Newly-discovered railway memoirist: W. Elgar Dickinson

[Calthrop]

Am rather unsure whether this post belongs properly in "Railway History & Nostalgia"; or "Modelling, Memorabilia & Publications": would request mods to move it if appropriate.

Have just come across a writer hitherto unknown to me, on memories of British steam in his lifetime – the above-mentioned W. Elgar Dickinson. Have from the library, his book, published 2007 A Friend In Steam. This gentleman was born in Leicester in 1936 (which birthdate gives him twelve years on me) – fascinated by railways and steam locos since infancy, he travelled indefatigably over the BR network in the last couple of decades of steam (not managing to get absolutely everywhere – he would seem to have missed out on East Anglia, and on large areas of Scotland). The book is illustrated by numerous photos taken by him on these travels; though he comes across not as one of those enthusiasts for whom the photographic side of the business becomes obsessive: he had / has a keen eye and ear for all aspects of the steam railway scene. He writes well; and I find the book heart-achingly nostalgic. (Greatly though Mr. D. loves the steam locomotive; he is aware of its shortcomings, and concurs that in any truly commercial role, ultimately it had to go.)

Applying to Google suggests that Mr. Dickinson is still with us, and going strong; and has published a couple more books of steam rail reminiscences, after the 2007-published one told of above. I’m wondering whether any other RailUKForums participants are acquainted with Mr. D.’s works; and can impart any info / opinions on his more recent books. It seems plain that Great Britain is essentially his area of operations; but it’s indicated in his A Friend In Steam, that he has spent more than a tiny amount of time abroad – and has never been one of those British enthusiasts who totally write off and ignore foreign railways. Am wondering whether his more recent works include any material on places further afield than GB.

Would be interested in thoughts from anyone who is aware of this interesting source of memories of steam days – as said, completely off my radar till a couple of days prior to this post.

 

[Welshman]

I've just bought it from Amazon for £0.01p [+ £2.80p postage]!

I'll let you know if I think it was money well-spent

 

[Calthrop]

I'll be interested to hear ! Have temporarily forsworn Amazon; but if the chap's other books could be got for a penny plus postage ...

 

[Welshman]

Well, my copy has arrived and it's a fascinating read.

As you say it is well-written, and gives an interesting insight into the whole culture of railways and those working in the industry in the 1950s-70s.

Something which would not be tolerated today is the attitude towards health and safety. For example, he describes an excursion by his school railway society to Swindon works, which set out in fine weather, but on arrival, found a fog had descended. But the visit was not cancelled. Rather their guide called for absolute silence in order to listen for any approaching engine before they crossed a running-line!

 

[Calthrop]

Very interesting stuff, that's for certain. So much on the rail scene and its interfacing with "the public" in the widest sense, was immensely more casual / less ridiculously nannyish (depending on one's point of view) as regards "Health and Safety" in decades past, as compared to the present day.

One thing about the book which became a bit irritating for me, is the way it comes across (to me anyway) that Mr. Dickinson -- though basically a benign-seeming chap -- seems pronouncedly to have "a good conceit" of himself. Recurring implied praise of himself for being an excellently diligent and well-conducted adolescent, and an all-round highly responsible, self-controlled, well-conducted, thoroughly contributing member of society -- with a bit of implication of "unlike you lazy, freeloading, undisciplined modern-day oiks who are reading my book". Had me wanting once or twice to shout at him, "Yes, OK, W. Elgar, we get it -- you're one of nature's noblemen -- now for heaven's sake give that guff a rest, and get back to the steam and railwaying !"

 

[Calthrop]

Another feature of this gent's book A Friend in Steam which I've belatedly realised: the lucky so-and-so visited the Isle of Wight in summer 1953: thus, just before closure of Newport -- Freshwater and Brading -- Bembridge, and with Newport -- Sandown having only a couple more years to go. These travels of his were done by bicycle (and as a lad at school, his finances were straitened); and his railwaying was "about" tracking down various classes of loco and individual locos, and photography, rather than collecting journeys on particular lines; but though he may well not have travellled on the shortly-to-close Wight lines, one reckons that he must have done some witnessing of them in action.

 

[Tony gostelow]

I am half way through Mr Ds fascinating book, a friend in steam, as a lad I lived on the lines between Fulham and Hammersmith, all electric apart from the steam locos that were brought in late at night when the power was off to repair the lines, so an interest was formed seeing these work horses do thier stuff, later on I was privileged to return from Hampshire to the London terminus aboard what is now the watercress line, while I admire Mr Ds tanacity In gettting by bike to some of the sheds, some trips as long as a Leg of the Tour de France stages, I would have liked an index so that I could visualise the locos he was talking of, rather than just a number, which gave me,as a complete novice, no idea of what he was trying to get over, other than that a great read.

 

[Calthrop]

I'm pleased that you're finding A Friend in Steam enjoyable. As mentioned in my OP: I'm still wondering whether the author's two succeeding books contain a worthwhile amount of material about steam outside Great Britain; or whether essentially, this gentleman's writings are about "British Railways, and nothing but" (I personally find foreign rail topics, even more interesting than British). In AFiS, Mr. Dickinson mentions that as part of his studies of the French language at university in the 1950s, he spent a year in France; makes brief "in the bygoing" mention of interesting rail scenes observed over there in that year -- so it seems that he was never one of those enthusiasts, commonly found in his generation, who rigidly held the view that "railways stop at Dover".

It has just occurred to me that I could write to Mr. Dickinson, care of his publishers, asking him this question. In AFiS he comes across as sociable and communicative almost to a fault -- I feel that I'd have a pretty good chance of getting a response from him. If his other two books can be got cheaply, I could just buy them anyway; but doubt whether I'm quite keen enough to bother with the business, should they turn out to be effectively BR-centric only.

 

[Calthrop]

Have written planned letter as above, and just got a nice reply. It turns out that Mr. Dickinson is, after all, to all intents and purposes a "BR only" man. Fair enough -- one has no difficulty in seeing how and why that is the case for very many enthusiasts.

Latest indications seem to be that his planned fourth book may now come to be, or may not.