A FORMER railway worker took a trip down memory lane when he was invited back into a signal box to mark his 90th birthday.

Bill Smith of Grange Avenue, Ben Rhydding, reached his landmark birthday on July 24. To celebrate he visited Embsay Station the next day because that is where he had joined the railway as a porter signalman 62 years ago.

Courtesy of the Bolton Abbey and Embsay Railway, he climbed the steps to the signal box again and worked the same levers, watched by Paul Day the volunteer signalman on duty.

For old times sake, Bill was wearing part of his old uniform and badges.

After lunch in the sunshine outside at Embsay Station cafe, he boarded the 1.30 pm train, riding in the very coach that he and colleague Brian Lynch had bought in 1983 and formally handed over to the railway in 2010.

After the trip Bill said: "What an enjoyable visit it was for me, I felt those sixty-two years had flown away and I was training in the job with relief signalman Jack Hutchinson showing me how to get rid of the fire-ashes from the signal box - he threw them from the top of the steps but, unfortunately, the wind changed direction and blew them back over us both! We signalled trains of ballast from the quarry to go all over the north of England. And to ride in the coach Brian Lynch and I purchased for the railway in 1983."

The visit was organised by Bill's friend of more than 50 years Richard Pulleyn from Otley.

He said:"Rob Shaw, the Railway's General Manager gave special permission to visit the signal box which is normally 'out of bounds' apart from staff operating the trains. We were met at Embsay by Allan Haspell, the Station Master who made us most welcome and took care of all the necessary health and safety requirements for crossing the line."

After six years at Embsay, also working occasionally at Bolton Abbey, Bill moved on to work for the next 20 years at the junction signal boxes at Burley-in-Wharfedale and Milnerwood, towards Otley. He finally transferred as a signalman to Ilkley Station, and retired in 1994 after a railway career of over 36 years.

Bill, who has lived in Ilkley all his life, is an expert on the history of the railways of Wharfedale and has written a number of books, including “Railways in Wharfedale - a Signalman’s Reflections” which traces his interest in railways and his career. The book can be bought from The Grove Bookshop in Ilkley.

When Bill wasn't on duty, he ran the Ilkley railway model shop on Leeds Road.