Railways
Railways make me happier than almost anything else, and they always have.
I’m not a “puffer-nutter”, and am as happy with diesel or electric motive power as steam. My interests lie in how railways work in terms of their organisation, staffing, and rostering of stock, as much as in watching trains go by. Darwin (my dog) and I have spent many hours watching the trains on the 'big railway', especially when we lived in North London and walked regularly to a bridge over the East Coast Mainline. Now living in West London, in a house surrounded by railway lines, we take regular trips to our local stations to watch the trains, and regular journeys by both tube and mainline. I still get time to keep in touch with the miniature and narrow gauge worlds too, and to explore overseas rail infrastructure in various countries.
Here are a few of my railway interests....
I’m not a “puffer-nutter”, and am as happy with diesel or electric motive power as steam. My interests lie in how railways work in terms of their organisation, staffing, and rostering of stock, as much as in watching trains go by. Darwin (my dog) and I have spent many hours watching the trains on the 'big railway', especially when we lived in North London and walked regularly to a bridge over the East Coast Mainline. Now living in West London, in a house surrounded by railway lines, we take regular trips to our local stations to watch the trains, and regular journeys by both tube and mainline. I still get time to keep in touch with the miniature and narrow gauge worlds too, and to explore overseas rail infrastructure in various countries.
Here are a few of my railway interests....
Saltwood Miniature Railway
- and the miniature railway scene
Throughout my school days, from primary school right through (and beyond) sixth-form, I helped to run a local passenger-carrying miniature railway in my home village, ending up in the paid position of Traffic Manager. Sadly this line (which had been the world’s oldest extant miniature railway) closed in 1987 following the death of its owner. An important piece of history and of my life.
- and the miniature railway scene
Throughout my school days, from primary school right through (and beyond) sixth-form, I helped to run a local passenger-carrying miniature railway in my home village, ending up in the paid position of Traffic Manager. Sadly this line (which had been the world’s oldest extant miniature railway) closed in 1987 following the death of its owner. An important piece of history and of my life.
My love of miniature railways was born at Saltwood, and has been one of the great features of my life. I also worked as a volunteer on the miniature railway at New Romney station on the larger Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Light Railway (see below). The picture shows me driving the Deltic locomotive there.
I have subsequently had associations with various miniature railways, and have visited miniature railways all over the world, often making considerable detours to find them.
I have subsequently had associations with various miniature railways, and have visited miniature railways all over the world, often making considerable detours to find them.
Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway
- and the narrow gauge scene
From being an infant I was regularly taken on the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway in Kent; later, as a child, I joined its supporters Association, sometimes volunteering, and as soon as I was 16 I joined the seasonal paid staff, spending the next six summers employed in helping to run this delightful railway. Today I am a shareholder in the company, and visit as often as I can. The picture shows me working the block at my usual home station of Dymchurch.
- and the narrow gauge scene
From being an infant I was regularly taken on the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway in Kent; later, as a child, I joined its supporters Association, sometimes volunteering, and as soon as I was 16 I joined the seasonal paid staff, spending the next six summers employed in helping to run this delightful railway. Today I am a shareholder in the company, and visit as often as I can. The picture shows me working the block at my usual home station of Dymchurch.
Upstairs in my own little world
- the railway modelling scene
I started railway modelling in OO-gauge as a child, eventually taking over an entire room in my parents' house; indeed, when we moved into a new-build house, a roof space was specially adapted into a walk-in train room. I spent hours teaching myself electronics, to create a tiny Great Western world. In the 2000s, as an adult, I returned to this hobby again for a number of years, though now in N-gauge. At present I have no time for railway modelling, but one day it will return.
- the railway modelling scene
I started railway modelling in OO-gauge as a child, eventually taking over an entire room in my parents' house; indeed, when we moved into a new-build house, a roof space was specially adapted into a walk-in train room. I spent hours teaching myself electronics, to create a tiny Great Western world. In the 2000s, as an adult, I returned to this hobby again for a number of years, though now in N-gauge. At present I have no time for railway modelling, but one day it will return.
Proper gardening
- the garden railway scene
The village where I grew up (with 850 residents) had not only the world's oldest miniature railway, but also at least two (known to me) garden model railways. I worked on all these lines. The picture shows me with a live-steam tank engine and freight train on Mr Stroud's wonderful Gauge 1 line in his garden in Castle Road.
- the garden railway scene
The village where I grew up (with 850 residents) had not only the world's oldest miniature railway, but also at least two (known to me) garden model railways. I worked on all these lines. The picture shows me with a live-steam tank engine and freight train on Mr Stroud's wonderful Gauge 1 line in his garden in Castle Road.
Becoming a train driver
Anyone who has ever worked on any railway is likely to have faced the question "Oh, so you drive the trains?" For some reason, those who are not rail enthusiasts seem to assume that engine driver is the only job on a railway! There are hundreds of jobs across dozens of departments, and very few people (relatively speaking) actually qualify as train drivers. My own railway work has been mostly in ticket offices and traffic departments. However, after so many years around railways I have of course had many opportunities to travel on the footplate, and have occasionally driven trains from miniature gauges through to standard gauge, and across multiple locomotive types including steam, diesel, petrol, electric (battery), and electric (third-rail) locomotives and units. There is no doubt that driving a train, of any type, will always be one of my chief happy places.
Anyone who has ever worked on any railway is likely to have faced the question "Oh, so you drive the trains?" For some reason, those who are not rail enthusiasts seem to assume that engine driver is the only job on a railway! There are hundreds of jobs across dozens of departments, and very few people (relatively speaking) actually qualify as train drivers. My own railway work has been mostly in ticket offices and traffic departments. However, after so many years around railways I have of course had many opportunities to travel on the footplate, and have occasionally driven trains from miniature gauges through to standard gauge, and across multiple locomotive types including steam, diesel, petrol, electric (battery), and electric (third-rail) locomotives and units. There is no doubt that driving a train, of any type, will always be one of my chief happy places.
Great Train Journeys of the World
Great Train Journeys have always been one of my spare-time delights, and many of my holidays over the years have been built around train journeys or exploration on rail passes. I have made long-distance rail journeys across three continents (Europe, Africa, and India/Asia) and explored extensively on the rail networks of many nations. I have even sought out rail infrastructure in places where it is very hard to find, such as the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Jamaica, and Barbados. Some of my rail journeys are highlighted here.
Great Train Journeys have always been one of my spare-time delights, and many of my holidays over the years have been built around train journeys or exploration on rail passes. I have made long-distance rail journeys across three continents (Europe, Africa, and India/Asia) and explored extensively on the rail networks of many nations. I have even sought out rail infrastructure in places where it is very hard to find, such as the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Jamaica, and Barbados. Some of my rail journeys are highlighted here.