I used to work with one of the drivers on the freight train, Steve "George" Dunn when he worked at Birmingham New Street. Big, gentle West Country Bear of a man. Left to go driving the freight 'oop North'. It was a huge shock when we found out he had died. His funeral at Selby Abbey was a fitting tribute to the man, one thing the railway does well is give one of it's own a send off. A glorious Spring day, the Abbey full of people, by turns heartbreaking and hilarious as anecdotes were read out about a man who couldn't help but brighten the dullest work day. I remember once when i was travelling back into Birmingham on some empty coaching stock with him and we came to a stand not far outside New St at a red signal with the canal adjacent. There was a chap out walking his dog and Steve said to me "ere George, watch this" (he called EVERYONE George, hence his nickname, apart from my mate who is Scottish, he was McGeorge), and with that he walked over to the window and called to the dog walker in his West Country tones "excuse me, we're trying to get to Birmingham, do you know if this is the right way or not?" The dog walker was so caught out he actually said "....er...yeah, i THINK that's the track into Birmingham...." I was really happy when it was shared with the congregation at the funeral. He was a top man and one of those railway characters who people from all over the network would have heard stories about, a true legend. They don't make 'em like that any more...
