WHEN I was 11, my journey to school in Cockett, The Secondary Technical School for Girls, involved quite a long trek.

I lived in West Cross, and the first part of the journey involved catching the Mumbles Train from West Cross to the terminus at Rutland Street.

What better way could there have been to start the day. That wonderful train used to rock and roll along the beautiful sea front, sometimes the sea was in, the waves breaking on the beach,and the gulls bobbing along on top of the waves.

Other times the tide would be so far out you could hardly see it. Some days our train would be going under the bridge at Blackpill while a steam train would be going over the top of the bridge.

I remember the funny seats, the backs of which could be moved to and fro depending which way you wanted to face. What a wonderful tourist attraction that amazing train journey would be nowadays.

Next to this story is a photo of a painting I did a few years back of the Mumbles Train. Wonderful memories indeed.

Diane Lewis.