Deceased Steam Drivers

I stumbled over this superb video which includes a Riley's Black 5 from Alton to Kidderminster following the failure of the rostered locomotive. The most poignant clip for me was around 24.50 when from, the footplate, we see EWS crews getting the best out of her. Sadly three of the four persons on the footplate are no longer with us and all three were great characters. John Smith was larger than life and was always prepared to have a good old chat from the footplate. John always preferred firing to driving. Dave Davies was a great character and loved his steam work. Always with cigarette in mouth, he and his former mate Chris were a great team especially on trains out of London. Ken (forgot his surname) from Eastleigh, was a more reserved person but very happy to reminisce about his BR days. I believe his son is now a DBS fireman. I believe Arthur Fenn is still with us.

In a blink of an eye, these past drivers are no more but we will never forget the brilliant work they did with steam on the mainline.

 

Thank you for sharing this, 83B, the clip where Dave Davies says to his driver "Go on give her the lot" on Hatton is priceless. So many of these old school railwayman are being lost, real characters and real professionals, sadly we won't see their like again. I have never seen this set of films before, they really are very good, for once in a railway film there is real emotion shown and a real feel for steam comes over, none of the usual pretty film, 'Makes a fine site' in full sun and poor sound rubbish.
The Taw Valley film is very good as well and again very poignant for showing Bert Hitchin talking, another real professional gentleman.

 

A very underrated, yet priceless series of films in my opinion. They really give you a flavour of what is going on up front, and the crewmen and support staff are given the opportunity to do a fair share of the talking; furthermore, the narration is generally spot-on. There are also editions about 34067 and 35028, which are equally good, whilst the one on 60103 makes you realise that the warning signs of future problems were there in the background as far back as the year 2000.

 

Typical Dave.

A diamond in the rough, he gave the impression of not tolerating fools but if you showed interest he would take you under his wing. I was lucky enough to do my train handling as a trainee driver under the stewardship of Dave Davis and Chris Graystone when they were Driver Instructors at Acton. Privileged to be following in their footsteps on steam the best part of two decades later. Dave passed away not long after retiring to Spain and I'm afraid to say I don't know what became of Chris after retirement despite making enquiries. Two fine old-school railwaymen (although I don't know how Chris put up with firing to Dave into his sixties!!)

 

They are very good programmes indeed. I now have the complete collection of 15 DVD's and I return to them regularly as they feature many of the Railtours I travelled on in the "good old days" of Daylight Railtours. The full list of programmes in order of release comprises :
- 6024 KE I
- 60800 Green Arrow
- 34027 Taw Valley
- 4472 Flying Scotsman
- 35028 Clan Line
- 45407 Black Five / Green Train
- 5051 & 7802 on the Torbay Express.
- Driving & firing the Western Engines.
- Driving & firing the SR Engines.
- Driving & firing the Standard Engines.
- King for a summer; 6024 on the Torbay
Express.
- A day in the life of boxset of 4 DVD'S
featuring 34067 (disc 1), 5322 (disc 2),
Terrier tanks (disc 3) & The South Devon
Railway (disc 4).

A regular star in these programmes was the EWS inspector Dennis Donavon (not sure if I have spelt his name correctly). Anyone know where he is now?
It's very sad we have lost all these great steam crews mentioned earlier in the thread. Bryan Dudley Ward was another great driver who got the best out of the loco's. He really knew how to get 73096 roaring along.

 

[QUOTE="green five,
It's very sad we have lost all these great steam crews mentioned earlier in the thread. Bryan Dudley Ward was another great driver who got the best out of the loco's. He really knew how to get 73096 roaring along.[/QUOTE]
Your certainly right about Bryan Dudley Ward and 73096, I had many fabulous runs, the recordings of them still echo round my house when I want to wake the street up. Very touching moment when his ashes were put on the fire climbing Upton Scudamore. Thanks for the memories Bryan RIP