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MTA

Might as well do the status quo...

My name is Simon King (not the famous wildlife photographer!) and I was born at Guildford Hospital at 11pm on the 17th April 1991. You could tell I was lazy as I was born two weeks late! We (dad, mum and I) lived in a house high up above Haslemere in Surrey for roughly two years, before moving to the next village outside of Haslemere, which is Grayswood. My sister was then born on the 10th October 1994 (or was it 1993!), and there's been sibling rivalry ever since

We didn't stay at Grayswood very long. We then moved to Uckfield in East Sussex when I was six, and had great times there. Then came yet another move! In 2000, we moved to Yapton in West Sussex, just outside of Chichester. We still live here and this has to be the best place we have lived in so far. That is as far as I'm concerned!

My interest in railways started basically as soon as I was born. A certain christening present was a plush Thomas the Tank Engine toy, which I held very dear and it would never be out of my site! When we were living in Grayswood, we visited the Rural Life Centre once and I travelled on the Old Kiln Light Railway with the family. I visit the museum at least once a year now during the Toy Steam Rally, so it has a special place in my heart. I had no involvement with railways up until we moved to Uckfield. My dad, his friend and I travelled to Somerset to a pub to see a dining carriage that was in the back garden. Turns out it was a very well modified MK1 carriage! My dad's friend turned out to be a signalman on the Bluebell Railway, and he told me of the 9F Club. This is a club of young kids from 9 to 16 who help out on the Bluebell Railway and it is sort of an introduction to the big railway... I joined this and during my time there we moved to Yapton. After a while, it got a bit tedious toing and froing there. I eventually left and have made no vows to go back. Then came the 'big break' so to speak. My dad and I kept visiting a miniature railway at a garden centre in Pulborough, sadly it was always closed. I then found the railways website and contacted the Honorary Secretary Chris English. I was then invited down and became a member in December 2002. On my second visit, I was allowed to drive LMS Mogul No. 13245 back to the shed. Since then, I have learnt to fire, drive and maintain steam engines and have recently passed out as a rostered driver!! I am also a rostered guard, stationmaster and signalman on the railway, which is known as the South Downs Light Railway (www.sdlrs.com). I'm also noted as the person who makes the best cup of tea

. A new member joined midway through who was then the Honorary Secretary of the Chichester and District Society of Model Engineers. I joined that society as well and I am still there, normally on the Garden Railway section. Later on, in 2005, I enquired about joining the RailGroup of the Amberley Working Museum (www.amberleymuseum.co.uk). I was cordially invited along on the 31st December 2005 and was shown around. Since then, I have gained a great amount of friends there and have also joined the Bus Group and the Road Steam group! I am also soon to become a catering assistant in the Limeburners Restaurant. As well as this, I have started on a long term cosmetic restoration project (see 'My biggest task yet' in the Off Topic board) which is helping me understand the workings of an engine. For some strange reason I seem to be called upon for my knowledge of railways every now and again

My interest in toy steam started with one particular science lesson in 2004... We were learning about the various methods of the generation of electricity. One was using a steam engine to power a light bulb. A Mamod SP4 was brought out and tried to power the light bulb and failed! I then searched the internet about Mamods, and under the tree that christmas was a TE1A. Since then my collection has grown steadily including a Bowman M158 which is still under restoration. Soon afterwards, I found the old Mamod forum via Google and joined under the name "Model Traction Association" as I had set up a society to promote toy steam engines etc.. I did just the one issue of the society magazine, the 2nd is still on my PC and will be sent out some time... The MTA then closed down as it was too much for myself to run in all honesty, and I do not see a need for the society to return as this forum seems to have taken its place. Luckily for all of us, James set this forum up and I became the 2nd member of the forum as I joined up soon after he had set it up. If I recall correctly this was meant to be a Wilesco forum

I'm now in my last year of secondary school, and I have only two more weeks left there (starts dancing around the room). I am then going on to Northbrook College in Worthing to do a Mechanical Engineering course, then who knows from then...

I think that'll do for now!

Si
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Si

Chris Mann, 2008:

Wales - Where men are men and sheep are scared

Wallace · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:06 am Post subject:

Nice detail in that one MTA

Great to read

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Graham-Jilly · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:33 am Post subject:

A great MTA and thanks for sharing your life experiences
G-J
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http://www.freewebs.com/aclr

Chris · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:44 pm Post subject:

Simon King is my hero - but I do mean the wildlife photographer...not our own MTA

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Chris
http://www.chrisfisher-photography.co.uk

Mamodman123 · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:47 pm Post subject:

I know a Simon King well not personally but he's a DJ

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Solid Fuel tablets explode

You could get a nice flatbase for that

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mc_mc · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:01 pm Post subject:

Well written there. I'm surprised you have any free time to hang around here!

MTA · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:04 pm Post subject:

SillyBilly · Guest

Hey fellow railway enthusiast, a very detailed introducution!

IndianaRog · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:57 pm Post subject:

Simon, a pleasure to get to "know" you better....this belated intro idea is really rolling....I think your's is the fourth I have read this morning!!!

You sound too busy to be a 16 year old...best of luck with your Engineering pursuits (the college ones, not rail)

Then again, sounds like you are managing both!!!

cheers,
roger
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steamyjim · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:21 pm Post subject:

I also no a Simon King he lives in my village

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Land Of Hope and Glory,
Mother of the free,
How shall we extol thee?
Who are born of thee?

MTA · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:42 pm Post subject:

All these Simon King's, must be a popular name

Although none probably have a weird middle name like mine which is not to be repeated (starts to laugh evily). I am a very busy person at the moment Roger with GCSE exams, although after the next two weeks I shall be free from secondary school forever! WAYHAY! As soon as my last exam is over, I'm straight off to Amberley with my tent and staying there for the weekend to be steersman on a steam roller. How very typical of me to celebrate in such a manner

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Si

Chris Mann, 2008:

Wales - Where men are men and sheep are scared

IndianaRog · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 3:38 pm Post subject:

Best of luck with your exams Simon...bet you are really looking forward to your upcoming weekend at Amberly...that seems like a magical place, especially if you get to work the engines etc.

cheers,
Roger
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Visit IndianaRog and The Temple of Steam: www.indianarog.com