Ian Allan has died

[Geoff Nicholls]

IAN Allan, the man to whom many of us owe our interest in trainspotting died on June 28. He died the day before his 93rd birthday.

[IanT]

In my 'commuting' years, I've missed one or two trains home by wandering around the back of Waterloo Station to his bookshop there. A publishing pioneer.

IanT

[blagdon]

For several years before my eyesight failure, I was a signalman at Ian's Great Cockcrow Railway. He was a regular driver there,; he was very easy going and a very likable person. I too find it all too easy to get drawn to the IA bookshop near Waterloo.

Incidentally, June 28th was Mrs Pirates Birthday - we went Pullman class from Porthmadog to Caernarfon and back on the Welsh Highland behind their Beyer-Peacock built Garratt.

Even less Forum related: the following morning (June 29th) TeamPIRATE became Grandparents!

Ian the Gauge '3' Pirate

[IanT]

Congratulations Ian!

We now look after our 14-month old one day a week and I think I may have discovered the secret of perpetual motion! I find that being dragged around the climbing equipment at 'Tumble Tots' is great fun (for him) but rather like OAP circuit training (for me)!

We report for duty about 8.00am and normally get relieved about 6.00pm. This week (due to train delays) the cavalry didn't arrive back until 8.00pm and by the time we finally left for home it was nearly 10.00pm. I wasn't expecting to be working 14-hour days in retirement and I can tell you that it absolutely exhausting - but equally very rewarding...   

Regards,

IanT  (still convalescing)