SIGNALMAN Wellwood Demaline has retired after 41 years on the railways.

Ironically, the man who has been in charge of the Brierfield box for more than 20 years was never much one for trains as a youngster, and only drifted into his railway career.

"When I left school I went to be an apprentice with Rolls Royce but then I did two years' National Service and I just didn't settle back into the factory," said Wellwood, of Colne Road, Earby.

"I wanted to work outside but I didn't know what to do. The chance came up to be a porter at Barnoldswick station and I took it. I thought it was only going to be a summer job. One thing led to another and I've been here ever since."

More than 40 years later, Wellwood is a familiar figure to train drivers and passers-by as he sits in Brierfield signal box.

He misses the romance of steam and the days when the level crossing gates were controlled by turning a huge wheel and points were changed by pushing and pulling large wooden levers.

Now the crossing and points are controlled by a flick of a switch.

From porter, Wellwood rose to be signalman at boxes along the East Lancashire line, and witnessed at first hand its sad decline.

His own house backs on to the abandoned Colne-Skipton line.

He said: "When I started it was steam engines and the line stretched from Colne to Skipton and out to Barnoldswick. There were coal yards at Colne, Nelson and Barnoldswick.

"I came to Brierfield more than 20 years ago when there were 26 levers controlling seven sets of points on two lines. Now there's a single line and a couple of switches.

"I remember when they had just switched from steam to diesel. This diesel engine broke down and they had to get a steam engine to come along and tow it off.

"I still prefer the older ways. I think it was a big mistake to make the line single track. The railway has really gone into decline."

Wellwood plans to use his spare time to good effect. He said: "I'm going to miss it all but I've a lot of jobs to do round the house. My wife Noreen and I haven't had a proper holiday for a while."

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