River View Studio,  Northwich, Cheshire.

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'The Baggin Man'

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Written by John Hulme, retired chairman of JPD Group Ltd. and illustrated by me, this 32 page book ‘ The Baggin Man takes the train’ tells the story of the JPD Cheshire Best Kept Station Competition, which over the last four years has provided much impetus for the changing face of Cheshire Railway Stations.

I was delighted to be commissioned by John to produce the watercolours. He and I visited all the locations he wanted me to illustrate. John’s enthusiasm for what he does is very infectious and soon I was looking at stations and locomotives with greater attention to historical detail than ever before. Set in some of the loveliest parts of Cheshire they make great subjects for an artist. What made the paintings so very different were the stories about each and every one of them and the personalities I had to include; some more well known than others.

I could not have painted these watercolours without the loving support and expertise of my husband John Tackley. ( Would you believe it; we are newly weds having only married in May 2005!!) Although for much of his life he specialised in handling and lifting equipment, originally he was a time served engineering apprentice at Crewe. His knowledge of locos guided me throughout and gave me the confidence I needed to portray some of the locos as accurately as possible. Woe betide me if a particular engine didn’t run in a certain year on the Mid Cheshire Line.

John has been wonderfully generous in his attitude to this book as he is nearing completion of a children’s book about canals which I have been illustrating. We put this to one side to concentrate on ‘The Baggin Man Takes The Train’ but soon I hope to be bringing you news of this new book and showing you some of the illustrations I have done for that.

As John, (the Baggin Man) lives quite close to River View Studio the three of us were able to meet frequently to discuss certain aspects of the book The Baggin Man’s partner Joan has been very long suffering throughout the production of this book and deserves our thanks for her patience and fortitude.

When you look at the book you will see the results of our combined inspiration and many hours of work. I hope you enjoy looking at the paintings as much as I have enjoyed painting them and being involved with the book from start to finish.

To quote a recent press release:-

‘A Stanier Black Five Steam Engine and a thousand passengers on the Mid-Cheshire Rail Day joined Cheshire Tourism bosses last Sunday for the book launch of The Baggin Man takes the train.

This superb 32 page full colour book takes a whistle stop tour of the Cheshire Stations that have made the grade in the Best Kept Station Competition, reminding it’s readers of what the county has to offer its tourists.

Speaking at the launch, John said “To be able to launch my latest book next to a steam engine on a busy railway station with such an enthusiastic audience is Cheshire’s answer to JKRowling. But this book is no fairy tale. It is an open invitation to potter around Cheshire’s towns and countryside by train. It is also a thank you to all those volunteer groups who make our Competion such a success”

Mike Cooksley, Chair of Visit Chester and Cheshire said “This is yet another success story coming out of Cheshire and it is a pleasure to travel up through the Cheshire countryside by steam train to launch this book. As the train galloped up from Altrincham to Chester via Knutsford, Northwich and Delamere Forest, there were hundreds on the trackside waving the train on. It was truly amazing”

Chris Brown, Chief Executive of Visit Chester and Cheshire who joined the train at Delamere with Vale Royal Tourism Manager Andrea Peattie, commented “A trip on the Mid-Cheshire Line through our beautiful countryside is one I must recommend. To see so many people enjoying themselves gsave us both immense pleasure”

Also on the train were three Mayors, the High Sheriff of Cheshire and directors and managers of Northern Rail. The Steam Day is now an annual event run by the Mid-Cheshire Community Rail Partnership.

The Baggin Man takes the Train is published by Vale Royal Council and will shortly be available free of charge at local tourist information centres. Copies can also be requested from www.cheshirerail.org’ .

See the 'Baggin Man' Prints.