For the past 21 years Paul Middleton, affectionately known as Piglet to his colleagues, has worked at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR). During this time Paul has developed a huge passion for steam engines, one which has driven him and his family to recently purchasing their very own locomotive, Lucie - one of the smallest in Britain!

Having worked in the rail industry for over two decades, Paul’s knowledge of heritage locomotives is up there with the very best and he’ll be using it to undertake some restoration work on Lucie, along with his co-owner and brother, Daniel, an NYMR employee of nine years!

Together, along with the help of some NYMR volunteers, they hope to have Lucie back to her very best within two years, where she too can begin working on the iconic railway line. Lucie was previously at the Middleton Railway, where Paul, at the time, was looking at another locomotive when he came across her. He began having a joke with the team there about how he’d love to buy her and received a phone call a month later to say she was his.

Paul Middleton, NYMR’s Traction & Rolling Stock Manager, said “It is a true pleasure to work on these magnificent machines and when the chance came along to own my own engine, along with my parents and brother, it was an opportunity too good to miss. Also, when I found out Lucie was at the Middleton Railway I thought it was fate: from one Middleton to another!

“I enjoy working at the railway and love seeing children’s faces when an impressive locomotive pulls in to the station. Hopefully in a couple of years little ones will take a liking to Lucie, as she’s definitely going to stand out amongst the other locomotives.”

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The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a non-profitable charitable trust providing memorable experiences for visitors and fulfilment for volunteers and staff through the operation of Britain’s most popular heritage railway between Whitby and Pickering.

• The NYMR cares for operating and developing the railway we own from Pickering to Grosmont.
• Operating over Network Rail from Grosmont to Whitby.
• Provides a high quality, safe and authentic evocation of the steam age for the public.
• Educational Charitable Trust. Providing education for all ages.
• The NYMR is a fully accredited museum.