CLOUDS of steam and the smell of engine oil brought historic railway life into the 21st century this week.

Visitors to Didcot Railway Centre’s Steam Day last Wednesday got to clamber on and off trains, explore an engine shed and learn all about the industry’s history.

Retired delivery driver Nick Ashby came from Ruislip to get a taste of what the centre had to offer.

The 75-year-old said: “It was interesting to see the old trains and they did one-stop train rides.

“In the end at least eight to 10 trains were there and there were a lot of train fanatics.

“I think there was a fair proportion of parents and grandparents taking their children round. There were some of the big mainline trains and the industrial trains too.”

Mr Ashby said some of the trains dated back the 1920s.

The centre’s Steam Days features locomotives, coaches and wagons being demonstrated.

The centre is hosting two more Steam Days today and tomorrow, with events continuing almost every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday for the rest of the school holidays.

See didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk