Thorne Memorial Park Miniature Railway, Thorne, Nr Doncaster
From the achieves of the late Walter Ashton


The late Walter Ashton.
Walter was born on the 28th November 1904 at Burton on Trent. His parents Susan and John Ashton moved to Doncaster a few years later. Walter received an education at the local Hyde Park School.
His hobbies included photography, making model aircraft and trains. He was also interested in science and building radio sets.
An ambition to work on the railways was realised ion the 2 July 1923 having worked at Peglars for one year where he met Doris Whitman who he was to marry in 1927.
Fortunately Walter kept many diaries and huge collection of photographs which  some have been used to illustrate a slide show "From My Father's Diary's 1922--1975"


A drawing from an autograph book  of my late mothers Doris in 1925

Walter at the his parents house in Doncaster 1921

Walt at the Crich Tramway Museum sadly the last photograph to be taken of him in 1979

First day at the Carr Locomotive  Depot in Doncaster (36A)

From the Achieves of the Late Walter Ashton.

The modified railwayman's notebooks  as issued to the staff in the 1960's used  by my father to write and list the locomotives etc.

Right: Class B3 4-6-0 6168 "Lord Stuart of Wortley" leaving King's Cross on its journey to Leeds on the Yorkshire Pullman in 1925

From the archive collection of the late Walter Ashton

Venturing into one of my late Father's books one of many he wrote about railways and other subjects I have included a copy of one of the pages and a couple of loose photographs.  Above left is the front cover and to the right one of the pages I have opened.   

Above left a in 1927 Gresley Class P1 No 2393 2-8-2 approaching Potter's Bar with a 100-wagon coal train to the right is a Gresley Class O2 three-cylinder 2-8-0 approaching Greenwood box in 1924 working a mixed goods train.   

Henry Oakley 990 at Kings Cross with 251 for the "Plant Centenarian" 20 Sep 1953.  Late W J Ashton collection

From the Diaries and Photographic Collection 1922--1975