Date: 13/04/2013

THE last train driver in Scotland to have started his career in the steam age has stepped down from his cab for the final time after 46 years and hundreds of thousands of miles. Joe Porter only joined the railways because he could not find another job. He planned to stick it for six months, but stayed a lifetime. Joining as a locomotive cleaner in 1967, he worked as a fireman on steam engines before driving diesel and electric trains, from the Glasgow-London Royal Scot to Royal Mail trains immortalised by the 1936 film Night Mail. Mr Porter drove his last train on Wednesday when he arrived at Glasgow Central station one minute early with the 8:30am from London Euston, which he had driven from Preston. [From David Scott]

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Last Scottish railman from the steam age retires

Scotsman

THE last train driver in Scotland to have started his career in the steam age has stepped down from his cab for the final time – after 46 years and hundreds of thousands of miles.

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