Tuesday Topic, with Christine Rutter

GRANDFATHER Jack Bennett has got a one-track mind.

For nearly four years, the 62-year-old has made it his one-man mission to create a monster model train in the back garden of his home.

The creation of the steam beast is a madcap feat in itself, made even more bizarre by Jack's conviction to "give it away".

The act of working four hours a day for almost four years, spending spare cash on scrap and hand-crafting every part from scratch, would leave most wondering how he could part with his hard-won prize.

Far from being unable to forsake his creations, he has freely given away most of his collection of hand-made model aircrafts and steam engines. "When model makers finish an engine or plane, they just build another one. They usually don't even take them out for a run. The making of them becomes a bit of an addiction," said the former works engineer for SCAPA in Bury.

The fun definitely seems to be in the making for Jack, of Burnley Road, Bacup, who confessed he struggles to put the brakes on his addiction.

"I am totally unable to control my urge to build. I'm a bit cranky like that. The only thing that will stop me starting a project, is if I think I will die before I finish it."

In an attempt to stem his addiction, Jack has sold his lathe so that he can no longer build model trains.

But he has already overcome the problem by building an aeroplane instead. In just two months the man has spawned a radio controlled Giant Piper aircraft with a 96-inch wingspan.

The genesis for his obsession was a boyhood fascination with models after being bought a Hornby train set by his parents.

This coupled with his lament for the passing of the steam age has produced a tireless mentality of toil on his miniatures.

"People are still fascinated by the steam age. Making the models is like recreating the past. We lost a lot of heritage and character on the tracks when steam finished. Every single steam engine was made differently. There wasn't two alike. They were like people."

At 15 years, Jack was building and flying his own model planes and had already created his first steam engine to power a model boat.

To date, he has made in the region of 50 model aeroplanes, most from his own designs, and 15 miniature steam engines.

"I know it sounds crazy but it's grand getting them to look like a miniature replica of the real thing. You get a real sense of achievement from the finished product."

His monster loco now nestles in the conservatory of his home, which Jack and his wife Pat, 51, built to "relax in and look at the views over the moors.'

Instead, the conservatory was turned into a make-shift workshop -- and instead of cane furniture, it houses a lathe and milling machine.

So how does his wife, after whom he plans to name the engine, tolerate his mania?

He claimed: "It isn't a problem for her. She just puts up with it because she knows it gives me pleasure. It does keep me out of mischief -- and keeps me out of the pub! "She would like the conservatory back but luckily we live in a big house.

His latest model is a quarter scale of a 22 foot Welsh slate quarry engine. It cost just £400 to make but is worth around £8,000.

The 5ft 6in engine -- made of brass, iron and steel -- boasts 10 horse power and can pull 22 people.

Jack, who has fired the engine twice on a 15 foot rail track in his garden, said: "It is very, very powerful and will knock you over if you get in its path. "

But there was no steaming off into the sunset for Jack whose plans hit the buffers when he realised the sheer weight and size of the giant loco would make it impossible to get it over his eight foot garden wall and on to the exhibition field.

"It was just build, build, build, then one day I realised I wouldn't be able to get it out of the house. I need a crane to move it now."

Jack is hoping to either exhibit his engine on model train club tracks or give it to a preservation society.

The former member of Rossendale Model Engineering Society, who has three children and one grandchild, said: "I won't build anything of that size again. It was hard work making most parts by hand. It took it out of me but it won't stop me building smaller models."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.