Famous people at heritage railways

Why did I think of this scene from Blue Harvest...

 

I should like to associate myself with the post from @torgormaig which was quoted in post # 17. (Note that his original post and the one he was responding to have been deleted).

I’ve seen far too many unpleasant posts on this forum recently; many of them amounting to bullying, and it’s about time that those who are responsible for policing the threads started jumping on individuals.

 

Have seen both Ken Livingstone and Alan Davies riding on a miniature railway I was driving on.

Once had a chat with King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at an event where I was operating a portable miniature railway.
Offered him a free train ride but, sadly, he politely declined.

 

Deleted

 

The KESR has collected a few over recent times. Ian Hislop is a regular visitor, Catherine Southon has been there with her family, and recently we had a visit from Sir Michael Gambon. A picture of him with the train crew ended up on the front of the Tenterden Terrier!

 

This is turning out to be a good post. I’m enjoying all you’re story’s railways seem quite popular for the famous people!

 

I've seen Ian Botham plus wife and a very young Liam at the NVR. Same railway has produced Alan Pegler, Prince Richard the Duke of Gloucester, Helen Worth aka Gail Tilsley and Queen (the band not the monarch). I'm sure there have been others but not while I've been there to see them, such as well known actors during filming contracts.

A mate of mine ended up having a beer with Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) on the SVR some months ago.

 

Does the Jacobite count? Here two famous ladies pose at Mallaig in 2015



Peter

 

Shouldn't that be three famous ladies, what with 62005 in the background.

 

Havenstreet carriage works was opened by H.M. The Queen.

 

I had Jenny Agutter come up to me at Pickering and ask if she could show her son the footplate. I didn’t say no. My fireman didn’t know who she was until I told him afterwards.

 

Not a witness report, but some years ago the Times printed a picture of the Queen in the cab of the latest engine to go into service at the Exbury Gardens Railway. The owner was a friend of hers, and asked her to name the engine. The grin on her face as she had a cab ride was amazing.
Pat

 

I think Florence is becoming a bit of a TV star in her own right now! You also forgot the famous WC fireman leaning out of the cab window!!

 

On a much more positive note than my earlier contribution to this thread, though it was before my time on the GCR, during the filming of 'Buster' one Nick Tinsley (of Quorn Wagon & Wagon fame) apparently had a cup of tea and a chat with Phil Collins whilst sitting in his BR brake van. Apparently they had the stove lit and Phil was very complementary about how cosy it was. Now, Nick is a massive Genesis fan so you can imagine how he was still going on and on about this some years later... whether Phil Collins has continued his enthusiasm for BR brake vans though, I'm afraid I don't know.

Personally, the only other famous person I think I've seen was Pete Waterman, and I don't really count him as he seems to turn up everywhere.

Mind you, I don't recognise half of these 'celebrities' anyway. I've probably walked straight past several over the years.

 

Didn’t Prince Charles cause a bit of a flap with his security there a few years ago? He went missing for a while only to be found happily chatting to the footplate crew.

 

Another Royal was the Duke of Edinburgh who stayed overnight in the Royal Train at Bishops Lydeard before travelling on to Minehead on a special train and then by road to Lynton and Lynmouth.
I too have chatted to Pete Waterman who commented that at steam galas he could amble around for long spells unrecognised and blending in with other blokes in late middle age in old coats and with a camera bag. Others to appear at Minehead were Willie Rushton and Rick Wakeman, both very easy to talk with.

 

Should have mentioned also that Pete Waterman unveiled 34081's new nameplate and badge at her rededication ceremony at Wansford back in 1997. We also had 92 Squadron veterans, some going back to the Battle of Britain and WW2, who were far the most important visitors we've ever had IMO.

 

When the Queen opened the new carriage works at Havenstreet I was lucky enough to drive her train. Wootton to Havenstreet, mile and half down hill!

Three chuffs and a brake application. But royal train driver never the less!

 

Florence and Her Machine, as The Jacobite is now known!

JS