Living the dream in age of steam
Author Keith Widdowson describes his travels around Britain in the final years of the steam train.. and says he’s delighted to see the ‘romantic rennaissance’ of engines like the Jacobite
THE Jacobite steam train, which takes passengers from Fort William to Mallaig, is often described as one of the great railway journeys of the world.
The West Highland route, which runs across the stunning Glenfinnan viaduct, has become even more famous since Harry Potter hit the big screen and the Jacobite became the Hogwarts Express.
But next month marks 50 years since the final 30 steam locomotives in Scotland were withdrawn – after that only incursions of Carlisle’s stud were sighted north of the border.
Retired railwayman Keith Widdowson has turned the clock back to a golden age with a book about his teenage train travels across Scotland.
Scottish Steam’s Final Fling is a travelogue covering just 27 months of Keith’s life when he accumulated more than 4000 steam miles in Scotland behind 61 different locomotives from 12 classes from 15 sheds.
Fuelled by humour and a deep-rooted passion for the puffers, he recalls the abortive journeys, long waits, the joy and euphoria when successes materialised – and the disappointments when they didn’t.
Kent-based Keith, 70, said: “I joined the railways in 1962 as a 15-year-old. When I joined, quite a few people said that the steam engines were dying and lines were closing because of Beeching.
“Working for the railway got you travel perks and so many free passes a year, and privileged rates. So workmates encouraged me to get out there and see what was around before it all disappeared.
“The steam engine, part of the industrial revolution, was dying – it was being scrapped. Very soon I was addicted and I started travelling all over Britain.”
For his sorties to Scotland, the railways clerk deliberately arranged long weekends departing from Euston on a Friday and returning late on a Sunday.
Keith said: “I’d target the lines that were shutting like Dumfries to Stranraer via Portpatrick and the line around the Fife coast.
“Glasgow’s St Enoch’s and Buchanan Street, and Edinburgh’s Princes Street – any of those lines which had closure notices on them, or where I knew steam was being changed into diesel, I made an effort to cover.
“This was from May 1965 for two years – steam in Scotland had finished by May 1967. The last Scottish-powered steam train in Scotland was the 17.03 Gourock to Glasgow Central on Friday, April 29, 1967.
“But Carlisle, just over the border, kept on sending steam trains in, much to the Scottish region’s dislike. The last Scottish-allocated trains were on that May 1 weekend.”
Keith recalls a trip north on Friday, May 28, 1965. A bare-footed Sandie Shaw was top of the pops for a three-week run with Long Live Love and Muhammad Ali had just knocked out Sonny Liston with his “Phantom
Punch”. Keith and his travelling companions were known as cranks, trainspotters, and puffer-nutters – but he was never interested in recording locomotive numbers, it was all about the journeys. He said: “In 1965, I was 18. When other lads my age were into football and girls, quite a few of us were travelling all over Britain because of the freedom working for the railways offered us.” Describing the thrill, Keith said: “The steam locomotive is an awe-inspiring, living, breathing machine without which the transport of both passengers and freight through the 19th and first half of the 20th century would have been severely impaired. “The emissions produced by them are frowned upon by today’s environmental activists but are small in comparison to the fumes from thousands of road vehicles trawling the country’s motorways.
“The sense of anticipation of the journey ahead when a steam locomotive is being prepared to work a train is missing with today’s turn up and switch on scenario.
“The smell of steam and oil, the simmering, potent power ready to be released and the crew going about their duties all add to an atmosphere that has long since disappeared.
“Just seconds from departure the driver, and quite often the fireman as well, could often be observed looking back along the platform for the guard’s ‘right away’. Doors slammed, the whistle blew and the green flag waved as the locomotive’s safety valves lifted, filling the station’s train shed roof and surrounding area with steam.”
Keith, who worked on the railways for 45 years, has covered more than 100,000 miles by steam.
And he’s delighted to see steam on Scottish main lines enjoying “a romantic renaissance” with regular Jacobite trains over the West Highland Line’s Mallaig extension.
He said: “I consider myself fortunate in being the age I am. As a teenager in the 60s, the demise of steam ran parallel with the freedom parents often allowed their offspring back then.
“I would frequently be away from Friday morning until the Sunday lunchtime but they never expressed any worries or concerns in regard to my safety, secure in the knowledge that I was enjoying the risk-adverse hobby of, in their words, trainspotting.
“As a BR clerk my pay wasn’t substantial but by utilising the travel perks associated with the job, Britain’s then extensive network was at my mercy.
“The thrill of the chase – that of travelling behind as many different locomotives as possible prior to their annihilation – could be compared to that of an adrenaline junkie.
“It was a wonderful hobby – and luckily I kept sufficient notes to write books like this one.”
Scottish Steam’s Final Fling by The History Press is published on May 2, costing £16.99. Order from bookshops, by phone on 01256 302699 email Macmillan Direct@macmillan.co.uk
The steam locomotive is an awe-inspiring, living, breathing machine without which transport would have been severely impaired KEITH