From left, Ray Poole, Les Ross, Micky Valla and Dave Hewson.
PHIL MARSH
THREE long-serving West Coast Railways steam drivers have been presented with retirement certificates by Les Ross, the disc jockey that owns Class 86 No. 86259.
Ray Poole, Micky Valla and Dave Hewson have been footplate crew since British Rail steam days, and have a combined 188 years of experience between them.
Mr Poole started his career at Wolverhampton’s Bushbury Shed in April 1955, first retiring in 2005 but then managed another 16 years with WCR to make 66 years on the footplate until the Covid-induced end of his career in 2021.