Hidden ‘oasis’ of historical interest you ‘might not know’ exists in the city

Inside a hidden ‘oasis’ lies a historic attraction some ‘may not realize’ exists in the city.

South Liverpool’s Calderstones Park – and the Mansion House set within the site – is steeped in history. But hidden in the park you will also find another attraction that has been operating and serving the community for generations.

Merseyside Live Steam and Model Engineers started 80 years ago and run the park railway site. But the group – and the space it transformed – is much more than that.

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As part of the Liverpool ECHO’s How It Used To Be series, we spoke to chairman Ian Coules, 61, about the group’s history and how they turned the space into an ‘oasis’. Ian, who lives in Wavertree, told the ECHO: “The club originally started as Mersey Steamers, which was set up to help train people coming back from the Second World War to re-enter engineering.

“It was established at the end of 1943. They started in various places in the city where they could have workshop space and then in 1952 they were given a site in Calderstones to run a railway and have basically been here ever since.

“They started in one place which was temporary until they found a better place, then they moved to the Harthill site. Originally in the constitution as it was during World War II and fast when it was finished, it was actually written. where women were not allowed in the club, only men, but that was removed.

“As time went on, women took on more engineering jobs and then they wanted to do more to encourage men to get back into engineering, which was the original thought. But then from there it became something that has always been a training ground for young people who are interested in engineering.”

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As the decades passed, the group evolved and became a familiar sight to those who live in the area as well as regular visitors to the park. Ian said: “Every Sunday we get families who say they bring my kids and now they bring their kids.

“The railway has always run for the public since the 1950s. As soon as they got a track, it was always the policy to run the trains on a Sunday, free of charge, for people to ride the trains. It was always there. to serve the community.

“People can ride the trains as long as they want and if they can afford to make a donation, they make a donation and that’s how we run the club.” Merseyside Live Steam and Model Engineers run the trains all year round and are not a profit making organisation, relying solely on donations and volunteers.

But in recent years, the club has faced challenges such as the impact of the pandemic and also had to rebuild following a fire. In May 2021, the ECHO reported how the devastating fire tore through the clubhouse of the popular children’s miniature train attraction.

Photos shared with the ECHO and taken after the fire showed the interior of the club, which was completely destroyed. At the time the club said they had recently suffered several fires and had “never been treated so badly before” and shortly afterwards Ian joined the group.

Ian said the team had worked hard to restore the site, creating a beautiful space for all to enjoy. He said membership has now doubled, taking in younger volunteers from nearby Calderstones School, clearing the grounds and planting beautiful new gardens, bringing in a new clubhouse and replacing three-quarters of the tracks to make something he hopes will be “lasts another 80 years”.

Ian said: “When I came I heard about the history, what it was set up for and thought it would be a real shame for this to close. I thought the potential here was huge.

“We have a few people piloting the gardens at the moment who have been concentrating on grading the area and planting and making the site look amazing. Now we have a site that is not just trains – because you have this whole garden. which was made and areas to sit.

“We’re trying to build a nice oasis, as we call it, where you can sit and watch the trains go by and the kids can enjoy it.” Ian said people are now discovering their part of the park for the first time.

Last weekend they also held a special Father’s Day event to celebrate their anniversary with ‘sit on’ train rides and, for the first time since Covid, a real miniature steam train, along with refreshments and games for the children. Ian said: “We are seriously proud of the whole situation.

“Last Sunday we were able to run live steam back on the live track. We actually had two small steam engines that belonged to club members.

“We were so proud because we thought we were going back to this, which is what we really wanted to be. People are proud of the fact that it is there.

“Every week we’ll have people come through here on a Sunday afternoon and say I’ve lived in Liverpool for 30 years, I’ve lived in Liverpool for 40 years, I never knew this was down here. It’s not just about the trains, it’s about the garden and looking after the people in the community.

“Most people don’t realize they exist in the city. If you don’t come to Calderstones Park, if you don’t get to the corners of these places, people don’t know they really exist.”

In the near future, the team hopes to bring in another container for a new workshop space to continue the restoration work. Now 80 years since it started, the group is keen to expand further as well as preserve its history after many photographs and documents were lost.

Ian said: “We would love to see new volunteers. We have a task force here on a Tuesday when things are more hands-on and hands-on.

“On Sunday we garden and run the trains, so if anyone is interested in that or really interested in the history of it. Unfortunately, when the fire happened three years ago, parts of the history – photos and everything were destroyed because they were in the lockers in the club room.

“All history has been burned, we have lost so much. There are a lot of older members who may still have photos or their fathers used to come here and may have information.

“If you have or know of any history about the club please let us know as we want to rebuild our archives. We are proud to continue it.”

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