Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2010/January 2011 | Page 66

interview

Island Life - December 2010

Photos: Kevin at work at Havenstreet.

If the engines’ boilers were not regularly

even the aerospace industry, as well as steam

washed out and de-scaled, they could

railways. But he says: “Ideally I would like to

eventually explode with catastrophic results.

stay with steam, so before my contract ends

As a qualified steam engine fireman Kevin

next July I need to know if I am being kept

can also travel on the footplate, again

on here, or look elsewhere.

ensuring the smooth running with regular
checks on the water, steam and coal.
“It is a very important part of the job,

“The ultimate dream would be to have my
own workshop in maybe 10 years time where
I could restore locomotives and carriages for

because get it wrong and you could put

railways. I would like to use it as a base to

yourself and others in danger, so you have

assist other railways with their needs.

to have the correct training, and be assessed
every year,” he explained.
Such is Kevin’s enthusiasm for his work

“A lot of visitors to England come for
the heritage, and want to see such things
as steam trains. Obviously progress means

that he was named ‘Young Preservationist of

steam trains will never come back into

the Year 2010’ by The Transport Trust. In a

fashion, but it is important to keep them

national awards ceremony, he was presented

alive, because without them this country

with his award by HRH Prince Michael of

would not be what it is,” he said.

Kent.
The award recognised his commitment

When Kevin is not working on the steam
railway, his other great passion is maintaining

to steam engineering and for raising the

and driving his 1964 Morris 1000 Traveller.

profile of steam preservation among other

He says: “I bought it five years ago and have

young people. He said: “The award was

done over 40,000 miles in it. It is very reliable

completely unexpected, and it is a great

and takes me back to Stockport two or three

honour to have received it. It is one of my

times a year. It takes 10 hours, but it gets me

biggest achievements, and proves that if you

there in the end.”

work hard you can achieve such things. It

IW Steam Railway General Manager

is important to get young people involved,

Peter Vail said: “Apprenticeships in steam

encourage them and keep them interested,

engineering are few and far between these

so we can keep our heritage railways alive

days and we are pleased to be playing its

for many years to come.”

part in keeping alive these traditional skills,

Once his apprenticeship is completed it
will enable Kevin to move into other forms

which are still needed at heritage railways
across the country.”

of employment, including mechanics and
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