Planes to Trains

by Arthur Hague

I suppose the story regarding my training into the mysteries of steam locomotives began 2 years ago when I was expecting two of my grandchildren for a weekend stopover. I'd heard that a miniature railway was being operated in the local park so decided it would be a good idea to investigate maybe take them on it for a ride - kids are supposed to like planes and boats and train aren't they?

Not realising what I was letting myself in for I found the railway nestling in what used to be the park rose garden behind the bowling green. At that time it consisted of an elliptical raised concrete track and a partially constructed ground level track, the rides being given on the raised track using a steam driven miniature locomotive - beautifully made. The whole set up is operated by the Rotherham and District Model Engineering Society (RDMES). and I fell into conversation with the gentleman collecting the fares (30p) who is called Ken, and is the society's treasurer, and who asked me if I would like to join them. Being retired, having always wanted to drive a steam engine and not having any pressing commitments on Wednesdays and Sundays I took the plunge, signed up (again) eventually got called upon to serve on the committee and that's where I now am; having driven the engine, helped lay some track (ground level was completed last year and opened by the Lord Mayor of Rotherham) wheeled many a barrow full of soil rubble and chippings, layer ground membrane for the track, serviced the rolling stock, killed many a weed, painted curbing platforms and car park surround (if it moves salute it, if not paint it), refurbished an old signal box sign, felled and pruned trees, cleared up leaves and am currently making friends with a squirrel and a nosey robin who always appears to find out what we're doing to his territory. Life's hectic and rewarding.

The RDMES has between 70 and 80 members, most of them being ex BR men and quite a number of them have built and operate their own steam locomotives and engines. One can only admire their engineering skills and knowledge of trains in general. Ask them on any class of locomotive and they will give you chapter and verse, years and dates, ALMS LNER or whatever; they can identify the size of nuts and bolts just by looking at them, identify metals by a spark test, operate lathes, milling machines, test rigs and do any engineering jobs you'd care to mention. What do they lack? Discipline. Generally they are about as disciplined as the 81st entry was on September the 4th 1955. Yes I know; we didn't exist then. Precisely.

When I first started it took me many times longer to find the tools to do a job than it did to actually do it. Naturally I suggested that the tools should all be housed on a shadow board so that we could do jobs a lot quicker. Sure we got a 3' x 6' board, painted it blue, hammered in some nails, labelled a few spanner sizes and hung as many tools as possible on it Now a lot of the nails are bare and where some of the tools are is anybody's guess. Some of the RDMES would sooner just drop a spanner than put it back where it came from. Don't get me wrong, the RDMES crew are a smashing set who will do anything for one another and hopefully I'll not get tied to the track and used for shunting practice

I have a number of tales to tell of my railway experiences but that dear gentlemen of the 81st is a small overview of what I've landed myself in.

If you want to have a good look at our set up then log on to www.rdmes.co.uk Hope you enjoy the show