I have had a love affair with steam locomotives ever since I was a lad. There is something quite emotive about these giant metal beasts as they charge headlong along the track or sit patiently, steaming and hissing at a station ready for the off. And the unmistakable smell of all that steam brings back memories of a bygone age.
Years ago I travelled by steam train to the National Railway Museum in York to see all the lovingly restored locos, which was a real treat. My favourite was the beautiful blue engine that was the Class A4 Pacific 4468 Mallard which, in its day, was the fastest steam locomotive in the world. It could hit a speed of 126mph, a record that was never surpassed.
Painting trains