Unfortunately I am too young to have ever seen regular mainline steam workings.For me, it is hard to imagine what The railways must have been like in the great days of steam. Whenever I travel up to London on the South West Mainline, I always look to my right between Clapham Junction and Vauxhall and try to imagine a large marshalling yard and Britains busiest running shed, Nine Elms. I live next to the SW mainline, and I have a great deal of problems even thinking about M7s and T9s trundling past my house (or at least the location-my house was built in the 30s). They say envy is a terrible thing, but I envy those fortunate enough to have worked as a driver, fireman or fitter on steam locos.
Thankfully, a great number have been saved from scrap, and an increasing number are returning to traffic. There is nothing I enjoy more than sitting on a platform with my cameras ready to have a steam train race by me, that is if I am not on it.
So far I have only been on one steam excursion, The Chester Chuffer in December 2002. This was due to be electic hauled out of Euston, with 34027 Taw Valley taking over from Bescot Goods-Chester-Birmingham International. Unfortunately this loco had some form of problem and instead we had 60009 Union of South Africa. I do plan to go on at least one of 34067 Tangmere runs this summer, and would love to do a Cathederals Express or Sunny South Special, preferably with 34016 Bodmin. You may have guessed I like Bulleid Pacifics!