If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Famous people at heritage railways

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by City of truro fan, Nov 17, 2020.

  1. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    6,075
    Likes Received:
    4,889
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Not really a Heritage Railway but I once stewarded a Plymouth trip where Charlie Watts was travelling with a friend. His friend raised a laugh by trying to pay for their raffle tickets with a photocopied (in black and white!) £50 note.
     
  2. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2010
    Messages:
    1,503
    Likes Received:
    1,503
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    poole dorset
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    ......and naturally this time of year Santa Claus.....
     
    Bluenosejohn likes this.
  3. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,609
    Likes Received:
    11,222
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    When Black prince visited the MHR, My crew were rostered on her one day, and we were told we had a footplate visitor , i was 3rd man, we didn't have a cleaner that day, so it meant no one had to step down , anyway along comes the owner, asks the driver, can i come on board, I've got a pass , so we had David Shepard with us for most of the day, Fired the second trip, and half way up the bank, i asked Mr Shepard, would you like a go on the shovel, he declined saying i'm useless with a shovel ,so he stood there with a huge grin on his face, saying, I've never hear her working like that for a long time, on the return trip, the deflector ring, which wasn't a good fit, and rocked from side to side, fell in, to the firehole, So, there was the fireman, and I, half way up Medstead bank, with the firing irons, fishing this now even more deformed ring out of the fire, slung it onto the floor, and then had to fire like billy ho, to keep the pressure up, and all the time the owner, didn't bat an eye lid, he was totally not aware of what had happened, or if he was, he didn't take any notice,
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2020
    stuarttrains and green five like this.
  4. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,100
    Likes Received:
    57,416
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I normally get kept well out of sight whenever anyone famous visits, though I did get interviewed by Josie Gibson (from ITV's "This Morning") when we re-opened this year.

    Josie Gibson talks to  footplate crew copy.jpeg

    There's the usual complement of film stars and the like from filming contracts; Daniel Ratcliffe (from Harry Potter) filmed for several days, as did Ralph Fiennes. The ITV version of the railway children was filmed at the Bluebell, including Dickie Attenborough. Sheena Easton filmed one of her pop videos at the railway. The newsreader Nick Owen was a loco department volunteer for many years and presented many of our promotional videos for a while. Martin Clunes did the most recent one.

    Notable people visiting incognito just for a day out? I'm sure there must be, but I'm not much of a s'leb spotter.

    Tom
     
    green five likes this.
  5. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2011
    Messages:
    8,658
    Likes Received:
    6,415
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Enfield
    And here it is:).

     
    bluetrain likes this.
  6. Ian Milne

    Ian Milne New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2011
    Messages:
    151
    Likes Received:
    92
    Maybe it’s an urban myth, but I was told that Jonathon Ross is a volunteer at the Swanage Railway. I’ve visited said railway many times but never seen him there
     
    Hando likes this.
  7. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,327
    Likes Received:
    11,665
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Well he couldn’t volunteer at Ropley or Romney could he? ;)
     
    Mrcow, Hando, Gilesy68 and 9 others like this.
  8. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,575
    Likes Received:
    545
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Brick Machine Operator
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I have a picture of myself and Pete Waterman at the Bluebell during a book signing at Sheffield Park (I think it was Giants of Steam in 2009). After I had my book signed a short while later he came down to take some pics of 34059.

    On the subject of film and TV contracts at the Bluebell, a girl I went to school with (her name was Scarlett, in case any working Bluebell members on here knew her) worked in the catering department up until a few years ago, her and a few of her colleagues met Tom Hardy who was filming an advert on the railway.

    As well as his TV work I believe Chris Barrie was/is a visitor to the South Devon Railway I seem to recall from an interview.
     
    Funnell likes this.
  9. lostlogin

    lostlogin Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2007
    Messages:
    428
    Likes Received:
    205
    I think most of the larger or more established railways will, over the years, have invited various bods to open or present things or had them attend as part of their work. Even as a fairly infrequent volunteer I have, on at least two occasions ended up meeting the bods and being part of the coverage, and on several other occasions I have been aware filming was going on whilst I was at another part of the line. I have also been at other places as a paying punter when a bod has been filming for a TV program. As I said my volunteering time is very limited so with the amount of filming etc that goes on over the years I am sure many here will have met plenty of recognisable faces.

    Equally, most people with a faintly recognisable face are just normal people with families. They just have a job which means they are recognisable to some extent. On that basis there will be a proportion, just as there is of the general population, who enjoy getting out and about and travelling or visiting preserved railways so the chances are if you are a travelling ticket inspector, station staff you probably over a few years meet a few famous bods. Whether you recognise them is a different matter though. I was in a restaurant last year and apparently Tommy Fury and Molly Mae where there. I saw them having there picture taking but did not have a clue who they were. There have been plenty of other occasions when I have seen people be asked for selfies, or in the old days autographs, and not had a clue who they were.

    Obviously the likes of David Shepherd, Pete Waterman are know to have an interest in railways and Rod Stewart in model railways. The only ones I can add to that list are Prunella Scales and Timothy West who members are of the TR. (Paid up out of choice rather than simply being given honorary free membership). There must be plent of others though just by the law of averages.
     
    Llwyngwern likes this.
  10. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2018
    Messages:
    3,498
    Likes Received:
    6,845
    Location:
    Here, there, everywhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    You didn't hassle the Hoff?
     
    Forestpines and Hicks19862 like this.
  11. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2007
    Messages:
    1,637
    Likes Received:
    3,267
    Occupation:
    Solicitor
    Location:
    South Wales
    Down in West Wales (Gwili) we’ve had the following

    Kiera Knightley and Sienna Miller (filming the Edge of Love 2007)
    Rhodri Morgan (Ex First Minister of Wales on an afternoon out with the family several years ago)
    Michael Portillo doing his great railway journeys programme (2014)
    More recently Bill Bailey (comedian) was on site for a filming job.
    Probably a few others I can’t think of right now!
     
  12. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,327
    Likes Received:
    11,665
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I think it depends on who you count as a celebrity though, for example last year I was lucky enough to meet Roger Protz (he of good beer guide and someone who’s very well respected in my line of work)
    John Wheeler of Hayseed Dixie fame also liked to pop in at our brewery from time to time, my Dad being rather chuffed I’d met him (if you like music with a bluegrass theme check out his band)
    Then on the other side of the coin we have someone like Rory McGrath who has had say their 15 minutes of fame?
    Various people have told me about how he doesn’t like to be recognised but when something happens he doesn’t like likes to play the ‘do you know who I am card?’
    Unfortunately he did this in a pub my friend used to manage, after a little rant she asked him the same question, after another mouthful of abuse she then floored him with ‘Well I’m the manager, would you like me to call the police or leave of your accord?’
    She had no idea who he was or what he was ‘famous’ for until she googled him, and what was the first story that came up? Him stalking his ex lover.

    But going back to your original point there’s a difference between a ‘celeb’ with a bit of railway interest coming to open your extension/carriage shed, redicate a loco etc than a ‘celeb’ who’s out for the day with the family doing the same thing as you.
     
  13. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    This thread does sound like a taxi driver though: "I 'ad that Phil Collins in the back of my brake van once".

    I think I've seen a photo of Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall and toddler at the GWSR.

    As a sub-thread, how many heritage railways have had a love scene filmed on them? In filming Dancing on the Edge there was a scene shot (IIRC in a sleeper at Bewdley?) in the sidings. I haven't seen it, but my wife would undoubtedly complain I was more interested in the coach fittings than the, ahem, storyline.

    Patrick
     
  14. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,327
    Likes Received:
    11,665
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    From Russia with Love? Sean Connery enjoying a journey through Eastern Europe with Daniela Bianchi and Black 5 with strangely coloured green stock? ;)
     
  15. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,939
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Does the Epping Ongar, err, scene, count? :)
     
    Forestpines, GWR4707, big.stu and 8 others like this.
  16. 46223

    46223 Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2011
    Messages:
    6,376
    Likes Received:
    5,750
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Lancs
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    It was a 'Jubilee'.:rolleyes:
     
  17. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,327
    Likes Received:
    11,665
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    They look very similar in the dark! But I wouldn’t really give a toss what’s on the front if I were sharing a berth with her in 1963! ;):p
     
    ross and 46223 like this.
  18. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,327
    Likes Received:
    11,665
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    You DON’T Hassle the Hoff! Unless of course he bursts into this...
     
  19. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2011
    Messages:
    1,157
    Likes Received:
    1,158
    Occupation:
    Insurance
    Location:
    Good Old Sussex by the Sea
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Remember sitting in a compartment next to the ticket barrier at Sheffield Park at a Bluebell gala about 15 years ago and Mark Williams walked in with his family
     
    Dan Hill likes this.
  20. Nimbus

    Nimbus New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2009
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    198
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Maybe Mark lives local to the Bluebell. A few years ago I was having lunch in the Bessemer Arms and he was sat at the next table with his son.
     
    Funnell likes this.

Share This Page