Steam Train Britain

22-year-old Sports Scientist Megan Smith has a dream: to become a steam locomotive Fireman on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway. Under the watchful eye of 80-year-old Cedric Lodge, we follow Megan, as she fires-up NG143 and sets off along the 25 miles from Caernarfon to Porthmadog.

Meanwhile, 155 miles away is the much smaller Great Central Railway, which is staging its annual Goods Galore Gala – a chance for the paying public to enjoy the sights, sounds & smells of all kinds of rolling stock being hauled & shunted up & down 8 miles of heritage track. We spend some time in the original lever-operated Signal Box with David Bridges in South Devon…and see how lightweight plastic sleepers are slowly replacing old wooden ones back on the Ffestiniog with Alun Tomlinson and his track repair crew.

At the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highlands Railway, manager Stephen Greig is trying to ensure that all goes to plan ahead of the opening of the new station at Caernarfon.

At South Devon, Chief Engineer Ray Lee is working to bring a loco back in to service. Down the road in Dartmouth, we pay a visit to the SS Kingswear paddle steamer, the oldest vessel of its kind.

On the Welsh Highland Railway, trainee driver Claire Oates has her all-important driving test, while Chef Alex and Manager Michelle prepare a five course dinner for over 130 people on the East Lancashire railway.

At the East Lancashire Railway, the annual Race the Train event is underway – with athletes of all abilities taking on the 11-mile course from Bury to Rawtenstall. At the Welsh Highland Railway, we meet volunteer guard, Will Stratford.

At the South Devon Railway, Andy Leech and Liz Turner host afternoon tea for 44 passengers. In East Lancashire, volunteer Chandra Law takes on the new role of Stationmaster.

Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway are celebrating their annual Victorian Weekend, while in south Devon, silver service waiter Andy Leech runs the three-course Sunday lunch.