TRAIN fans enjoyed Didcot Railway Centre’s first full steam weekend of 2014.

Despite the rain, passengers flocked along on Saturday. Peter Bristow, 76, from Berkhamstead, guided a 75-year-old Pannier 3650 steam engine up and down the centre’s track. Mr Bristow has driven the engines at Didcot for more than 30 years and has worked with steam engines for 45 years.

He said: “Steam trains are like living things, because they have a belly full of steam.

“We always refer to them as ladies because they do have such character. The trains can have good days and bad days – they are like living things.”

Mr Bristow added he was pleased with the number of visitors who defied the rain showers to attend.

He said: “We had a good number of people coming in and the steam day went very well but we had a lot of rain at midday.”

The next steam day is tomorrow from 10.30am to 3.30pm. The railway centre is also hosting Days out with Thomas on March 1 and 2.

See didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk