Reminiscences of a Trainspotter

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Here is a book by David Wardale that should please technophiles and technophobes alike.  In it he describes his journey through the 1960s starting as an eleven-year-old schoolboy trainspotting in and around London, graduating to "gricer", travelling as far as time and pocket money allowed, clandestinely getting into (and out of) engine sheds, and concluding as an enthusiast and engineering student making his first forays out of the UK, first to Ireland and then to France, all in pursuit of his foremost passion – the steam locomotive – before it disappeared from the railway scene.    

Those who have read his magnum Opus - “The Red Devil and Other Tales from the Age of Steam” will know that his passion for steam took him a lot further than France.  After graduating from Portsmouth Polytechnic with First Class Honours in 1971, he worked for BR until leaving in 1973 to move to South African Railways.  There he worked in the steam locomotive section of the SAR’s CME’s department from 1974 to 1983, during which time he put forward several proposals for improving SAR’s steam fleet aimed at enhancing its performance and efficiency.

The oil price rises of 1978 provided the impetus to put these proposals into practice, and for the next five years Wardale worked almost exclusively on steam locomotive development, including design, inspection, tuning-up, testing, and putting modified locomotives into service. 

A number of projects involving a variety of classes, from branch line engines to large mainline 4-8-4’s and 4-8-2 + 2-8-4 Garratts, was completed, the most notable being the extensive rebuilding of 25NC Class 4-8-4 No. 3450, “The Red Devil“, so named because of the bright red livery that Wardale chose for it after rebuilding.  The locomotive and its performance (and the book that carries its name) served to make Wardale’s name renowned within the steam community.

After spending three frustrating years living and working in the Datong locomotive factory in China, Wardale retired to write his book.  In 1997 he returned to the UK where he now lives in the city of Inverness.

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Publisher - Advanced Steam Traction Services Ltd

Language - English

Paperback

Contributors

Author

David Wardale

Published Date - May 18 2023

ISBN - 9781637521977

Dimensions - 29.7 x 21.0 x 0.5 cm

Page Count - 67