IT WAS in the days of steam when Rodney Fitzgibbon started to work for the railway, and he is still on the platform 54 years later.

Rodney, who lives in Llandudno, after working for a short period in a care home, joined the railway in 1964 and was initially employed at Bangor station as a junior porter, and then moved to Penmaenmawr station in 1966 where he stayed until 1979, working in the booking office and on the platform as a porter.

His next move was to Colwyn Bay as a station chargeman, and also in the goods yard where he dealt with fuel oil and coal traffic.

In 1999 he moved to Llandudno Junction station to work as the platform chargeman.

He said: “I’ve enjoyed working for the railway and I’ve seen so many incidents, funny and otherwise, that I just can’t single one out.

"But I’ve seen big changes during my time, perhaps the greatest was shift from steam to diesel. There have been plenty of others as well, the railway is always changing, I suppose that is part of what keeps it interesting.

“My great grandfather also worked on the railways, obviously that was many years ago and he was employed by the old Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway which was absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923.

“I’ve always been interested in trains and in my spare time I’ve visited some of the preserved lines including the West Somerset, the Severn Valley and the Keighley and Worth Valley railways and many others.

“I’ve had a very happy career, working on something I'm interested in has its own rewards. I’m looking forward to the future and have no plans to retire. I enjoy what I do too much, I've retained my enthusiasm for the last 54 years.”