THESE days Spike Hodges steers the freight trains through the Channel Tunnel from the Kent coast to France.

He has always had a passion for that fire-eating golden age of steam. It is a love affair that has been rekindled by the nostalgic return of an Eastleigh-built locomotive legend.

The Merchant Navy 35005 Canadian Pacific has been helping to mark the 35th anniversary of the end of the steam era on the railways on the Southern Region.

Memories of rail travel in bygone days have been revived with a steam extravaganza service which has been running twice daily from Eastleigh to Salisbury and Yeovil.

Spike, aged 55, was at the controls of the Canadian Pacific as it pulled into Eastleigh. It was like a scene from that Sixties nostalgia TV sitcom Heartbeat as steam from the engine elegantly drifted along platform two.

For Spike, from Canterbury, it was a moment to cherish. For his career with the railways which spans 40 years began with steam.

"I now work on diesel and electric through the Channel Tunnel, but I have always loved steam trains which I worked on for four years in the early Sixties.

"I started with steam and now I am back with it," said Spike as he expertly pulled Canadian Pacific away from Eastleigh with all the enthusiasm of a schoolboy with a new toy.

"Steam travel is enjoying a real revival," said Marcus Robertson, managing director of Steam Dreams, the company masterminding the steam extravaganza.

The increase in popularity of steam trains has been mirrored by the decline in the number of qualified drivers. Most steam train drivers were trained before the demise of steam on the mainline in the late Sixties and they are now reaching retirement age.

That is why the week-long steam specials are being used to train would-be steam engine drivers.

"This has been a good refresher course," says Spike who is loving every moment of getting back on those steam tracks.