Saturday 27 March 2010

Rolling Stock, Aitken and Waterman

Rolling Stock, Aitken and Waterman
South Devon Railway
March 2010

Most of you will remember the hit machine known as Stock, Aitken and Waterman - ipresarios who seemed to churn out an endless stream of hugely popular plastic mush back in the early 1990's.


It's good to see that some all that was wealth is being used creatively, by which I am referring to Peter Waterman's fascination with steam engines, and his personal collection which exceeds even the wildest schoolboy fantasy.

Mr Waterman not only collects steam trains, the way some of the rich and famous collect cars,  but he has a works which fixes them up too. 


During my recent visit to the Souuth Devon Railway I noticed a newly repaired boiler out the back, with a temporary smoke box and ash tray being test fitted. The red oxide boiler bore the name of 'L&NWR Heritage' which is the brainchild of Mr Waterman.




Inside the engine shed stood the bogie onto which the boiler will soon to be re-united. You know, trundling around on steam trains may not excite me too much, but the engineering involved is amazing and the urge to get involved, pull on an oily boilersuit and dabble is huge.

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