Richard Dunn

The following memories come from Richard Dunn. Richard was Train spotter who became a basher then a Second man and eventually a Driver based at York, Plymouth, Westbury, Narngulu (W.A) and now Jilalan Queensland Australia. If there is a train then there is a trip worth taking wherever you are in the world!

Earliest Memory

First time ever on a train was from Whyteleafe to London Bridge, we had walked to the station from RAF Kenley on our way to the Oval to see a cricket match c1972

Moving with the RAF

Relocation from RAF Kenley to RAF Cranwell on 24th December 1973 saw me, my Mum and brother undertaker a monumental journey, my Dad had already moved which was not unusual due to waiting a quarter (House) to become available. The winter of discontent was not a great time to travel. A several mile walk to find a bus to get to London and across London to Kings Cross took several hours and would test the patience of a Saint. Kings Cross was chaos but a station porter and a tip could solve anything in them days, he even removed seat reservations to get us a seat in a compartment! Piecing the jigsaw together suggests we got the 1605 Kings Cross to York service as it’s about the right time and stopping at Grantham. My Dad by then a sergeant in the RAF had arranged to finish early (not something you would often get away with but circumstances probably made his boss see the sense) The train loco fascinated me as no doubt the first time I had ever seen one! (Odds are it was a class 47 or 55 but I would not of known the difference, just it was big and impressive!) The journey to Grantham and onto a new life was a great experience!

September 1976 saw us move to Gloucester then Mid August 1977 saw yet another move of home this time to RAF Saint Athens in the Vale of Glamorgan. Simon moved there 2 weeks before us and lived over the road so naturally being the same age we soon teamed up. A few days playing football and exploring the camp led to Simon asking if we fancied going on a bike ride one evening to the disused station in the village a few miles from the RAF quarters. So without parental permission we set off after tea on 28/08/77 to explore the old station. It had a couple of buildings and the remnants of the old down platform. We had been there about an hour and had just about had enough of an adventure when from out of the fading light 47185 on an empty mgr from Abberthaw power station came racing through... what a thrill that was and very impressive but just to make it even more enjoyable several minutes later 47136 on a loaded mgr for Abberthaw power station came thundering through! We had to go home at that point as we were already late home but I was hooked on railways for life!