John Toulson grew up next to the railway at Sedgefield between Bishop Auckland and Hartlepool.  While other 12 year old boys were playing with train sets John was playing with the real thing.  

John started helping the engine drivers by fetching and carrying water for the engine tanks.  However he quickly moved on to shunting engines, moving points, putting oil in the signal lamps and helping plate layers to put down new track. 

At night he would help the Signalman who taught him to use Morse code so that he could signal the next signal box and let them know a train was on the way.  

 

John was also called upon during derailments to help operate the steam crane to lift the carriages back onto the track.

Wigan's transported tarmacadam and had three huge steam boilers to heat up the trucks so that the tar would be soft enough to pump into road wagons.  John learned to fire the engines and the boilers and even helped "the old fella" to start the generator.

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John's passion for steam developed further when Wigan's took over the land next to the sidings.

 
 
 
(c)Copyright 2003. John Toulson. All rights reserved.

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