[locojoe]

Originally Posted by old popsider

My grandfather was an engine driver in the great days of steam. He worked his way up from fireman to driver, and drove all kinds of engines from small shunting engines right up to some of the famous ones. He drove Mallard, Sir Nigel Gresley, and some of the other greats. He also crewed on the Flying Scotsman at some point. Grandad lived in Doncaster from about 1898/1899 having moved there from rural Suffolk, and loved to take myself and my younger brother to the engine sheds and shunting yards at Black Bank, Doncaster. The days before the health and safety brigade and transport police!!

My Dad took us trainspotting at Doncaster station and to the Black Bank yards, great days out - sandwiches, flask of tea, numbers books, numerous pencil stubs, pacamac and hanky to wipe off soot and assorted grime!!

When the first diesel/electric trains were introduced, Grandad said he wasn't going to be brainwashed into 'new-fangled' trains because they wouldn't last!! He retired on the day he was supposed to start training on a diesel train. Let the young 'uns have it he said.

One little tale to add, when WW1 was in progress, my Nan decided she would try railway work because Grandad said it was hard but honest work. One day she was driving a little shunter in the sidings when she felt a lurch and the engine ended up off the rails. It turned out the the lady who was operating the points lever hadn't fully moved the points, and as a result Nan's engine left the rails!! She said no harm done but just embarrasment for her and the points lady!

Nice story about your Nan and Grandad, old popsider