JIM SMITH WAS A TRUE GENTLEMAN

It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of traction inspector Jim Smith of Thornaby. Anybody who knew him will tell you that he was a true gentleman.

I first met him when I was traction inspector for EWS on the ‘Dawlish Donkeys’ (remember them?) in the late 1990s and we got on well from the start. Our paths crossed from time to time, like when I was TI to Crewe driver Bob Hart and fireman Peter Dykes. We were working a job over Shap to Carlisle and back via Settle. Because we were going straight round onto the ‘S&C’ we were relieved at Penrith by driver Brian Grierson, fireman Paul ‘King Coal’ Kane and TI Jim. I asked Jim if I could work through to the Appleby water stop as I longed to be able to work over at least part of the line, having taken many photographs over the route during the 1980s, and he kindly agreed.

We lost touch when I took early retirement from EWS and unexpectedly went to work for West Coast for the next 14 years. Our paths were to cross again, however, when in 2018 the newly formed Tyseley TOC coaxed me out of retirement for the second time to get them started driver-wise. Jim came to reassess me for driving steam on the main line with an empty stock trip to Stratford-on-Avon with old favourite Rood Ashton Hall. It was a great day out.

Last December I worked a trip from Dorridge to York with Clun Castle. My colleague Martyn Fake drove the return trip accompanied by Jim as TI. I got off at the Tyseley stop and there was Jim looking like the cat who got the cream. I said: “You’ve been firing that engine haven’t you?”

“Yes I have,” he smiled. “I thought you were looking pleased with yourself,” I remarked in reply.

We shook hands and wished each other well. I could not have known it would be the last time I would see him.

The main line steam world has lost another stalwart. My deepest sympathies go to his family.

Ray Churchill, by email