WATCH: 360 video of engine room of Tornado locomotive
To be in the presence of train royalty is one thing – to sit in the driving seat and take the controls is taking excitement to a whole new level.
The day David Clifford drove the Flying Scotsman was a dream come true for the lifelong steam fan.
He had been invited on January 5, 1995, to The Railway Museum at Tyseley, Birmingham, by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust for the announcement of a new A1 Class locomotive, Tornado, which would be the first new steam locomotive to be built in Britain since 1960.
David Clifford, commercial manager of Lye- based BSD Steel Service Centres, a subsidiary of British Steel which had made the name plates and profiled the 50ft long frames for the new train, was there with three colleagues.
Attendees were presented with mementoes, including a commemorative bottle of Black Sheep ale, one of only 100 produced, and copies of the plans of the Tornado and the Flying Scotsman.
Mr Clifford, of Himley, Dudley, remembers the day as if it was yesterday. "Despite torrential rain a number of us rushed to the station. Not only did we have a tour, the driver asked if anyone would like to have a drive."
The former train-spotter was the first in the queue, and After a 20-minute instruction on how to start, drive forward, pick up speed, brake and reverse, they were off. He recalls: "It was exhilarating and frightening at the same time.
Going forward was peculiar – it was difficult to see where I was going as there are no eyelets on the loco. They'd been blocked up previously due to a health and safety issue.
"I was told to keep going forward and look for a yellow bin marker on side of track and, when spotted, to start braking. We seemed to be going a decent speed and I was looking anxiously for the yellow marker, as I was told that if we passed it the points to the main line would be in wrong direction.
"I braked far too early and got a telling off. However I soon put us in reverse and we headed back to the station. Reversing was amazing as by putting my head out of cabin I could see all that was occurring. Passing over the level crossings was a special experience, seeing children waving to me as I went.
"It was a day that will stay with me forever, a dream come true."
Sadly there were no pictures of his turn at the controls so when Flying Scotsman visited the Severn Valley Railway later the same year, he managed to get on board again and get some photos. and this time made sure there was photographic evidence of his brush with history.
Tornado will be with the Flying Scotsman for its three days at the Severn Valley Railway, but Mr Clifford, now 74 and disabled, will not be among the visitors.
"I've got my memories of the day I drove the Flying Scotsman - and I still have the unopened bottle of ale to prove I was there," he said.
