All aboard as Littlehampton Gazette’s Tom realises dream

It was a dismal, dreary day, at an amusement park in northern France. I was an enthusiastic four-year-old and an unashamed fan of Thomas the Tank Engine.

So you can imagine my joy when my parents said that I would be taking the helm of my very own steam engine.

Ignoring the droplets of rain splattering down around me, I walked proudly up to the bottle green locomotive, dressed head-to-toe in my slightly-too-large, navy blue overalls.

Sadly, my driving dream wasn’t meant to be. I was only going along for a ride in the front seat, next to the driver. For a small child, with his heart set on emulating his favourite cartoon, it was an emotionally-crushing experience.

But now, after an 18-year wait, my wish of controlling a steam train finally came true after I was invited to take an hour-long driver course, with the Littlehampton Miniature Railway.

And the day couldn’t have been more different from my childhood holiday in Brittany – there was glorious sunshine and a gentle breeze, not to mention the perfect engine – a bright blue, Welsh loco, Sherpa. It was as close to the iconic Thomas as I could have dreamt.

Under the expert tutelage of Chris Phillimore, managing director of TIR Ltd, the company in charge of the miniature line, and one of the railway’s regular drivers, Chris Shanks, I was given a run-down on the Sherpa’s controls.

Confusing doesn’t even come close. There were so many knobs, dials, gauges and levers it made my head spin. I was hopelessly looking around for an acceleration or brake pedal, to calm my nerves and regain a sense of familiarity, but to little avail.

Donning the cap

However, after a 20-minute discussion of how the engine worked, and what each of the respective levers did, I felt confident enough to don my driver’s cap, step into the cab and blow the whistle to set off on my first trip along the 760m, seaside track.

As I tweaked the regulator handle – the control that determines the speed by the amount of steam in the engine – I gingerly pulled away from the engine shed, at Mewsbrook Park.

It was an exhilarating feeling, getting the three-tonne loco trundling along the track, albeit a slightly daunting one.

But with Christopher beside me the entire trip, giving me his expert advice on how to control Sherpa, where to slow down and where I could speed up, I couldn’t go wrong.

“It’s not like driving a car,” he explained. “Steam locos have a personality of their own. You have to learn their little mood swings.

“It’s all about getting a feel for the engine and how she is running. It’s not always the same, everyday.”

Before I knew it, I was slowing down and pulling into the station at Norfolk Gardens. The experience was all too brief, but one that I will never forget.

The railway is running weekly driver courses throughout April and May, for all those interested in getting behind the lever of Sherpa.

Courses are £45 per person and run from 5-6pm every Saturday, from April 28, until May 12.

Sherpa, on loan from a preserved railway in Wales, will be at the miniature railway for only a limited time.

For more information about the courses and the railway, visit www.littlehamptonrailway.co.uk or call 01460 221303.