Are there many railway enthusiasts that have never been on a steam hauled train?

[778]

Are there any forum members that have not been on a steam hauled train of any kind? I know a lot of people on this forum have no interest in steam at all, but have any of you not been on any train hauled by a steam locomotive, not even a miniature ride on one as a kid? I would expect that some younger enthusiasts have never been on a steam hauled train, but would be surprised if a railway enthusiast aged over 40 has never been on one.

 

[greenline712]

I'm 67, and I have no memory of [real] steam before it finished (I lived close to the Midland Main Line in North London).
All my steam train memories are from preserved locos and lines.
Heresy maybe, but steam doesn't really 'draw' me .... now, a first-generation DMU, with the "steering wheel" in the cab .... that's more like it!!

I suspect there might be many rail enthusiasts like me ....

 

[31160]

I'm 67, and I have no memory of [real] steam before it finished (I lived close to the Midland Main Line in North London).
All my steam train memories are from preserved locos and lines.
Heresy maybe, but steam doesn't really 'draw' me .... now, a first-generation DMU, with the "steering wheel" in the cab .... that's more like it!!

I suspect there might be many rail enthusiasts like me ....

Yes I fully agree, I live in Somerset near where the mainline connects with the WSR and that receives a lot of steam hauled tours which I could see if I looked out the window, but I don't because it doesn't interest me in the slightest, however if a diesel hauled tour is about I'm either on it or out to photograph it

 

[Mat17]

I'm 67, and I have no memory of [real] steam before it finished (I lived close to the Midland Main Line in North London).
All my steam train memories are from preserved locos and lines.
Heresy maybe, but steam doesn't really 'draw' me .... now, a first-generation DMU, with the "steering wheel" in the cab .... that's more like it!!

I suspect there might be many rail enthusiasts like me ....

Exactly where I'm at.

I'd take a first gen DMU over a steam engine any day.

I have been on steam hauled trains in preservation of course. They're certainly interesting, but I have no nostalgia for them.

 

[43066]

I'm 67, and I have no memory of [real] steam before it finished (I lived close to the Midland Main Line in North London).
All my steam train memories are from preserved locos and lines.
Heresy maybe, but steam doesn't really 'draw' me .... now, a first-generation DMU, with the "steering wheel" in the cab .... that's more like it!!

I suspect there might be many rail enthusiasts like me ....

Absolutely.

Although I think perhaps the OP is more asking whether anyone has specifically chosen never to travel on a steam hauled train, even in preservation settings.

 

[DarloRich]

though I think perhaps the OP is more asking whether anyone has specifically chosen never to travel on a steam hauled train, even in preservation settings.

This board being what It is it wouldn't surprise me to find some such people here!

That said I am sure most people have been on a seam train ride on a preserved line

 

[8ace]

I don't have a particular nostalgia for them as before my time although my Uncle/Dad like them and have no passion for diesels. I do enjoy them from an engineering perspective as I have a fascination for lots of mechanical things (not so much cars though). I also enjoy other stuff on heritage railways such as the coaching stock and the signalling operations.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I don't have a particular nostalgia for them as before my time although my Uncle/Dad like them and have no passion for diesels. I do enjoy them from an engineering perspective as I have a fascination for lots of mechanical things (not so much cars though). I also enjoy other stuff on heritage railways such as the coaching stock and the signalling operations.

I'm fascinated by old machines in general, and in the effort it takes to keep them working... But I too am not particularly enthusiastic about riding behind steam locomotives. If there's a charter passing near home I'm more keen on seeing and photographing it than I am riding it...

However, anything from a Deltic to a Pacer to a Routemaster to a 1980 Rover SD1 and I'm all over it!

 

[Vespa]

Never ridden behind steam on mainline or railtours for that matter as it's a bit too pricey for me.

I've ridden on them on preserved lines, I appreciate the technology behind them but I'm not a big fan of kettles per se I preferred diesel, they saved the railways as one diesel loco will do the job of three steam cutting out the time prep to steam and waiting for it to cool before raking out the ashes, with diesel you pressed the start button, in a few seconds the engine is running.


I get the romance of steam especially the modern looking streamlined loco, long may it continue.

 

[Statto]

Me, i'm 50 & have never been on a steam hauled service, & they were long gone from the main line by the time i started to take an interest in public transport.

Steam doesn't really draw me in, an HST class 43 set does though, that was the train of my youth, the sound from the engine when the HST departing sounded like a jet plane taking off.

 

[sh24]

I have been on steam hauled trains in preservation of course. They're certainly interesting, but I have no nostalgia for them.

My feelings too. They are interesting but I have no connection with kettles whatsoever (other than as a source of hot water for coffee ).

I went to the K&WVR last year and a thorough enjoyable afternoon with a Class 20. Didn't bother with the steaming device.

 

[mrcheek]

I should imagine there are a few.

Im 50 years of age, have loved train travel all of my life, but the only steam journey I ever made was Paignton to Dartmouth and back, when I was about 4 or 5 years old.

Since then I have travelled over probably 95% or more of the UK rail network. But never using steam

 

[Ghostbus]

I've never been on one on the proper railway.

As much as I tell myself I should, since I certainly do have the interest (I know a Castle from a Black Five, and I'd have sold my grandmother to ride behind Tornado at the intended line speed for an A1), but something always stops me.

The cost? Easy to say, but I genuinely couldn't tell you what the cheapest steam railtour even is. And I've certainly spent silly money on my hobbies in the past.

The perception it's for proper enthusiasts? Rivet counters bore me. But I bore muggles.

The fact I would have to go alone? Because somehow it would be worse if I guilt tripped a friend or loved one into doing something they're probably not interested in, just to humour me. People who quite happily come to a heritage railway.

The fact it's not for enthusiasts at all maybe? Peering in the windows of a steam tour this Summer that happened to have stopped in my station, didn't exactly reveal an array of anoraks and flasks. Lots of extremely well dressed pensioners enjoying very fancy food. Probably had no clue what their locomotive even was (44871). Having a bloody good time though.

I'm perhaps a curious market, falling between two stools, served by nobody perhaps. I want to take a steam tour both because I like (and know a sad amount about) steam, but I also like the idea of being wined and dined and seeing the destination as much as enjoying the traction. I've got the time and the money, but I'm not a retiree.

 

[LYradial]

i am a lifelong railway enthusiast and had many journeys during the age of stea, but my interest is not in travelling in a non too clean coach, regardless of what is pulling it.

I’m an engineer and my interest is in the mechanics of the motive power, be it railway, big waterwheel, mill engine or the huge turbines and generators in a power station, luckily I had a power station as a customer.

 

[zero]

I'm under 40. I have been on a steam train, only because it was going to the place I wanted to go at the time I wanted to go. If a diesel locomotive had turned up it would have made no difference to me.

I am mildly interested in looking at steam engines in operation, but when I am on the train I don't care what is pulling it.