Trains in the Garden

Once upon a time, there was a little schoolboy called Andrew who loved nothing more than to climb the fence at the end of his grandparent's garden and watch the trains go by. This is my story of how I fell in love with steam engines and climbed the ladder to become an Engine Driver. Watching steam engines tackle the Lickey Incline behind my grandparents' garden and playing with model railways my father built for me. I started volunteering with the Severn Valley Railway when I was young, and hands-on jobs-plus the thrill of driving a small steam engine at 12-set me on the path to becoming a driver. Over the years I climbed the ladder through training and qualifications, from lighting-up duties to fireman roles, and after an engineering apprenticeship I became a mainline driver. A serious near-miss at a level crossing showed me the weight of responsibility in the role, and my quick response later led to the honour of representing drivers at an event attended by Queen Elizabeth II. I've now spent 20 years driving on the mainline and 15 years with steam, and I work as a Driver Instructor, passing on what others taught me. My passion continues at home in Bournville, where my family and I enjoy our garden railway and support local community and heritage events.