A RAILWAY worker who has volunteered at a heritage railway for the past 21 years has now bought his very own steam engine.

Paul Middleton developed such a passion for locomotives during his time with the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) that with his brother, Daniel, he has purchased his very own; Lucie. The diminutive engine is one of the smallest locomotives in Britain.

Paul has worked in the rail industry for more than two decades and his brother has been a NYMR employee for the past nine years.

Together with the help of some other volunteers from the railway, they hope to have Lucie back to her best within two years, so she can begin working on the iconic railway line.

The steam engine had previously been at the Middleton Railway, where Paul was visiting to view another locomotive when he came across the tiny steam engine. He joked with the team 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 and 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.”