'A Brush with Steam' by David Shepherd (1983)

[John Ashworth]

A Brush with Steam by David Shepherd (1983) - ISBN 0715381571

I've just finished reading a third-hand (at least) copy of this. It's a delightful book, a personal view of the earliest days of the UK heritage railway industry and is a valuable record of that seminal period. It's full of anecdotes, both amusing and serious. His insight as an artist comes through in the way he sees certain things.

It contains some very interesting reflections on the problems facing the UK heritage railway industry in those days, some of which may seem familiar to the South African heritage community. Dealing with enthusiastic and independent volunteers, negotiating the bureaucracy of a national railway company that has individuals with a heart for steam but no institutional interest, funding issues, etc. There's plenty of good advice and many of his comments elicited a wry smile.

He also talks a little about his African locomotives, although it was apparently written before he obtained his 15F no 3052. In 2003 FOTR moved 3052 in light steam from Mason's Mill in Pietermaritzburg to Ficksburg, towed by Spoornet electric units, and operated it again in 2006 as it ran under its own steam on several trips between Ficksburg and Kommandonek with David on board (see here). He comes across as a very decent bloke despite his fame.