From
thisisgloucestershire:
Remarkable Roy Tombs knows a thing or two about staying on the right tracks.
When he first pitched up for work at Gloucester Railway Station at the age of 15, Harold Macmillan was prime minister and England were yet to lift the football World Cup.
The 65-year-old, from Cheltenham, celebrated half a century of manning trains across the West Country at a surprise retirement bash organised by colleagues.
Fellow railway workers joined him at the Bruton Way station in raising a glass to salute the milestone.
And they agreed his length of service meant he should be held in the highest esteem.
Mr Tombs, a father of two, said: "It was a lovely surprise. I wasn't expecting it at all.
"I can't believe it's been 50 years really. It feels just like yesterday I turned up to work as a cleaner on the old steam trains. We enjoyed having a pint or two and talking about old times.
"I'm quite looking forward to retirement and I certainly won't miss the early mornings."
Mr Tombs first joined British Rail as a steam train cleaner in 1962, straight after leaving school.
He worked his way up from the bottom, rising to the position of driver's 'second man' before taking his driving exams in 1980.
Since then he has been dedicated to transporting customers safely across the region, getting up every day at 5.30am to get to work before busy commuters.
He worked firstly for British Rail, then South Wales and West Trains, Wessex Trains and latterly First Great Western. And amidst much change in the rail industry, he has been a reassuringly constant presence.
"I have seen an awful lot of change during my career," he said.
"Probably the biggest one was the dieselisation of British trains which had a huge impact on improving times and efficiency.
"When Margaret Thatcher privatised British Rail in 1993, wages went up which was a good thing for drivers like me.
"What we've got now is a modern service which is far better than anything we had when I first started.
"I'd like to think we have a service to be proud of. People complain about trains in Britain but travelling by rail is a wonderful way to see the countryside.
"I've had a marvellous time working here and have met some lovely people along the way."
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