TRACKS OF MY YEARS!

Surprise garden dedication marks Mike's half-century on the railways

- PAIGE OLDFIELD

A TRAIN driver believed to be the oldest in Greater Manchester has shared his experience of spending 50 years on the railways.

Mike Hughes, known as 'Sparky, first joined British Rail back in October 1974 when he started working at Bolton station at the age of 25.

He moved on to Manchester Victoria five years later where he became a 'shunter' and was responsible for moving trains around the station. He later joined the team at Cheetham Hill and remained for the following nine years.

Mike, from Urmston, was then transferred to Red Bank Sidings - now a residential development called Victoria North in 1989 as a driver and then as the 'chargeman! The role saw him oversee all train movements on that site.

He then moved to Newton Heath station in 2003 as Northern's TrainCare Centre driver and has remained in the same position to this day - meaning the 75-year-old could well be the oldest train driver in Greater Manchester.