A former railway signaller has celebrated his 90th birthday with a special visit to the railway where he spent more than four decades of his career.
Eric Hilton spent almost 43 years working across the railway in a variety of roles, including becoming station manager at Crewe before moving into train planning, operations control and later working at Warrington’s power signal box.
Eric turned 90 on Wednesday.
Enjoy more Railway Illustrated reading every month.
Click here to subscribe & save.
The Manchester Rail Operating Centre (ROC) welcomed Eric and his guests last week for a behind-the-scenes tour as a thanks for the contribution he made over more than four decades of service.
They were shown how modern railway operations are managed today and given a look at the technology and teams that keep trains moving across the network.
During the visit, Eric was able to see how railway operations have evolved since his time on the network, while reconnecting with familiar faces and revisiting a place that’s central to keeping the railway running today.
Phil James, Route Director at Network Rail, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Eric and his friends to the Manchester Rail Operating Centre. Eric has an incredible railway story, and it was fascinating listening to his experiences from a career that spanned so many roles across the industry.
“Looking after our railway family is incredibly important to us, and this visit was a chance to recognise Eric’s contribution and to say thank you as he celebrates a very special milestone.”
Reflecting on the day, Eric said: “I’ve had a wonderful birthday experience here, and I never expected anything like it.
“My time on the railway was incredibly varied, and I could talk about it for hours. It was a fantastic career and an experience I would happily repeat. And being welcomed back today has meant a great deal to me.”
