Steamtown Carnforth

It's good to see in another thread that people are enjoying 10A again

Of course, its function today is a lot different to 'Steamtown' days but I'd just like to spare a thought for the amazing work Dr. Peter Beet did on securing the site as a museum in the late 60's.

Along with many others I was proud and priviliged to work alongside this incredible personality whose eye for free publicity and making few bob 'for the engines' was legendary!

Reading the posts about the speed in which 46115 has been painted reminds me of a 'Steamtown' memory.

In 1971 British Rail asked Steamtown if they could provide an engine to be exhibited in light steam at a forthcoming 'rail fair' in Morecambe Promenade Station. We had a little over two weeks notice.

44871 was the chosen machine and was duly dragged off into what was known as the 'wagon shop' for a re-paint. Peter saw this as a great opportunity towards getting steam back on the main line and said "We've only got two weeks, but when this engine leaves the shed for Morecambe its going to look like its just been shopped from Crewe."

When it was dragged to Morecambe by a class 25 (or did the diesel get pushed?)she shone like a Guardsmans bulled boots! The event was such a success we sent two engines to Morecambe the following summer - 44932 (or was it 44806?) and 46441. This time they went under their own steam. Later that year we sent two black fives to Barrow on passenger trains - what a memorable day that was for all involved.

There were times, in the early days when we couldnt reallly afford to burn much coal outside of the 'season.' If we wanted to run something small it was possible to scour the shed yard for bits of coal that had probably been there for years, couple an industrial to the GWR brakevan and make £20 - £30 on footplate and brake van rides - happy days!

Preservation has changed a lot since those days and H & S legislation would prevent most of the things we did from happening today. But I wonder if Carnforth MPD, it coaling tower and ashplant would be standing today if Peter hadn't the vision to try and save it back in '67/68?

 

With all due respect to the late Peter Beet I think this scenario can be repeated throughout the Preservation Movement with virtually every line existing only because someone had the courage to ignore received wisdom.

A similar Giant Among Men [ GAM ] was the late Bob Cryer MP who was one of the driving forces behind the KWVR - and his efforts are noted at a plaque on that line which says simply "If you want to see his achievements simply look around".

There is also Alan Pegler whose involvement with Flying Scotsman was not his first activity but was built on his successes with the Ffestiniog Railway which grew from the wild imaginations of a group of young enthusiasts who in response to the question WHY simply responded with WHY NOT ? Looking at today's Ffestiniog and its involvement with the local community who can deny the bloom that grew from such tender seeds - did its original proponents even imagine - let alone dream - of such success ?

I could add many other names known perhaps within the immediate area of their efforts but all have contributed to that Golden Treasury that has made today's Heritage Lines the success that they are now and the residuary of the treasures of Great Britain engineering skills over the centuries.

But what about the unknown heroes behind the scenes - those anonymous BR staff at various levels who defied orders and greased the paths and offered support and assistance in many small but cumulative ways. Those depot foremen who kept wanted locomotives out of sight until the groups could afford to buy them, the depots where locomotives were retained until upper management had a change of heart to reflect a change in empathy that allowed the hidden gem to be revealed to a supportive world.

So as we join in the gratitude to those individuals whose names are known ( even including David Smith ) let us not forget those whose support also came at risk to their jobs and therefore had to remain in the safety of anonymity that denies them the honour and respect that they deserve.

 

Yes, but I was talking specifically about 'Steamtown' as it was very much in the news at the time. I also wanted to share my PERSONAL memories/thoughts about Peter Beet and the vision he had.

 

I fully appreciate your wishing to praise Steamport and Doctor Beet but when I spoke to him he was often concerned that - in praising him - the efforts of others would be both overlooked and not given proper credit.

Note that my posting was well after the event and therefore didn't overshadow your intended praise of Carnforth; I simply ( hopefully ) reflected Peter Beet's modesty and exteded your comments to cover the wider community as Peter often did.

Apologies if that offends but Peter was only one among many - as he was always the first to state.

 

OK.