Train Mad Grandad!

Two years as a septuagenarian now and I wanted a website that would show some of my main passions since I was a seven-year-old, trainspotting, model railways and Everton FC.

My first trainspotting experiences were led by family holidays to Ipswich and Prestatyn. Each year, we caught the Liverpool Central to Harwich boat train to see my mother's side of the family in Ipswich.

We also went to my Auntie's chalet in Prestatyn. I was taught the rudiments of trainspotting by my older brother. in the park next to the station. Lots of holiday trains roaring through including Patriot 46127, 'Old Contemptibles***

When I was able to trainspot without supervision, it was at Huyton Station on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway and further afield with friends fromgrammar school to Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, Wigan, Leeds and Crewe Works as highlights!

t was as a nine-year-old that I received a Triang American

Diesel train set from my parents as a Christmas present. My grandfather bought me a Jinty 47606 and some coal wagons. It led to some interesting stock movements.

In the early nineties, we took our daughters to the Kent and East Sussex Railway Santa Specials. Somehow, I became a fully trained guard at Tenterden for the next eight years. I even had Vic Reeves on one of my rostered trains!

Other interests took over as I ended my teens. One day in 2004, I spotted an offer in the Daily Mirror in a 'greasy spoon' in Haverfordwest. I left the offer around, and the bait was taken and a return to railway modelling. Since then, I have exhibited at various railway model exhibitions with three different layouts. I have even had an article in Railway Modeller!

*** I saw this loco one morning at Prestatyn and asked my Dad what the name was about. For some reason the loco ha stuck in the outer reaches of my slower memory!