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LIVE STEAM

A NARRATIVE OF MY FIRST MEMORIES OF LIVE STEAM

A picture of three generations, Dad, Me and my eldest son Christopher behind Mr. O'Toole's Ivy Hall.

I think we all have those times in our life that we remember occasions that we would give almost anything to re-visit. It's a warming sensation when a sound or smell can send us back there to feel that moment again. For myself, the picture above is a re-visit of one of those moments. This is the garden railway of Mr. Dan O'Toole, a distinguished and generous gentleman who in times gone by opened his home and gardens up to live steam enthusiasts. The track is elevated and laid around a large Edwardian style home, set in a most magnificent English garden with a large fish pond, bird baths fruit trees and ornaments throughout. My fondest memories are from the late Sixties during those long warming summers. As a young boy I can remember arriving beside the house where there was a large sliding gate that ran on small over head wheels, and the noise of the corrugated iron rattling as the gates were opened up. There in front was the steaming bay with an array of small loco's being stoked with small pieces of coal by their builders, all dressed in navy blue or gray overalls which covered their suit and tie. There was the constant sound of old vacuum cleaners being used to draw the fire and heat up into the chimney stacks to bring up the steam pressure, and the smell of smoke that just floated around on the breeze. There was always an air of excitement as dad backed the car up and lifted out Evening Star (a live steam model in 3 1/2" gauge of the last mainliner loco built in the UK). There was always great interest shown when a new loco was brought in and the endless discussions about the finer points of the makings. The slatted seats and tables were painted red, yellow and green with large umbrella's shading them. The ladies always sat together and seemed to be endlessly knitting or crocheting while talking about family life. One thing that remains in my memory is the beautiful spread of food laid out by the ladies for morning and afternoon tea's the array of cakes and sandwiches with pots of tea and cordial in large jugs with ice cubes floating on top.

The first running loco was a time of great excitement with track joints and signals being tested before the real fun began. As the loco's where brought on and trailing trucks added there was confusion for a young boy as to which loco was the fastest to hitch a ride behind. The memory of riding behind or chasing these small locos around the oval track until late into the afternoon is something I'll always remember with fondness.

As the day drew on I enjoyed sitting down with the men while they discussed the writings of LBSC and the methods and theories used to craft their models, it all seemed so important back then. These where men that enjoyed each others company and there was always an air of respect of each others opinions and thoughts.

Today's steam convention topics seem to be more about factionalism, committees, rules and insurance boundaries than valve lap and lead or the finer points in gear design. Personalities, who's right, who's wrong and which side are you on seem to play a bigger role in the discussion's of today than the craft of model making.

Mr. O'Toole brought those halcyon days back for one summer not so long ago. All those feelings and sensations just flooded back, the sites the sounds and the faces. It was a last hurrah for this track which had stood for over 50 years. It's now been removed, but the garden is still the same and so are my memories as a young boy during those wonderful long summer days.

This was my introduction to Live Steam. As a young boy I would sit out in my fathers workshop until bed time just watching him while he worked on his Myford lathe machining up all the bits and pieces until Evening Star was complete. We attended conventions, club days, open days and had a great time as kids watching it all happen around us. Its something that got inside me and just stayed there. Now as an adult, I truly admire the workmanship, skill and determination these craftsman put in to building these Live Steam loco's. Many of these craftsman are self taught, and come from fields as diverse as local Council workers to specialist Doctor's with everything profession in between. Some day I hope to eventually emulate what many of the readers of this text have, and create my own working live steam loco. In the mean time, I can lay back and watch others while I dream on.

This shot was taken back in 1964 when dad was 34 years of age, its the maiden run of Evening Star at the opening of the new Morrabbin track in Melbourne. This 3 1/2" 2-10-0 gauge loco was started in 1960 and was originally built to the specifications of LBSC, unfortunately he was unable to complete the series, therefore those models in progress could not be completed with out further instruction. In a desperate attempt to finish the workings, dad engaged in correspondence with LBSC personally. This at least allowed some progress to continue, fortunately another well known Live Steam designer, Martin Evans picked up the thread and published a small booklet that allowed the model to be finished off. This loco holds the distinction of being the first live steam Evening Star in the world to be completed and run. This loco certainly drew alot of attention wherever she was run and once again it showed that a self taught craftsman with drive and determination could produce work like this to an extremely high standard.

This is a run at the South Australian Live Steam Convention at SASMEE park in 1977. My younger brother Andrew is up front controlling the doings with me as the back seat driver. She always carried the smoke box plaque with the title, Geelong Flyer.

This is Evening Stars final resting place, mounted on the wall in dads bedroom. I don't know if we will ever see her run again. If she doesn't, I think dad will be satisfied just to look up at her occasionally and remember the joy she has brought to so many people over the years.

SOME BIG FELLA'S

These day's, time just seems to be evaporating so quickly. Life is so fast and trying to take a moment out to stop and step back is getting harder and harder. There is however, an occasion when I can take a moment out and step back. Every Saturday a main line steam loco passes through Geelong on its way to Warrnambool, a sea side town on the South Coast of Victoria. I often take my kids down to watch her come in through the South Geelong Tunnel on her way into the station. There always seems to be an air of excitement around waiting for that moment when that chime whistle is heard and everything on the platform just stands still. This loco is an "R" Class No 711 and is operated by West Coast Rail which now own a stable of steam loco's. This particular class of loco was one of around 70 built in the early 1950's by North British Locomotive Glasgow Scotland. This was one of the last steam loco classes built and delivered to the Australian railways before the Diesel era began, in fact the first arrivals began service with the new "B" and "T" class diesels on the Victorian Railway system.

I must admit to the fact that I enjoy visiting this station and imagining the hustle and bustle during its heyday, a vision my father often describes to me when he was a young boy. The station was built back in the mid 1800's, its architecture is Victorian being typically very ornate. The castings used throughout the buildings although functional such as columns, brackets, frames etc are works of art in themselves. Definitely an era in time where the appearance in the design was a sign of stability, robustness with a touch of boastfulness.