South Hams Lifestyle Apr - May 2024

LOCAL HERO
We talk to Andy Letts, volunteer
steam locomotive driver on
the South Devon Railway,
Buckfastleigh....
How long have you been a steam
locomotive driver on the South Devon
Railway?
Eight years
How did this role come about?
I started volunteering at a steam railway in
Loughborough when I was still at school in
1984, but in 1991 I moved to the south west
with my job and didn’t have any spare time
to allow me to ‘play trains’ any more. Then
in 2009 a change of career gave me a bit
more spare time, so I contacted the South
Devon Railway and started again as an
engine cleaner! I was lucky that my previous
experience allowed me to progress fairly
quickly, becoming qualified as a fireman
after a couple of years, and then as a driver
in 2016.
It must give you immense pleasure, right?
Absolutely, I never take for granted how
fortunate I am to be allowed to drive a steam
train in this day and age. So much hard work
goes into keeping these vintage locomotives
running, so to be allowed to drive them is
just amazing.
The passengers must love it too?
They do – many of the passengers come up
to look at the engine and speak to us during
the day, from five year olds to 95 year olds.
Some of the younger ones have never seen
a steam loco before, so they’re fascinated,
and for many of the adults it brings back
memories from years ago: the smell of
steam and the sounds from the engine you
don’t get on the modern railway.
Is this your dream job?
Of course - so much so I do it for free! I’m
not a huge fan of getting up at 5am and
oiling up a locomotive on a dark winter
morning, but once the fire is lit, and the
steam pressure starts to climb, the loco
comes alive and the fun begins. Sometimes
we’ll cook bacon and egg on the shovel,
and a mug of tea will be kept warm next to
the fire. What’s not to like?!
Did you always dream of this role as a
child?
Like many young kids back then, I had all
the Thomas the Tank Engine books, a model
railway, and got really excited if we ever
travelled on a train. So, when I realised I
could actually work on steam locomotives
as a volunteer, it was a dream come true.
As a young boy you never think you’ll be a
driver, but eventually with enough effort and
determination, it happens, and all the early
mornings and long hot days are worth it.
Tell us more about the steam engine you
drive?
At the South Devon Railway, we have a fleet
of ex-Great Western Railway locomotives,
all representative of the classes that worked
the lines around Devon and Cornwall more
than 70 years ago. All of the engines here
are at least 80 years old, so we drive them
with great care, because anything that
breaks takes a lot of time and money to fix!
My favourite locomotive is currently waiting
to be overhauled - number 3205. On a warm
sunny day, the driver and fireman get an
amazing view of the line because the back
of the ‘cab’ is open, although on a rainy
day it’s not so nice! I’m also looking forward
to number 1420 being back in steam after
overhaul later this year. I’ve never driven one
of those so it will be good to compare it to
all the others we have.
What does it take to get a steam engine
moving?
We have to light the fire about three hours
before we need to move as the boiler is
quite big and there’s a lot of metal and
water to heat up. By warming it all up
slowly, there’s less chance of causing
leaks, so we don’t rush her! Also, before
moving anywhere, as the driver, I have to
thoroughly check the loco all over and oil
all the moving parts, of which there are lots.
GWR engines use a lot of oil, so we spend
a good couple of hours checking and
topping everything up so it runs smoothly.
Once the driver and fireman have done all
the dirty jobs, we change into our clean
overalls, and attach the loco to the train
ready for a day of hauling passengers.
Where can I find out more about the
railway and what’s on this spring?
We start daily operations again on Saturday
23rd March, with trains running from
Buckfastleigh, where we have a large free
car park, and Totnes Riverside, a short walk
from the main line station and the town.
Over the Easter weekend we have an
Easter Heritage Spectacular, with steam
and diesel trains, children’s competition
and an Easter Egg I-Spy at Buckfastleigh
station. A week later, on 6th and 7th April,
we have the Mad Hatter’s Travelling Tea
Party, when you can join the Mad Hatter,
Alice and friends on a journey through the
world of Wonderland!
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