Sounds like bit of an odd title, huh ? Well, not really - if you were one of the many people who hauled themselves out of bed on Sunday 4th July 1999 to see Flying Scotsman back in service on the East Coast Mainline !
Although being a very modern-image type enthusiast and modeller, I felt that this was something that my children had to see and appreciate, and so armed with the appropriate camera equipment, we headed for Knebworth station at about 0900 - the train wasn't due until 0931 (and would probably be late !) but we had to get a good safe viewing spot. It surprised me that many others had already arrived, and by 0925, the station platforms looked like a normal Monday morning.
Running in fine form (and sadly on the slow lines), the Flying Scotsman passed through effortlessly and the kids got their chance to see a steam train passing through their local station - my interest was held more by the class 86 on the back for emergency purposes .... sad, aren't I ! Anyway - many other fellow enthusiasts enjoyed that 30 second moment of pure nostalgia that only railways seem able to bring - you don't get this much excitement waiting for a TV programme to come on, do you ?
So why am I saying all this, other than for the fact I like to go on about trains a lot. What we are all achieving as we build our layouts is providing that little bit of nostalgia - even if it is for that one old man who remembers driving the stretch of line you've modelled, or that little boy who has never seen a real steam train and this is the best he can get.
I can admit to times at the railway club crouching down to be eye-level with the track and watching as an express thunders towards me, and passes by to destinations unknown (OK - we all know it will pass again 20 seconds later, but lets not spoil the moment, shall we !) .... it is for these moments that we spend our time building the locomotives and shaping the scenery, and finally perfecting that lovely little scene that transports us back to that virtual heaven where all of the stresses of the world can't reach us - that's the real pleasure that railways can bring.
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