Wednesday, 27 October 2010

I've taken over for the day.....

MWM here.   Akelamalu has given me permission to do a guest post today regarding my birthday yesterday.   My darling wife bought me a very special birthday present - I got to experience riding on the footplate of this




60163 TORNADO - the first steam engine to have been built from scratch for 50 years and it took 19 years to build by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust at a cost of £3.1 million.  For any anoraks out there reading this, it is a Class A1 Pacific loco originally designed by A. H. Peppercorn in 1945 for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER).  Unfortunately none of the original 49 that were built were preserved, hence this new build.

Here's me on the footplate being given instructions of where to sit so that I was out of the way of the footplate crew.


Here's the driver Brian

and the machinery that makes it all work so magnificently.


Here's the view of the track from the fireman's perspective.


 It has been a lifetime ambition of mine to enjoy a footplate ride and to realise this ambition on such a unique engine, on my birthday, was absolutely wonderful.    All too soon the 50 minute journey was over but the memory of this day will be something I will cherish forever and I have a certificate to prove I did it.

Here I am looking very happy riding the train back home





PS TORNADO is off to Scotland next week.
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29 comments:

  1. jabblog27 October 2010 at 12:59

    What a lovely unforgettable experience for you. Happy Birthday!

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  2. MorningAJ27 October 2010 at 13:30

    Having grown up in LNER land that's what I call a train!

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  3. Ron27 October 2010 at 15:32

    First of all MWM, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, buddy!

    Secondly, it's so GREAT to see you guest posting on Akelamalu's blog. She's talked about you (always with love) for so many years, I feel like I know you!

    WOW....what a fabulous birthday present she gave you! I too have a love for trains, and would have found this equally as memorable.

    Thank you for sharing!

    Great post! Awesome pictures!

    X to you and Akelamalu!

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  4. Daryl27 October 2010 at 15:46

    What a wonderful wife/woman she is .. and I hope, well I can see, your birthday was a fabulous success! Here's to many more!

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  5. Finding Pam27 October 2010 at 15:47

    Happy belated birthday! Now that is what I call an unique gift. She is so very thoughtful.

    Nice to meet you. Akelamula is one special Lady.

    Thank you for sharing you birthday with us. Where's the cake?

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  6. Elaine Denning27 October 2010 at 17:52

    Happy Birthday! It sounds like you had a wonderful day. And what a wonderful woman she is :) x

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  7. Linda27 October 2010 at 17:55

    Belated happy birthday to you MWM and what a fantastic gift you got! I am beyond envious - not only of your chance to ride on the footplate but of having a partner who loves you so much she'll get you the very thing you've always wanted for your birthday!

    I sure wish they still built steam engines here in the States!

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  8. aims27 October 2010 at 18:12

    What a fabulous present! I could here the happy sighs from here!

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  9. Mike Golch27 October 2010 at 18:28

    Happy Birthday to you!Great photos thanks for sharing them.

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  10. A Lady's Life27 October 2010 at 19:19

    What a thoughtful loving wife you have.
    Happy Birthday and may you continue to live in joy and peace and love and prosperity. :)

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  11. Anonymous27 October 2010 at 20:02

    Hau`oli La Hanau to you MWM. What a great birthday present. Trains can be so fascinating. Thanks for sharing this.

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  12. nitebyrd27 October 2010 at 20:19

    Well, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! What an amazing gift to receive! Your smile says it all!

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  13. Empress Bee (of the high sea)27 October 2010 at 20:31

    what a lovely present! happy birthday!

    smiles, bee
    xoxoxoxoxoox

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  14. Akelamalu27 October 2010 at 21:43

    Indeed it was, thankyou Jabblog

    LNER had some beautiful engines AJ

    Thanks for the birthday wishes and lovely comments Ron. I'll keep taking the picture for Akelamalu to share with you.

    I agree she is wonderful Daryl. Thankyou for the birthday wishes.

    I can't disagree Pam and I'm happy to share my birthday gift with you.

    Cheers Mama Zen

    I did and she is Elaine :)

    I am lucky on both counts Linda for sure. You'll must visit England and experience our steam trains. Thanks.

    I'm still happily sighing Aims :)

    Glad you enjoyed them Mike and thankyou.

    Thankyou for your lovely comment and good wishes Lady's Life :)

    Can I assume that's Hawaiian for 'Happy Birthday Thom? Thankyou and yes, I agree, trains are very fascinating.

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  15. Akelamalu27 October 2010 at 21:43

    BTW all those replies to your comments were from me MWM!

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  16. Winifred27 October 2010 at 22:40

    Those were the days. I loved to ride those trains, the smells, sounds and the feeling of the motion of the train were fantastic.

    What a brilliant birthday.

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  17. Valerie28 October 2010 at 09:48

    What a fabulous birthday present. I daren't show my hubby, being a train buff he'd definitely want to have a go.

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  18. Akelamalu28 October 2010 at 17:36

    MWM here

    Even better on the footplate Winifred!

    Thanks Valerie Go on, show him.

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  19. Annie28 October 2010 at 22:45

    Hellooo there MWM! Good to see you here, and belated Happy Birthday!!
    My brother was really into steam trains, and spent a lot of time clearing old tracks :-)

    The guys that live next door to me re-build steam engines (though not train ones, the old work-horses) and we have a couple outside the front door :-D Every now and then they blow the whistle from the bottom of the garden!! :-D

    Hope you gave your lovely MWW a huuuuge hug for that!

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  20. snowelf29 October 2010 at 14:57

    Awww!!! What a super sweet present!! I think my son loves trains just as much. ;)

    Happy birthday and many more wonderful memories!!

    --snow

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  21. Akelamalu30 October 2010 at 11:24

    Thanks Annie, it's nice that people keep the old traditions going. Hugs aplenty.

    Keep your son's interest alive Snowelf.

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  22. Charlene Amsden30 October 2010 at 19:27

    Happy Birthday! What a great present. Thank you for sharing it with all of us.

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  23. Travis Cody30 October 2010 at 20:21

    What fun for a train enthusiast. Happy Birthday Sir!

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  24. Queenie31 October 2010 at 01:55

    you could have borrowed my whistle if you had asked me. Glad you had a great day..... Liz X (Queenie)

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  25. Susan at Stony River31 October 2010 at 02:28

    What a magnificent present! I wish I could have come along too --
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

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  26. Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall31 October 2010 at 19:51

    Happy Belated Birthday.

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  27. CrystalChick3 November 2010 at 23:30

    Happy birthday!! What an awesome gift, so glad you enjoyed yourself. Nice pictures, I always love seeing them. You go on such interesting trips!

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  28. TBM5 November 2010 at 13:40

    Your wife is a darling indeed! Looks like you had a lovely birthday. Many happy returns!

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  29. Akelamalu7 November 2010 at 12:56

    Thankyou Quilly, it was!

    Fun doesn't come close Trav, thanks for the birthday wishes.

    Whistle Queenie? what whistle? ;)

    I was happy to share my day with you Susan albeit only through this post. :)

    Thankyou Jingle

    Thankyou for your nice comments CrystalChick, glad you enjoy our trips.

    She is and I did, thankyou JAPRA :)

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