100 YEAR OLD Train Driver meets new Train Driver | In Conversation

Harry Wilson was born a century ago in 1923, the same year that the LNER brand began with the merger of its predecessors. He sat down with Vandana, a London-based young LNER Train Driver, to talk about their shared experience on the railway and the change over the years from steam trains and the British Rail Class 55 #Deltic to the Class 800 #Azuma

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Image credits:
Class 47; CC BY (Steve Jones)
Class 55; CC BY (Barry Lewis)
Class 800; LNER copyright
Class A3; CC BY-SA (David Ingham)
Class A4; CC BY-SA (Matt Prosser)
Signal lights; public domain
Semaphore signal; CC BY-SA (NottsExMiner)
Azuma nose; LNER copyright
Queen Elizabeth; public domain
Prince Philip; CC BY-SA (Allan Warren)
Princess Anne; public domain
Princess Margaret; public domain
Charlton Heston; public domain
The Big Country poster; public domain
Ben-Hur poster; public domain
Class 43; CC BY-SA (Roger W)

Chapters:
00:00 Beginnings
03:00 Locomotives
06:42 Big changes
10:37 Famous faces
13:45 Unfortunate accidents
15:02 Keep to it

Hi, my name is Vandana I’m a train driver with LNER and I’m here in York today to meet Harry Wilson, an 100 year old train driver and I’m gonna be asking him some questions. Harry, I’m gonna read you a question. Yeah? Yeah. When did you start your career on the railway?

I started on the railway in the office at Wakefield in 1939. Wow. 1939! Yeah, I did. That’s a long time ago! I worked 48 years. When I retired, the Daily Telegraph met me they said “Harry…” “What do you think of the job?” I said, I love the job because you were self disciplined.

Yeah. You make your own decisions Yeah, you do. and you’ve to stick to them. You’ve no help You were self made. Mhmm. You were self disciplined and it’s good training. Yeah, I agree. I’d do it all again! I’d do it all again. When did you start, Vandana? I started in COVID in 2020.

Ahh. So I’ve only been doing it for a year and a half. Yeah. Very good. Not for 50 years. Stick to it. Yes, I’m gonna stick to it. Yeah. Stick to it be- I’m going to stick to it. It’s a superb job It is. because you’re the boss. Yes. Yeah.

How long was your training to become a Driver? The [assessment] to be a Driver was a full day. One day? One full day. Yes… I- I drove the train up to Todmorden Yes. where I worked, and then coming back in the coach I was asked questions. Okay, yeah. If I failed-

If I failed once, I’d two more chances but if I failed three times… you’re- you’re finished. So different. How long was your training to be a Driver? It was a lot longer than yours! Mine was six weeks in the classroom and then 350 hours I have to complete on the train

With a mentor, with a trainer. It was- that was a good test. Yes. Yeah. So a year. Around a year. And how long did it take you to learn Newcastle? So I learnt it in my 350 hours Yeah. Via York, Durham… Yeah. What is your favourite thing about your job?

I like the views. We get some really nice views, especially when the sun’s setting. Yeah. You get really nice views. Yeah. Yeah, that’s my favourite thing When you leave King’s Cross… Yes… Do you know the Slow Line? Yeah. Cause I was good at them! Oh were you? Yeah, 50 mile an hour. Yeah.

What kind of trains did you drive? It was a Class 47 diesel locomotive, capable of 95 miles per hour. A good locomotive. It was known as a Hawker… Hawker Siddeley. Ah, so diesel trains? Yes. Yeah. Yes. I drove the Deltics. I love the Deltic. Yeah. And the Deltic… was a tremendous locomotive.

3,300 horsepower. Wow, that’s a lot. It had a two stroke cycle engine and it was in triangular formation of six cylinders, three times, with opposed cylinders. They were originally stationed at Gateshead, King’s Cross and Haymarket, but on their phasing out we got 8 or 9 at York. Ah, okay.

So we got them to Liverpool- Liverpool, King’s Cross, Newcastle. Ah. With steam to Newcastle, it took us an hour. When we got the Deltics, it was 80 miles, we did it in 48 minutes. Oh, even faster. Yeah. The Deltic… I love the Deltic. If a man could, I’m guilty.

Your nickname was ‘Odd Socks’ where did that come from? The name Odd Socks was… The Deltics were built at Newton-le-Willows. Yep. Vulcan Foundry. Mhmm. And I spent two or three days with them Yeah. And they knew I followed Liverpool Mhmm. Anfield Football Club. Yeah. So they presented me with red and white

Rugby- rugby socks. Ohhhh So they said “There we are, mate, you’ll be named as Odd Socks” I said “I could not care less” I said “I’ve another pair like them at home” I didn’t- it didn’t bother me in the slightest. No. No. No, I followed Liverpool. I still love Liverpool, yeah. Yeah.

Did you prefer driving diesel or steam trains? It’s a- it’s a very hard question, Vandana. I love the A3s, A4s… All the steam engines. Yeah. So very good. It’s a very hard question but… the Deltic… is very close to me. Your favourite? Yes. Yep. But… Have you- have you seen a Deltic?

No. No? No, I’ve never, no. What do you think of our new Azuma trains? Have you been on one? I haven’t seen one yet. You haven’t‽ No, I haven’t, I’ve not seen- only in a- only in a magazine Really? Only in a magazine! We need to arrange a ride for you…

Yeah, we need to get you a ride in one of them. Yeah. How do you find Azuma trains? Really nice. They’re very comfortable and very warm. Very comfortable. Nice and warm? Yeah. You’ve got the air con in there so it’s very warm and in summer it’s nice and cool in there.

It’s very modern. Extremely modern. So you’ve got a computer and everything that tells you if anything goes wrong, you don’t have to go outside the train, it tells you exactly what’s wrong. You are single manned, aren’t you? Yes, we’re single manned. Yeah, so I’m on my own on the train

But I do like them. They’re nice trains to drive. Did you know any women Drivers? Yes! Did you? One here! Apart from me… I never knew- I never knew a lady Driver, but I worked with a lady Guard. Okay. And she was good because- because on goods trains she had to couple

And uncouple couplings. Yeah. And she did it! So she would have been a good Driver. I never knew a lady Driver, but I knew a lady Guard. Yeah. That’s good. That’s really good, still. It has to- it has to happen now. Supposed to happen. Mhmm. Yeah. The world’s a different place.

Yeah. Since I started. Yeah. I was the only one on my course, but after me there was loads of women Drivers. I think- I think, Vandana, I think you’re wise I think you’re good. You’ve my blessing. Ahhh… Ah, you’re so sweet. Would you invite people to come and

Join you on the footplate- on the engine? Yeah. On the train? Yeah I would. As a Driver, it’s a great job. I would encourage people to join. Especially women! How did things change over your career? For- for one thing, the local signal boxes all went. Yes. We got power boxes

And there’s only four power boxes London-York. Yes. The power boxes were… Were York itself, near Peterborough, Langley and King’s Cross. Yes. So only four all the way to London, where there used to be 74. Yes. Now there’s only one. Yeah. All gone. Yeah. Yeah, that’s true. Now it’s colour light signals

Instead of the semaphore. Yes. Yes. No more semaphores. Yeah. With the old semaphore… I got to one destination, the Inspector come… He said “the Control- “Driver, the Control want to know where you’ve been” I said “will you please tell the Control” “I’d to climb the gates” “To wake the signalman up”

Did you have to do that? Yes. Yeah. Oh, it’s not like that- you just call them now Yeah. from your cab. Yeah. Yeah, it’s very different now. Make sure you get plenty of rest. Yes. Don’t go to- Yes, always. Don’t go to- don’t go to work tired. Yes. Yeah, always. No.

In the event of an eventuality… Yeah. Could you uncouple and couple it? Yes. Yeah. If I really had to, I could. Cause they’re heavy… But the Azumas are very easy to couple cause you don’t leave the cab. Yeah. You stay in the cab, you just open up the nose cone… Buckeye! Buckeye coupling.

Automatic. Yes. Yes. They jump each other. You can do it from the cab. Yeah, you don’t go outside. Yeah. Yeah. Yes, you can. Do it from the cab. Yeah. Yes, I’ve done it. Yeah. But… I’ve forgotten. Fading a bit. You remember a lot, though. You still remember a lot.

What do you think, 100 years from now, Vandana? The railway? I think it’ll all be computerised. I think we’ll rely not so much on signals Yeah. but more on what the train computers tell you. Yeah. Yeah. I think there’ll be less signals, more computers. Yeah. I’m gonna ask you the same question.

100 years from now… The trains will change. Yeah. Yeah. They’ll work on a- they’ll work on possibly hydrogen, something like that. Hydrogen!? Yeah. That would be good, wouldn’t it. Liquid fuel will be on on the way out. Yeah. Do you have any favorite moments or experiences from your career? Oh yes. Yeah?

I drove the Queen Mother King’s Cross to Darlington. When we got to Darlington, she gave the Lady in Waiting a lovely bunch- lovely bunch of red roses. She said to the Lady in Waiting “Give this to the Driver” “to give to his wife” I did. I thought that was a beaut-

A beautiful and lovely venture. That’s sweet. She was a lovely lady. When I brought- when I drove Prince Philip, being an ex Naval man, I made him a mug of- of strong tea. The spoon stood up in it! And this is what he said… Excuse the language. “This is bloody good!”

Prince Philip. Excuse the- Excuse the language. That’s what he said! Then I drove Princess Anne and my wife and I met her personally at the station hotel in York. I drove Princess Margaret but I didn’t come in contact with Princess Margaret. Not- I didn’t come in contact with her.

So I drove all four but I’m proud. A great honour. That’s an achievement. Big achievement. Yes. Yes. Yeah. The Queen Mother, I love her… Ahhh yeah. Ahh. Ah! Charlton Heston! I met- I was introduced to Charlton Heston at King’s Cross. The Station Master came up, top hat, white gloves, with this American gentleman.

He said “Driver” “This gentleman would like to see” “a British engine driver” He said “his name is Charlton Heston” I said “Mr Heston” “It’s a pleasure” “because I saw the film- “your film The Big Country” “and Ben-Hur” Anyway I brought him to York because he was playing at York at the Theatre Royal

In York which is a beautiful theatre. This is what he said on the Saturday evening finale… “I have played in a lovely city” “I have played in a lovely theatre” “I have met some lovely people” “God bless York!” He stayed at the Mount Royale Hotel in Dringhouses near where my son

And my daugh- and my daughter live. He’s an absolute gentleman. But that’s just one experience. The other, going to London… with an HST (High Speed Train), this lady at Werrington Junction was on a bridge. She was waving to her. The next minute she’s on my windscreen. Oh no…

Her handbag was wrapped round my windscreen wiper. Oh no… So I got to- I got to Peterborough. There’s a doctor- a railway doctor at Peterborough. I said- they said “what you stopped- The station staff said “what you stopped here for?” Mhmm. I said “I cannot go on”

“I will not go on, I cannot” Yeah. and they apologised. The doctor said “you’re not going home, Driver” “You’re going home in a car” Yeah, of course. That’s horrible. That’s second experience. I don’t wish my enemies! I’ve not- I’ve not had any- any unfortunate accidents yet, which is great

And touch wood I don’t but favourite moments, probably when I passed out and that first drive on your own. Yeah. Yeah, when you’re in the cab on your own. Yeah. That’s a nice feeling. I’ve- I’ve been retired 35 years now Yeah. and God helps those who help themselves. Mhmm.

I am proud I did it. I’m proud. That’s good. Keep to the job. Yeah. Keep to it. Yeah. It’s a wonderful job.