Malcolm had a long-held ambition to drive a steam engine so, when he was made redundant, he used some of the money to do just that. The Swanage Railway, of which he was a member, held occasional driver experience days, so he booked a place for 25 September 1998.
There was another person on the same trip as the routine was that one would drive and the other act as fireman up to the other end of the line then swap places for the return trip. Malcolm was the driver for the outward trip and it went quite well. He got a good start without slipping the driving wheels. However, they had not gone far before a trespasser was seen on the line ahead. Malcolm had tpblow the whistle as a warning then bring the train to an immediate stop. This was achieved without too much of a jolt. The trespasser was escorteed off the line and Malcolm was given permission to proceed. He was proud of the cracking start that he got, a crisp getaway without any wheelslip. The train was stopped at tghen taken on to the termiknus at Norden.
The train crew then uncoupled the locomotive, took it forward then back to attach it to the other end of the train where it was coupled to return to Swanage, tender first.
Malcolm was now the fireman and was instructed how to shovel the coal and how to place it in the forebox. It was hard work and extremely hot on the footplate. It was a bit unnerving watching the tender rocking around as the locomotive went backwards. One of the crew remarked how it seemed as though it looked as if it might come off the rails at any time.
Back at Swanage, the crew uncoupled the locomotive and ran it round to the other end of the trains ready for the next run.
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