The end of the line for Mamod

Somethings, some smells even are connected with pasts and this week one came into the news.

You owned one or had access to one at home or school but countless schoolboys remember the smell from model steam engines some using our old flammable friend Metholated Spirits or for a good while tablets following concerns about injuries from using Meths and pressure from safety authorities.

They came in many forms, steam trains, motor cars and the sort of steam engine we saw at fairs in our towns and cities, made in what was the County Borough of Smethwick, Staffordshire just on the Birmingham city border, in the Black Country.

What has resulted in the sad news that production is to cease is mainly the actions of the Terrorism Authorities who said the tablets used in over 75% of models to generate the head to create the steam traction were being used or could be used to make bombs and so they could no longer be sold.

Meths was ruled out by the safety people although we're still alive, well having used it and god knows what else back in the day.

This meant although the could sell the models, the owner could not see them working which was exactly why we bought them.

They were not still boxed glass cabinet items you collected but things we played with and retooling to convert to other fuels would of been too expensive.

They were living, breathing things boys and men loved.

I remember Chistmas 1980 having mine and loving it playing with assistance from dad, driving Mum wild with it outside.

R.I.P Mamod steam engines.

What you can never forget as a boy...

 This could well of been a scene from my boyhood past, going around a vintage usually steam railway getting all upfront and personal with the working parts of the locomotive, smelling the grease  lubricating it all so it all works smoothly.

You'd find yourself transfixed so much by it you'd be almost in a daydream, with no idea of the time or if your mates were still around or drifted off somewhere else like the little souvenir shop pouring over things to buy, a kit, a picture or postcard perhaps.

That won't be happening this week as it's felt with it being very busy there may be more risks involved than desirable given we even got as far as going away and sharing a property but all being well we'll be be able to do so in the future.

Away week edition - The Boy and the Trains

This is being published thanks to the scheduler function as while you may be reading this I will be making my way back home with possibly one stop having been away for short while refreshing this boys batteries.

This is Carnforth railway station in Lancashire out and about visiting things which I'll post over the next few weeks.

I'd of been in toned down uniform as the plan did involve some suitably wolf cub like rovering, gathering things for art projects, going on hikes in the great outdoors so a little bit of thought to how some items *may* look to the muggles helps although to be honest everybody accepts me as that "Little Boy" here with those changes. 
I'll talk about those bits next week

One thing that used to irritate me was how dad always took us to train places when we'd rather do other things  so one thing I have been doing is visiting those things from the side the boyish me loved on my own terms.

The Museum at Carnforth Station and then on to a live steam railway.

Plumpton Bear

The very train I travelled on from Haverthwaite to Lakeside and back by steam traction.

In the engine shed, the smell of oil bought back boyhood memories of the many sheds I went around but I was in here cos I felt I belonged, talking with men about the exhibits on my terms.
I always loved engineering as a boy and today I felt at peace with being here and being who I am. A boy.

That to me is the point apart from going places I've never been before and creating new 'little memories' which bearing in mind my disabilities is no bad thing at all as helps when I'm not so good and also helps with my memory which I have problems with.

I am moving on.

See you next week!