Michael Middleton

footplate volunteer.

Redundant at Trawsfynydd nuclear power station

Studied at St Helens Technical College

Lived in Caernarfon

From Morecambe

b.1954

Travel company West Coast Railways, which organises heritage rail tours, confirmed that fireman Mike Middleton died as the Dalesman service passed Garsdale on Tuesday (18th August 2020)

Having covered the retirement of three of our volunteer footplate crew, we must add a tribute to Mike Middleton who died after being taken ill on the footplate of LMS 4-6-0 No.46115 ‘Scots Guardsman’, working a West Coast Railways ‘Dalesman’ service over the Settle & Carlisle line on 18th August...

F&WHR General Manager Paul Lewin said: “Mike Middleton was one of the most dedicated volunteers in the F&WHR family. He drove countless miles, notable on the Welsh Highland Railway where he would regularly drive the least appealing turns on the roster with never a complaint to be heard.”

“He was also known for his immensely frugal driving style, often topping the league for the best fuel consumption on the WHR’s fleet of NG/G16s. In recent times he found a new passion in the shape of firing on the main line with the West Coast team.”

“His enthusiasm for those big locos on the main line continued in his mess room conversations at Dinas. We will all miss Mike very much, a gentleman and part of our family. We are just so pleased that he spent the last few years doing something he truly adored.”

Hundreds of personal tributes appeared on social media and in print, to which we add our own...

RIP Mike - you will be remembered for a long time..!