When I went to meet Richard Branson at his clothing factory in some derelict buildings near Whitechapel he greeted me with enthusiasm.

“I loved railways from when I was very young” he said. “I used to go to Euston and Kings Cross and stand at the end of the platforms and write down all the Engine No’s that I saw. They were all steam locomotives in those days. I had this great vision that there should be a steam locomotive in every village and hamlet in the country. Then everybody could go to their local station and write down some numbers.

“Nowadays of course they are all diesels or electrical multiple units. Diesels are all right because they have numbers just like steam engines, but the electric things and some diesel multiple units are simply a string of carriages with engines or motors hidden within and spoil most of the fun. So most young people now trespass on railway property with spray cans instead.

“My idea of a better railway system would be to reintroduce steam locomotives throughout the system. I know a few weird environmentalists will make silly noises but many more people would come to see the locomotives. They may not actually be able to travel on them because we haven’t any safe track but it would be a better day out than visiting Worcester Castle, don’t you think”?