and me and my sis would run along to the end of the road which overlooked the line near The Friary to see the steam locos running along there. We also used to spend hours in the park watching them running along the embankment there.

Steam has never left either of us, and we are avid steam fans.

FC

Childhood memories are strong as there was a marshalling yard virtually opposite us and steam trains and coal wagons were a common sight. One day there was a constant convoy of trucks all heading towards the pit and at age of 7 or 8 it was a sight I won’t forget, the problem I was told was the pit was flooding and don’t think it ever reopened.

My darling grandfather-who was, alas, blessed with only two grandaughters not grandsons!! He was adamant i would be a woman driver, and would take me out every weekend on one train trip or another. My first memory is being at steam town at carnforth, i remember looking at a great steaming beast with a friendly chap waving at me from the footplate-i was fascinated-and completely hooked from that point on!!!

I really don't know how it came about, just fasinated by all things on rail! My Dad has never been interested in railways, but I started with a train set, took up trainspotting, magazines (i get through about 5 a month still), joined several societies(mainly S&D ones) and am a part owner of a class 103 DMU(Helston Railway Diesel Group)...basically just can never get enough of all things (British) railways....still building model railways too, current one is called 'Backwater Road', check out www.brblue.co.uk if you got 5 mins spare!

Andrew

deltics
 

living near ecml in york laying in bed at night hearing deltics coming through the now gone chaloners whin junction closed when the divertion route to aviod the selby coal feilds was built.

I suppose I was about 5 (56 now) we lived near the line into Blackpool Central and I can remember spending all my time collecting train numbers with the many excursions that use to visit Blackpool. It progressed after receiving a combined Ian Allen book price 10/6 when my life revolved around train spotting.I had an Auntie that lived opposite the main line from Birmingham to Bristol and use to spend 2 weeks each summer holiday staying there. I will always remember dragging my poor old Auntie twice a week to visit Birmingham Snow Hill and was mystified as to why I saw trains which previously I only saw during our annual holidays to Devon & Cornwall. As i got into my early teens I ventured further away either on day trips to York or push bike to the west coast main line near Garstang. Sadly girls and football took over my life but just recently, maybe I am reliving my youth, I have been visiting all the sites around London I could only dream about as a child.

Once a railway man its in your blood, I joined BR in 1961 when a teenager of 17. Starting as a cleaner, ( I could have had an office job too as good at taking dictation then) anyway I had better adventures on the footplate.

Thats until Mr Beeching decided we were surplus to requirements!.
Never mind I have some great memories. Still have a deep interest in steam railways.

Coventry station
 

Well I did not come from a railway family, but as a little chap in short trousers and riding a bike, I used to go to a bridge over the aproach to Coventry Station in the early 50s and watch the trains come and go, especially a train called the MIDLANDER.
But what got me hooked on railways generally I think, was the general atmosphere, the smell of smoke, steam, the smell of the station. There is a lot if not most of that sort of atmosphere gone on todays railway, atmosphere which todays enthuiast will never know.

Then in my working life, spending it all on the railway and now I am retired I have become an even bigger enthusiast having time on my hands.

48111

Much younger than most here, and I still can't remember how it started. My parents tell me I was drawn to trains by the time I was three, but anthing more than that...

The only thing I can remember is that there was a time when "dual flag" locomotives and double-stack trains were new. (Since most of you aren't Canadian... CP introduced the "dual flags" scheme in 1993, and I think that's the year stack train service started here.)

Hi,

I don't have any ties with railways at all. I've always watched programmes about steam engines and the like. Last year I had a bleak patch. Call it a mid life crisis if you will. I gave up writing aviation books and looked around for another interest. I found it under my very own nose.

My son is Autistic and has virtually no speach. He has always been interested in Thomas the Tank engine and has nearly all the videos, dvd's and Tomy train sets and trains. When he gets upset he goes to his Thomas stuff to calm down. He will be 13 this year and we don';t have that father/son relationship that other's have. You can't really interact with him due to his problems. He also has a rare heart condition.

In January this year I decided to try and share an interest with him. He doesn't like it when you try to interact with him, but we persevere. I got some N Gauge stuff and started a layout in one of our garden sheds. He now enjoys coming in and having a go at the trains. He actually comes in and takes control. So much so that we have decided to get him a Hornby train set for his birthday. I sold off all my canaries and will now convert the aviary, 13' x 5', into Alistairs very own train shed. It will all be Thomas stuff as that is his main pleasure in life. As with most things it will be added to as and when we can afford it.

Sorry to waffle on but everyone has a different story as to why they do something, and this is ours.

Alex

Definitely no need to apologise Alex.
I defy anyone to come up with a better reason for developing an interest in trains than yours.
Hope it all works out well.

Good morning Alex, no need to apologise mate, you certainly have a lovely story there. I send my kindest regards to you and your son, you have a very genuine reason.
I hope all goes well with the lads train shed.

48111

Hi,

Thanks for your kind replies. I'm sure the two of us will come up with a good representation of the Island of Sodor.

I must admit that the research bug has taken hold again, perhaps that's the writer in me always wanting to find out more. I've started to look into all the local railway lines in the Levenmouth area of Fife. I never knew there were so many coal pits in such a small area, each with it's own line running to it. The two main operators were the Wemyss Coal Company and the Fife Coal Company along with some other smaller companies.

My main interest however is the Kennoway Goods Yard. I lived there for 25 years and knew about the old railway line but not the yard. I recent trip found some of the building still standing and a section of platform. I'll post some photos once I get my editing software fixed.

Alex

I have to say that it was a stroke of luck. I ov course was born after steam had gone in 1968 and for many, so had their love of trains. Not me though. The family revolves around railways which is full of former employees and technical minds, which helped me gain an interest in how they actually work.
I feel that to be truly connected with a locomotive (steam or diesel) or a multiple unit, you must understand its anatomy, like a doctor understanding a patient. My interest lies with both steam and first generation diesels, but of course steam comes first, which is now even more enjoyable because of their fewer numbers. Do not worry though, i will not take a dim view of you if you prefer dieisel or electric as we basically all have the same interest, afterall they all run on rails.

what got me intersted in railways ?
 

To be perfectly honest i dont know, i dont remember, LOL. i shall have to ask my mum, she knows everything about me !,

I lived in Woburn Sands since i was born to about 30 years old when i got hitched, when i was about 13, i vaguely remember venturing out on my own, going to Bletchley engine sheds 1E with a brownie box camera to take pictures of the steam engines and i remember going on the train to either Cambridge or Oxford to take down the numbers with my Ian Allan book in my pocket, i dont think i needed to go on the main line at all, as the branch line that went through Woburn Sands went one way through Bletchley all the way to Oxford while the other way it went through Bedford all the way to Cambridge.

I probably have the photos i took up in my loft now !!!.

tim

How I Got Into Railways
 

My interest in railways came from my childhood... Like most people!

Thomas The Tank Engine and Friends was at it's peak when I was a little one so I was watching nearly every episode. At 6 years old I was taken to Embassy & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway and was thrilled to see my favourite TV Star in real life.

I have like trains ever since but now I am older I appreciate the Science behind the Masterpiece!

My grandfather was a railway guard working at Penrith, subsequently ending up at Blackpool where my father was born and where I now live. My uncle was a railway driver and though my father didn't follow in these footsteps, he did develop a mini obsession with all things trainy :) He had a lovely Hornby railway set and as he got older he collected model trains mainly used as ornaments. The old guards lamp from my grandads career was restored and used as a lamplight in our porch and we were constantly taken on 'mystery tours' in the school holidays ending up as far away as Ayr, my mum would make her own bread buns for sandwiches on route and all in all they were happy times.
I didnt purposely pursue this hobby, but find myself booking tickets for train journey's almost monthy now, getting excited about which train will be carrying us and dreaming about taking the Glasgow to Euston sleeper - all in good time ;)

Anyway - I am a complete novice, but intend roaming the site for a while to sponge in more information before I can start taking photo shots myself :D

when i was a lot younger i was brought on a lovely trip on a steam train up the cavennes mountains in the south of france and i am hooked on trains ever since.
I returned to france this year and did the same trip which once again was a lovely day out.
These two websites might be of help to anyone interested in the short trip up the cevennes
www.trainvapeur.com and www.canaules.com

I have had a lot of interests in the past, I have only just started to look at steam trains, I am 50 years old and I have dim and distant memories of them steaming close to where I used to live in Surrey; now I want to look into the subject more deeply.

trainspotting
 

This is an extract from my memoirs that I decided to write in 1997 showing how I came to love the railways.


My earliest memory of my attraction to the steam engine was sometime in 1954/55 when I was 9/10 years old.
It was one evening after arriving back from a visit to family friends at Worcester that my parents and I left our train at Smethwick Junction.
The train was still at the platform, when I drew level with it on my way up the path from the station, I just stood there watching this big green engine through the fence.
The one thing that has stuck in my mind all these years was that bright shiny name I was looking down at, Fairy Battle.
How this castle class engine came to be on this train I never did find out, as its home shed was 87E Swansea Landore at this time.
I just stood there as if in a trance, until my parents called and I had to go.
I am convinced this was the start of my love affair with railways.
My parents had often taken me to Worcester before and we always went by train, but this was the first time I had taken any interest in what we were being pulled by.
Perhaps this is why I have always had a leaning towards the Western region.
My favourite spot was sat high on the bank overlooking the Hawthorns Halt at Galton junction were the W.R. main line from Wolverhampton to London joined with the Stourbridge/Worcester line for the run into Birmingham Snow Hill station.
All through my school days I would spend many happy hours at this location, watching Kings, Castles and Halls on the main line, while on the branch there would be pannier tanks on locals to Stourbridge and 2-6-2 tanks on other trains. A Grange or Manor would sometimes be seen on a goods, while one of the western railcars would go by on the main line heading for Dudley. This would leave the Wolverhampton line at Swan Village.

railway intrest
 

Oh No!
not another Baggies supporter

Leicester
 

Hi John.
Have just put two pics on you might like

I worked on the railway for many years and was rather sad to leave in 1979, but with a growing family I had to earn more. Started on the Southern in 1955 and moved to the LMR in 1961 at Willesden MPD. As I was an electrician i worked on the diesels, 20's,24's, 40's 10000, 10001,10201, 10202 & 10203, happly days!