A RAILWAY worker has followed his dream and bought his own steam engine.

For the past 21 years, Paul Middleton, known as Piglet to his colleagues, has worked at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR).

During this time Paul, NYMR’s traction and rolling stock manager, has developed a passion for steam engines, one which has driven him and his family to recently purchasing their own locomotive, Lucie - one of the smallest in Britain.

Having worked in the rail industry for 20 years, Paul will be using his extensive knowledge to undertake some restoration work on Lucie, along with his co-owner and brother, Daniel, an NYMR employee of nine years.

Together, along with the help of NYMR volunteers, they hope to have Lucie back to her best within two years.

Lucie was previously at the Middleton Railway, where Paul, at the time, was looking at another locomotive when he came across her. He began having a joke with the team there about how he would love to buy her and received a phone call a month later to say she was his.

Paul said: “It is a true pleasure to work on these magnificent machines and when the chance came along to own my own engine, along with my parents and brother, it was an opportunity too good to miss. Also, when I found out Lucie was at the Middleton Railway I thought it was fate - from one Middleton to another.

“I enjoy working at the railway and love seeing children’s faces when an impressive locomotive pulls in to the station. Hopefully in a couple of years little ones will take a liking to Lucie, as she’s definitely going to stand out among the other locomotives.”

For more information about NYMR, visit www.nymr.co.uk