Rail Worker Hangs Up Hat After 50 Years

A RAIL worker from Ely who has spent the last 50 years manning the city s platforms has finally hung up his hat. Anthony Payton, 67, has spent all but three months of the last five decades helping to ensure the trains run smoothly through Ely Station but

A RAIL worker from Ely who has spent the last 50 years manning the city's platforms has finally hung up his hat.

Anthony Payton, 67, has spent all but three months of the last five decades helping to ensure the trains run smoothly through Ely Station but at a special presentation ceremony held on Friday the train worker watched his last train leave the platform.

Mr Payton who started work at Littleport Station back in 1959, remembers fondly when steam trains ran regularly through the city and when more than 100 staff used to help keep things moving on time.

"I always liked trains as a youngster and so when I landed the job at Littleport it was a dream come true for me, though it was most certainly not for my father who wanted me to join the inland revenue, he said.

"I couldn't have imagined when I first started that I would still be here at the station after 50 years, especially the way I was performing anyhow!

"When I transferred to Ely there were more than 100 people working to help keep the old steam powered trains running but over the years as the population has greatly increased, the staff numbers have continued to go down."

Mr Payton was joined on the station platform by friends and colleagues from his 50 years on the railways, including the man who trained him on his first day, and the Ely resident admitted that although he would be sad to leave, he felt the time was right.

"I thought about retiring a couple of years ago but I think now the time is right for me to leave, said Mr Payton, "It will be sad to go but I think its only fair someone else had a go now.