Melissa

When my son realised his dream of owning a railway back in 2010, I couldn’t see what the attraction was.

I’d lived with his obsession for 30 years and now here he was, the proud owner of the run- down Hastings miniature railway.

Running just half a mile along the seafront since 1948, the 10.25” gauge railway needed a lot of TLC.

In a few short months Dan had increased the locos from one to four, built two new sets of carriages, a passing loop and a turntable.

Pretty soon I was bitten, and one day said  “Go on Dan. Give us a go. It can’t be that hard”

Around 7 years later having derailed, broken and crashed around 11 diesel locos, (one of which, Dan built for me…..the infamous Cornish Pixie), I started on steam.

During the season, we run a 3-train service (we are gradually replacing diesel with steam and currently have 3 with another on its way, and 2 being built).

We run various galas during the year including steam and charity, or maybe we simply want to celebrate a Loco’s birthday. We also run an illuminated Christmas event.

Over the years, Dan built more locos, and repairs and builds for other railways.

A few years ago Dan acquired the 7.25” gauge railway in our nearby park which is currently run by one of our engineers and my grandson.

We hold Christmas and Halloween events here, giving all of us the chance to exercise another Hastings passion for fancy dress.

During the school holidays, I drive 5 or 6 days a week, barely scrubbing the grime off, and untangling my hair from one day before starting again the next day.

I used to drive in flip flops but even I got embarrassed by how dirty my feet became! And I still bear the scar where I managed to stab my foot with a hot poker.

Luckily, Morrisons are used to us late night shopping still covered in soot.

On my days off, I visit other railways and we regularly take our locos to other railway’s galas.

I don’t claim to know much about engines, I can fire up and down, oil, drive and generally maintain them whilst running. But much like a car, I have no idea what goes on under the hood. I leave that to the men.

And whilst on the subject, to my memory, about 8 of our drivers over the years have been female. And yes, we all have to put up with  “oh. are you driving dear?”

The best is when someone looks over my head to someone behind me and says “scuse me. When does the next train leave?”

We put up with the sort of patronising comments no male driver would have to. But as always, we have to smile and put up with it.  After all, there are advantages to being female. We have the excuse of “Help please, I’m not strong enough to do that” whenever anything goes wrong!

I’d like to be able to say that what I lack in knowledge I make up for in enthusiasm. Who doesn’t love piling on so many layers you can hardly move, just to keep warm. Getting soaked in the rain. Battling the winds. We could all write books of the silly questions we get asked and the insults thrown at us.

And the parents we see year after year with their toddlers growing into teenagers and still coming back. The children who want their photo taken with me in the cab.  The mums and dads who thank me for making their child’s holiday.

And the waving. Where else could you do a job where you spend your days waving and smiling?

Not a job if you treasure your hair makeup and nails.

Whenever I hear “ooh. We have a lady driver”. I answer “I’m no lady!”

Melissa.

Known to all as ‘M’

Crazy Train Driver.

If found, please return to

Hastings Miniature Railway.

Hastings. East Sussex.

Proprietor Dan Radcliffe.

No up to date website but best found on Facebook:-

HASTINGS MINIATURE RAILWAY

 

My Artwork & My Steam Traction Engine Hobby By Vicki Rogers

My Steam Traction Engine Hobby started at a very young age when I went to my first Steam Rally with my family back in 1987 at Everley Hill in rural North Dorset which was the "Dorset Steam Fair" back then & I loved being around the engine's & watching them do what they were built to do, & I also loved the smell & it reminded me that I was Home. As I got older, I wanted to go on the footplate of an engine myself to see what it was like which was one of my all-time goal's.

In 2013 that came true, I was at Dorset walking around the now famous showman's line & I asked one of the drivers of Burrell Showman's Engine "Star" if I could come up onto the footplate. I was very shy to ask at the time I climbed up & My Dream became a reality. I just couldn't believe that I finally had the courage to do something I've never done before in my life. In 2014 I started helping out my Steam Traction Engine Owner friends restoring their engines & I loved every minute of it learning as I went along & seeing it taking shape.  From the gears to the cylinder block & I want to carry on doing it because I love it so much & seeing something being brought back to life & working & that's still one of my goal's to take my ambition another step up the ladder,

In 2015 at Dorset I helped polish & look after an engine which is still close to my heart, a Burrell scenic Showman's called "Dolphin" which is owned by my very good friend Mike Dreelan from Aberdeen & I have been helping him to this day. The engine was owned by Frank Lythgoe who was also showman & he had a fleet of engine's including Mclaren "Goliath" works number 1623 reg number DH 2482; Foden "Prospector" built in 1910 works number 2104 reg number WR 6985; "Dreadnought" built in 1909 works number 3093 reg number AY 9682; "Dolphin" built in 1925 works number 4030 Reg number FA 2316 & not forgetting a Fowler called "King Carnival 2" works Number 19783, built in 1932 Reg number EF 4883.  He also had a set of Gallopers which are now owned by my friend Mike but the 98-key Merenghi Organ is still with the Lythgoe Family.

In 2016 I decided to take my Hobby to another level. I started doing art when I was at College from 2001 to 2006. I only did a three year course & I just loved being creative in my own way & my tutor was very impressed with what I came up with, in 2016 I combined my Hobby with my art & it really worked I started drawing Traction Engine's thanks to my dad as he used to do Technical Drawing & he has been a big help to me.

In the same year I had a meeting at a pub in Wimborne called "Drusillas's" where I met the owner of the pub then & I showed them my Artwork - the meeting went really well & it took my art to the next level. They asked if I could leave six with them & I agreed & I was so happy so show other people who visited the Pub - even my friends because it was a venue for the engines to go to before travelling up to the Great Dorset Steam Fair site.  My inspirations in the Steam Art world were the late Johnny Crowman who's drawings were absolutely incredible & so detailed & another artist who currently does steam engine drawings & paintings is Howard White & his drawing's & paintings gave me the chance to bring my artwork to life and gave me lots of advice & he was very helpful, so Thank You so much to them for that.

My first Engine I drew was Burrell Showmans "General Gough" It took me a while to do with the dynamo at the front & the scale which had to be exactly right including the smokebox door.  When it was finished I gave the print to the owners who are very close friends of mine so it was fitting for them. When I visit a Steam rally, I grab my DSLR camera, take a photo of the subject in question whether its a Fairground, Street Organ or a Showman's engine, Road Roller or a Road Loco & I copy them freehand hand onto paper - I do get a little help from my dad if I need it. But getting the colours right can be tricky sometimes because they have to be exactly right to the photo I have taken then I take a break from the steam side of thing's & move onto Fairground Organ's which played a big part in the fairground scene as they brought people on to the old time rides whilst playing their Melodies. I always found them very tricky due to the fact they have so much pipe work depending on the one I'm doing & scroll work on the facade & it depends on how many figurines it has which can be very difficult but I try to work my way around that.

 I'm also a Member of The Fair Organ Preservation Society & I do article's for their quarterly Key Frame Magazine. I'm also an Official Photographer for the Southern Counties Organ Festival which I attend in June at Devizes Green in Wiltshire.  They are a lovely group of people & learning more about the organs & their history which is very interesting to me going around the back & watching the book of Music go through the Keyframe & also talking to the owners themselves.

Back in September 2020 which is also my birthday month I had the best present which I will never forget.  A couple of my friends were doing a road run in Dorset with their steam engines Alchin General Purpose Traction engine "Royal Chester", Mclaren Road Locomotive "Hercules", Marshall Road Locomotive "Ben Lomond" & Fowler General Purpose Traction Engine "Berkshire Tarriff Queen" . It was a really emotional surprise for me to see them after a long few months due to the situation that was currently going on which halted a lot of steam events & social gatherings which made it hard for everyone in the road steam preservation sector & especially with the concern of coal supplies at this current time.

I'm also a crew member on another engine which is owned by Westons Cider Company in Herefordshire, an Aveling & Porter Road Roller works number 9158 reg WR 7274  “Old Rosie” which I still help out on at Dorset since 2018, I get to learn to light the fire & get steam up & I also have the privilege to steer her which I haven't done in my life which I do assisted because I'm not used to steering her on my own just yet so one step at a time. I do get the chance to have a go at steering her around the playpen & it's amazing to do but hard work at the same time because some people find it easy but I'm just getting used to it.  I also have other favourite Traction engines that also attend Dorset on a regular basis - Mclaren Road Locomotive "Boadicea", Fowler "The Great North", Fowler Road Locomotive "Atlas", Fowler Showman’s Engine "The Lion", Fowler Crane Engine "Duke of York", Burrell Scenic Showman’s "General Gough", Burrell Road Locomotive "Lord Roberts", Burrell Road Locomotive "Clinker", & Burrell Scenic Showman's "Dolphin" & a few others too.

Since 2014 I have made so many Steam Traction Engine friends along the way & they have been so supportive & caring they are my second family. I'm so lucky & blessed to have them in my life because without them I wouldn't be “Living my Dream” so Thank You so much to everyone of them.