RAIL STORIES PAY OFF
Posted on 09 October 2009 by Railways Africa Editor
Thomas the Tank Engine and the Fat Controller have competition. Michael Moore, 62, a former teacher who is a volunteer on the East Lancashire Railway (ELR), has written four stories about a “Jinty” class engine called Jimmy and its adventures on the line, which runs from Heywood to Rawtenstall via Bury and Ramsbottom. Thomas the Tank Engine used to visit the ELR regularly on family fun days. But this arrangement fell away for the first time in 20 years at Easter 2009, when the company holding the copyright declined to issue the necessary licence.
“Jimmy has been a real hit,” Moore explains. “We came up with the idea for the first book when my wife could not find any stories other than Thomas the Tank Engine to read to children at the family fun day.” More than 200 copies of his book, “Let’s meet Jimmy”, were sold in just over a month.
“Everyone said the first story was so good that I should write more. I’m planning about 15 to 20 books. We still sell some Thomas merchandise at our stations on the East Lancs Railway, but eventually Jimmy will take over.”
More than 400 Jintys were built between 1924 and 1930 to a design by Henry Fowler, who based it on the Midland class 2441 locomotive. Ten survive today.
Related posts:
- TALL STATION FOR DUBLIN
- HITACHI RAIL PLANT FOR UK
- TATTOO TO PROMOTE RAIL
- CAR ABANDONED ON TRACKS: DRIVER JAILED
- DARJEELING-HIMALAYA PROBLEMS
- RAIL NETWORK FOR OMAN
