Hidden 'oasis' with historic attraction you 'may not realise' exists in the city

Inside a hidden "oasis" lies an historic attraction some "may not realise" exists in the city.

Calderstones Park in South Liverpool - and the Mansion House nestled inside the site - is steeped in history. But tucked away in the park you will also find another attraction which has been running and serving the community for generations.

Merseyside Live Steam and Model Engineers began 80 years ago and runs the site on railway in the park. But the group - and the space it has transformed - is so much more than that.

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As part of the Liverpool ECHO's How It Used To Be series, we spoke to chair Ian Coules, 61, about the history of the group and how they've transformed the space into an "oasis." Ian, who lives in Wavertree, told the ECHO: "Originally, the club started off as Mersey Steamers which was set up with the view to help to train people coming back from the Second World War to get them back into in engineering.

"It was set up at the end of 1943. They started up in different places around the city where they could have workshop space and then in 1952 they were given a site in Calderstones to run a railway and basically have been here since.

"They started in one site which was temporary until a better site was found for them, then they moved to the Harthill site. Originally in the constitution, as it was during the Second World War and post when it was finishing, it was actually written in that women weren't allowed in the club, only men, but that got removed.

"As time went on, women took on more engineering jobs and then they wanted to make it more to encourage men back into engineering which was originally the thought of it. But then from there it has moved on to be something that has always been a training ground for youngsters who are interested in engineering."

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As the decades have passed, the group has evolved and become a familiar sight for those living around the area, as well as regular visitors to the park. Ian said: "Every Sunday, we'll get families coming who say I used to bring my children and now they're bringing their children.

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

"People can ride the trains as much as they like and if they can afford to give a donation, they give 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 organisation, relying solely on donations and volunteers.

But in more recent years, the club has faced challenges, such as the impacts of the pandemic and also had to rebuild following an arson attack. In May 2021, the ECHO reported how the devastating blaze ripped through the clubhouse of the popular children’s miniature railway ride attraction.

Photos shared with the ECHO and taken in the aftermath of the blaze showed the inside of the clubhouse which was completely gutted. At the time, the club said they had suffered recently from several fires and had "never been treated this badly before" and soon after, Ian joined the group.

Ian said the team have since worked hard to restore the site, creating a beautiful space for all to enjoy. He said membership has now doubled, they have taken in younger volunteers from the nearby Calderstones School, cleared the grounds and planted new beautiful gardens, brought in a new club room and replaced three quarters of the tracks to make it something that they hope will "last another 80 years."

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

"We've got a couple of people who are currently piloting the gardens who have been focusing on sorting the area out and planting and getting the site to look amazing. Now we have a site that's not just trains - because you have all this garden that's been done up 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 children 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 event on Father’s Day 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 kids. Ian said: "We are seriously proud of the whole situation.

"Last Sunday, we managed to run live steam back on the live track. We actually had two little steam engines steamed up which belonged to the club members.

"We were so proud because we thought, we're getting back to it, what we really wanted to be. People are taking pride in the fact it is there.

"Every week, we'll still get people walk 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 caring for people in the community.

"Most people don't realise it exists in the city. Unless you come to Calderstones Park, unless you come to the corners of these places, people don't know they actually exist."

In the near future, the team hope to bring in another container for a new workshop space to carry on restoration work. Now 80 years on from when it started, the group are keen to keep expanding, as well as preserve their history after much photos and documents were lost.

Ian said: "We would love to see new volunteers. We have a work group here on a Tuesday when things are more practical and hands on.

"Sunday we do gardening and run the trains, so if anyone is interested in that or even interested in the history of it. Unfortunately, when the fire happened three years ago, parts of the history - photographs and everything got destroyed because they were in the cabinets in the club room.

"All that history got burnt away, we lost so much. There are a lot of older members out there who may still have photographs or their fathers used to come here and they may have information.

"If you have or know any history about the club please let us know because we want to rebuild our archives up. We are proud that we are keeping it going."

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