The LNER Encyclopedia

While working on this course down in Gosport I normally have to go the HMS Sultan every other saturday to sit and do nothing. Not anymore!

I start at the Mid-Hants Railway on the 2nd of Feb, working in the shed at Ropley, (Bittern is on footplate rides in feb) so plenty of up close and personal work with bittern amounst others. Does anyone else volunteer at a preserved railway? I'd like to know other peoples experiences and good times or even if I might bump into anyone at the Mib Hants

This will make me sound old, but back in my youth i used to work on the colne Valley. One of the shortest preserved lines being only a mile long. Really loved it though, i was too young to work on the footplate though right up until just before i left when i was passed out as a fireman. We did also once manage to get a tender engine, it was a standard 4 or 5 masquerading as Henry.

Great times, you quickly learn not to volunteer for p.way work!!!

I was a regular volunteer at Southport Steamport from 72 to 78 then I joined the Army and disappeared to the deep south in Hampshire.
After being caught in camp on a weekend when the camp guard was short staffed and pressed into duty. I found it was better to vanish and with the Mid hants only 30 miles away I spent 4 years every other weekend working with the S+t and the LMS group.
Frequently working under a plastic sheet on the Jinty. And 1 memorable weekend at Barry moving a 4F sideways from 1 track to another as D Woodham would not shunt the yard for 1 loco. and we had a deadline to get it out of Barry.
Since 1983 to present I work when I can at the NYMR on P way and Wagons.