[jamesicus]

I have always had a deep affection for British Steam Trains -- I still model an LMS Branch line mostly running Burnley/Rosegrove engines and rolling stock (including, for real nostalgia, Stanier 57ft crimson 3rd class carriages).

I misspent(?) a lot of my youth trainspotting and just observing railway operations --soaking up the atmosphere as it were -- much of it on my way to and from regular and Sunday school (of course, we all walked in those days) at Towneley station which had a level crossing and signal box. I got to know the signal box man very well -- in fact I found out from him that WW2 had been declared on my way home from Sunday school on 3 September 1939.

During the 1930s just about every Lancashire family that could afford it went to Blackpool for holiday during wake's week or August bank holiday. The travel by those marvelous steam trains to get there was itself memorable -- I can still recall the excitement of seeing the engine approaching Burnley Bank Top station (now Burnley Central) and the thrill of arriving at Blackpool Central!

I travelled a lot by train during the war Years -- mostly from Burnley Manchester Road Station or Rosegrove, locally (Accrington, Blackpool, Southport, etc.) and further afield (London, Derby, etc.). After the war a lot of Blackpool excursions especially the Saturday night "Passion Express" from Burnley Bank Top.

Happy Days!

Jamesl