Steam's up for Sensible train fan

Captain Sensible describes himself as a "trainspotting punk"

He is famed as one of the original punks turned bespectacled hippy, with a fondness for outrageous outfits.

But fans of Captain Sensible of The Damned might be surprised to learn he has a more serious side, as a passionate steam train enthusiast.

A train fan for years, he has driven a steam loco for the first time on the Llangollen Railway in Denbighshire.

"I'm a bit of a trainspotting punk," said the singer and guitarist. "There's quite a few of us actually."

The star, whose real name is the entirely sensible Ray Burns, said: "I'm a real believer in public transport," as he boarded the train.

We were considered an evil menace 30 years ago, and now we're part of British culture Captain Sensible, aka Ray Burns

"It's the past and the future, especially with all the problems of global warming.

"I've got a bit of a downer on cars."

Railway officials agreed to let him drive out of Llangollen for a journey to Carrog and back.

He said a Class 47 diesel train had already been named after him on the Cotswold Railway, but Wednesday's trip was the first time he had taken the controls of a steam engine.

As he got into the driver's cabin, he said: "I'm a bit apprehensive, to be honest.

"It's like a giant kettle on wheels - and a lot of hot stuff comes out of kettles.

"I'm just going to shovel loads of coal and keep a low profile.

The Captain checks the coast is clear before departure

"I'm looking forward to the trip, it's absolutely beautiful here."

After making his name with The Damned, he enjoyed an unlikely Number One hit as a soloist in 1982 with "Happy Talk," a version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein show tune from the musical South Pacific.

But he is still performing with the punk pioneers, who released New Rose, the movement's first punk record in 1976.

Although the line-up has changed down the decades, they played the Llangollen fringe festival on Tuesday.

He added: "We were considered an evil menace 30 years ago, and now we're part of British culture.

"Things were pretty heavy in those days. But it's nice and calm here in Llangollen."