“I have a high regard for these preserved steam railways that you see around the country and the Bluebell Railway is among the best. I got involved with them several years ago and for a while I fired the coal with a shovel, which is what I’m doing in this photograph.
“I was keen to do something at the sharp end and while it was jolly hard work, it was also an enormous pleasure.
“What’s important is that I’m wearing an old locomotive man’s cap – a proper cap.
“Attached to the cap is a British Railways badge I bought and it’s relevant that it’s green – the colour of the old Southern Region Railways, which ran through Surrey where I’ve always lived. Another point is the neckerchief around my neck: it’s red and that was a tradition of the old locomotive men who wore one to keep the soot away.
“As a volunteer, there was plenty for me to do: I had an early morning start to make sure there was plenty of coal on board, light the engine’s furnace, throw the levers for the points, couple and uncouple the carriages – it was hard work, a long day and I’d come away absolutely filthy.
“Sadly, I had to give up being an engine fireman because it’s such a strenuous job – especially at my age. I love the Bluebell Railway because it’s such a co-operative effort between lots of different people – volunteers made up of all ages including old retired railway men and younger people as well.
“I can trace my love of trains back to when I was a small boy with my grandfather, watching the Golden Arrow steam train coming through a station in Kent. A few years later, when I knew I wanted to become a journalist, I sat my eleven-plus exam and failed. But I passed my thirteen-plus and went to a secondary school that involved a long train journey and two bus rides.
“About 10 years’ later, I got to drive the Flying Scotsman. I was standing on the footplate as she pounded along the East Coast mainline at 75 miles per hour when the engine driver asked if I’d like to sit in his seat. He gave me the chance to hold on to the throttle or ‘regulator’ as they call it.
“There was nothing much to do, but I was able to say that I’d driven the Flying Scotsman.
“I have a great admiration for train drivers: it’s a very skilful job with many important safety aspects to consider. It’s made me appreciate that especially in the old days of steam, engine drivers had buckets of steam and smoke flying around them and signals were lit by paraffin lamps.
“I feel so fortunate when I look back at my younger self who had this fascination for trains. People are very friendly when they see me on these trains and those who run railway stations are enthusiasts themselves and they love it when you take an interest.
“I’ve written several books on railways and if you’re ever on the Croydon Tramlink you’ll hear my voice making the announcements.
“I have a clear memory of travelling on the old Croydon Tram with my mother before it closed in 1951.
“I jumped at the chance when they asked me and people often say to me, ‘You’re the voice of the Croydon Tramlink.’ Trams are terrific.
“What I love about these classic trains is that when I’m on the footplate of a locomotive, I always lean out as we approach a station and the same thing happens every time. I look at the people on the platform as the train draws in and everybody – young and old, male and female, grandparents, parents and children – are always smiling.
You cannot see a steam locomotive and not smile. It just touches something deep inside all of us, which is why I always tell people that everyone’s a railway enthusiast.”
