Rowland Emett's first cartoons appeared in "Punch" in 1939 and his spindly locomotives, Nellie foremost amongst them, puffed into view shortly after. In 1951 the invitation to turn the drawings into an operating railway for the Festival of Britain resulted in a magical creation and a fundamental change of direction; Rowland Emett from then on increasingly being known for his animated machines, or "Things" as they should properly be called.

The Far Tottering and Oystercreek Railway could be argued to be the most successful in the world, as it paid off all its initial costs in under three weeks! The locomotives were 15 inch gauge diesel-electric engines (from war-surplus searchlight generators), built by Harry Barlow of Stockport. For further information and sources please feel free to contact me, Chris Brown, at ChrisBrownofCabra@googlemail.com (new address)