LOVE OF A LIFETIME

Another person involved in Lyd’s life is Julie Stirland, the works administrator at Boston Lodge.

“I lived near Bratton Fleming, in North Devon, before moving up to Porthmadog to work on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways six years ago. Having lived in the heart of Lynton & Barnstaple Railway country for most of my life, I have always had a great fascination for it, having walked a great deal of the railway over the years. I even did a project on it for my geography GCSE. I have known James Evans for many years and had been watching Lyd’s progress from a distance. “My first real association with it was in September 2010 when I first started volunteering on the F&WHR, and when Lyd officially came into service. My first job was to clean Lyd; I think I cleaned it every day for the entire week! I subsequently followed Lyd to Launceston and, of course, to Woody Bay that autumn, and since then I seem to have become its official cleaner. I have lost count of the hours I have spent looking after it over the past eight years.

“Since working for the F&WHR I have become a fireman, firstly on the Garratts on the Welsh Highland and then on the single FR engines, including Lyd.

I would never have thought or imagined that I would have the opportunity to fire such a wonderful locomotive. As Paul says, it is a diva and yes, it’s very different to the other FR locomotives, but that’s what makes it very special & unique. It commands great respect – and deserves it.

“You have to understand and become part of it to get the best out of it – then you are rewarded with an unbelievable day on the footplate. I can’t fully explain why I have taken to Lyd in the way I have but I do know it is a great privilege and long may it continue.”