MALCOLM ROOT was born in 1950 just in time to enjoy the last years of steam. Having been born and bred in north Essex he was always going to have a soft spot for the Great Eastern and especially the old Colne Valley Railway. On leaving school he joined the printing trade, and left to become a professional artist in 1981. During his childhood he played football on the fields adjoining the local railway. Sadly his playing days are over, and Saturday afternoons are spent watching Colchester United from the terraces. Today Malcolm's original paintings hang in many private and public collections, while also appearing on greetings cards, calendars, collectors' plates and jigsaw puzzles. TOM TYLER was born in South Devon just before the Second World War and within the sound of Great Western Railway expresses labouring up Dainton Bank from Totnes. Many childhood hours were spent on station platforms cadging visits to locomotive cabs, and hanging over bridges breathing smoke and steam in large quantities. The model railway with the Duchess of Atholl was the favourite toy. Now in second childhood, the model railway continues, and he takes a great interest in the many preserved railways around the country, and in railway-related jigsaw puzzles.