A RAILWAYMAN’S tales have been captured for future generations in two new books which are now on sale at Head of Steam – Darlington Railway Museum.

Stephen Shields spent 40 years working on the region’s railways as a goods train guard, signalman and signal inspector and was part of the team that oversaw the electrification of the East Coast Main Line in the 1980s.

Now semi-retired, the 64-year-old still indulges his passion for the railways working part time with West Coast Railways, a private charter company which runs steam train experiences on various routes.

He said: “In my books I’ve tried to capture what life on the railways was like, first for the goods train guards and then the signalmen.”

Sarah Gouldsbrough, acting museum manager at the Head of Steam said: “The stories of those who worked on the railways are always very popular with our visitors and we’re delighted to be able to sell Stephen’s books in the shop.”

Copies of the new books, priced at £10 each, are now on sale in the museum shop, on Station Road.