
Come and
MEET US.
AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, THE OWNERS AND DRIVERS OF THESE WONDERFUL LOCOMOTIVES ARE ALWAYS EAGER TO TALK TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ENGINE THAT IS CURRENTLY ‘IN THE STATION’.
BEHIND THE SCENES THERE IS AN AWFUL
AND WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU
SOME OF OUR OTHER MEMBERS AS WELL, INCLUDING THOSE THAT
YOU MAY ONLY OCCASIONALLY COME ACROSS.
Watch out for new additions.

“Since early schooldays, I’ve always been interested in Railways”, said |


As I am the one who takes all these snap-shots of Members, I have so far managed to avoid appearing on this page. Alas, with pressure, and a photograph from Roger Clark showing me in my favourite place, (the Ticket Office), I have succumbed. Like most of our Members, I spent my youth travelling all over |

DEN, ANOTHER RECENT |

Here’s DAVID, who says that he “ Loves driving all sorts of Steam Locomotives ”. Since an early age he certainly has driven quite a few, including full-size Locos together with Traction Engines as well. In his spare time, (that’s assuming Accountants get spare time), he is building from scratch a 5” PACIFIC and has now finished rebuilding his ‘LORD NELSON’, which he says was an utter wreck to start with. David is shown here with his rebuilt ‘Lord Nelson.

AT THE TENDER |

PAUL, Loves pottering around the Locos. You will generally find him performing Guard duties when he’s not Driving. New member KEN, says “ I’m still learning, and keep busy on all sorts of projects. It’s an ideal way of getting involved if you are tempted to try your hand’ .“

CHRIS, a retired Railway Civil Engineer - “ I just can’t keep away from Railways”. Chris owns two Diesel loco’s, (see Engines section), in partnership with Jayne. |

BARRY, One of our founder members.. ”I’ve been mixing with miniature railways since I was about 5 yrs old”. Barry owns the ROYAL SCOT loco, which he imported from Newcomer LEE, has already integrated well, and helps out in very many different ways. His hobbies include all sorts of Modelling, but especially Railways. |

DAVID, was originally apprenticed as a Boiler Maker, and taught Mechanical Engineering at the University in Station, especially in the Ticket Office. The other half of this Team is DIANE, who provides the added safety to our rides by acting as a GUARD. She is also involved as SECRETARY to several South Coast Model Railway Societies. |

JAYNE, faces the unenviable task of giving a FACELIFT to the whole of the railway site. If there are any budding gardeners out there, she could find you plenty to keep you occupied. In her spare time (!!!) she participates in the organising of a great deal of the functions. Seated behind her is one of the many Teddies from the annual ‘TEDDY BEARS PICNIC’. She also has a very large part to play in the preparation of the ‘SANTA RUNS’ setting up the Grotto, as well as chasing Santa’s Elves to see how they are getting on packaging and sorting all the presents. |

Another CHRIS, a Railway Engineer who professionally TEACHES DRIVERS OF FULL SIZE ENGINES. Chris is the owner of 771, Sir Sagramore (see ENGINES). He’s also keen on Scouting, Boating and Travel. |

One of our younger members, ANDY. He enjoys getting involved with Model Railways at the Guildford Model Engineering Society and Hollycombe in gauges 16mm, 5” and 71/4”, and of course driving our 101/4” here. He also spends time filming railways and making short movies about them. Andy is shown here with one of his smaller charges |

FATHER CHRISTMAS, arrives once a year using his own transport, but certainly not averse to having rides on our railway. Extremely nice to children, and tends to give presents in December when we run the Santa Specials. |


This PAUL, Our C.M.E., helps keep the Loco’s and Rolling Stock running, and will turn his hand to practically anything. He has spent a lot of time working alongside Jerry, (and the rest of the ‘Gang’), helping make the Railway into the excellent condition it is today. Pictured next to Paul is his son THOMAS. Tom is our youngest active member, and like Dad wants to be involved in as much as possible, ( He say’s he has taught Dad all he knows !). Pictured here sitting on the footplate of ‘PEGGY’, (an Engine he would love to own). He probably will have one just like it one day. |

JERRY, never happier than when he is “banging away” at one project or another, or even perhaps sitting in the freezing cold at the back of the train in the Brake Van. |


Yet another CHRIS. As well as a being one of the founder members, he was, until recently, our Secretary since formation. An extremely active member, who deals with almost everything you can imagine, on top of being our Electrical Engineer. Chris has lots of outside interests, many of which have a community aspect, how he finds time for all this is a mystery to me. Chris also owns and drives 5156 "Ayrshire Yeomanry”, (see ENGINES). |

NICK, who’s hobby is STEAM. When he’s not driving here you can find him over at Amberley Chalk Pits, driving Road Steamers. He owns two 4” scale Traction engines as well as a full size “Wallace & Steevens” Advanced Steam Roller.
|

SIMON, I am currently studying Mechanical Engineering at College. My other interests are Toy Steam, Model Railways and Live Steam Garden Railways. I am a volunteer at |


THIS TEAM ALSO HELP TO KEEP THE RAILWAY RUNNING. YVONNE, SPENDS A LOT OF TIME HELPING OUT AT THE SPECIAL FUNCTIONS, MOST PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY REMEMBER HER IN HER ‘SANTA HAT’, (see ‘ARCHIVE’ section). MEANWHILE MALCOLM IS KEPT BUSY AS PART OF THE ‘BUILDINGS & STRUCTURES’ SECTION WHEN NOT ON GUARD DUTY. |

YET ANOTHER PAUL. WHEN NOT ON ROSTER HERE, HE FINDS TIME TO DABBLE IN SMALLER LOCOS AS WELL. HE HAS BUILT (IN 5 “ GAUGE), A GWR 57XX PANNIER TANK, AN AUTO COACH, AND IS BUSY BUILDING AN A4 LOCO. |

We always encourage the youngsters to start early and learn all about the various jobs needed to run our railway. This particular weekend found MICHAEL, KEVIN, and of course THOMAS all joining in the fun. Kevin recently spent a week in
|

Meet JOHN, seen here in the Driver’s Cab of ‘PEGGY’. Now fully retired from The Horticultural Industry, it gives him more time to indulge his many hobbies. Apart from Sailing and Sea Fishing, and of course the South Downs Light Railway, he is a keen Model Maker and specialises in 5” gauge steam engines.
|

Brian has been passionate about railways ever since he was born in a house overlooking a busy railway line. As a boy he spent hours leaning over the fence at the end of the garden watching the trains go by. Progressing from a loco spotter through a railway modeller and model engineer he is now the proud major shareholder in "Peggy", (named after his mother-in-law). In his career as a solicitor he has advised a number of railway preservation societies and groups. He says he feels very honoured and privileged to be chairman of SDLRS Ltd." |

Editor of ‘SOUTH DOWNS WAY’, our resident ‘Wordsmith’ CRISPIN, a retired Clergyman. He finds time to model the LGB scale of loco’s when not being involved with his Grandchildren. Currently, he says, he is being instructed on how to drive our engines. |

KEN has always been interested in steam since a small boy, and became a member to continue this interest when he retired. Having taught Media at University he helps the SDLR in producing and editing the DVDs which monitor this railway as it progresses. Apart from that he regularly helps as Guard, Station Master or anything else that he can do to keep our passengers happy. |

Asked why he spent a lot of his spare time at the SDLR, ROGER replied, “For the ‘advanced years brigade’, working for this railway is pure therapy. It provides a golden opportunity to relive some early childhood ambitions and to become fully involved in all of the action”. |

Meet MICK. He joined the ‘BLUEBELL RAILWAY’ in 1961 as a young Schoolboy, and has now been a Standard Gauge Steam Driver for 21 years. His other interests include Vintage Vehicles and Tractors. He has a large collection at home, which also includes Land Rovers. Mick joined the SDLR in 2000, and helped with the enormous task of re-gauging our track. |

If you have seen ALICE, ( the 0-4-2TT Bagnall ), in action around our system, you might like to meet her owner and builder, GILES. He has been involved in Railways for about 40 years. He has driven Locos at both the |

HERE’S RICHARD. WHILST CHATTING TO HIM THE OTHER DAY HE TOLD ME THAT, “I have had a life long interest in railways, especially steam engines. Getting involved with the SDLR, and being a minority shareholder in ‘Peggy’ has realised a childhood dream. There is no smell like that of a steam engine to bring back memories. I also model in 7mm scale and am currently building a small layout, when other interests allow.” |

The Hat Badge gives us a clue, in that 15 year old ‘Oli’ lives all the way down in |

PR officer for the Guildford Model Engineering Society, MIKE is interested in railways and anything steam powered. He is currently building, (with help from son Andy), a 16mm garden railway. Originally he trained as a designer, worked in design and photo/AV education, and is now photography officer with the Royal Horticultural Society. |

PETER, owner of MOGUL and creator of our Signalling System. Peter served in the Office of Treasurer from the formation of the Society for eight years, thereby creating the stable base that we work from now. |

Yet another member of our interesting Society, meet another ROGER. He is the other half of the RoKen production team that produces our DVDs. I understand that they also create really useful ‘free’ local routes for the Trainz Railway simulation software. Roger, when he isn’t running the Ticket Office or on Guard duty fills in as Deputy Signalman. |

Meet a Music Teacher from |

Meet RICHARD. My first introduction to live steam was when my father bought me my 3 1/2 inch gauge Atlantic class locomotive, ' Maisie ', at the age of 12. I would lie in bed at night and dream of building a 3 1/2 inch gauge railway around |


Yet another team, meet PAUL and JUDY. As well as the SDLRS, they share many hobbies, including the building and running of their own ‘G’ scale system within their Coastal garden. Rumour has it that Judy once appeared on a Television Game Show, but their visual images are now confined to the Video Club to which they belong. Paul tells me that his latest venture was a promotional |
MORE TO FOLLOW OVER THE FOLLOWING MONTHS