One of the UK’s oldest train managers, aged 84, said his job “gives me a reason to get up in the morning”.
Avanti West Coast employee Bob Carpenter, who is based at London Euston and is deployed on services to and from the West Midlands and North West, described working on the railway as “what I love doing”.
The grandfather-of-six spent his first two decades after leaving school working in clerical positions for Royal Mail, before joining British Railways in 1992 as a member of catering staff.
He soon worked his way up to the role of train manager, which is the position he has held for nearly 35 years, now on a part-time basis.
Mr Carpenter said: “I’ve loved the railway since I was a kid.
“Growing up close the main line between London Bridge and Brighton, I was sort of born into the sounds of trains.
“I could have stopped work when I reached retirement age, but it gives me a reason to get up in the morning.
“I have many interests at home; however we’ve all got to have something which we love doing, and working in this job is what I love doing.
“Working for the railways is like working as part of a family, they’re like an extended one.
“You care about these people as you’re with them 12 hours a day, three times a week.”
One of his grandchildren, Nick, has followed him into the industry, joining Avanti West Coast in 2006 in catering before moving up to be a train manager.
He said: “It was inevitable, to be honest, with my grandad being such a good role model.
“As a child I’d go to his house with my brothers and he’d turn up in his uniform at 9pm and tell us, ‘I’ve been to Scotland and back in a day’ – that for me was magic.”
Avanti West Coast customer experience director Kathryn O’Brien said: “Bob is a much-loved and highly respected part of our onboard team, who displays an incredible passion for the railway and his job every time he steps on to a train.
“Bob truly is a fantastic role model to highlight that you should never give up on achieving your dream job – no matter your age.”
