Roy's chuffed with his train trip

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Sunday 23rd Dec 2007.

A MAGICAL mystery tour on one of the world's most famous trains was a rail-y great birthday present for Roy Townsend.

The 80-year-old, who is still working, celebrated his birthday last month.

On the day the railway enthusiast was presented with a model train by his bosses at West Swindon company Multivac.

And to mark the milestone a relative also booked Roy and wife Patricia a trip on the Orient Express, which stopped at Swindon yesterday.

"It was such a nice surprise because the Orient Express is the ultimate way to travel," said Roy.

"We were so excited the night before we worried if we would get enough sleep.

"It was much better than going in first class - and it was a great way to start Christmas."

After arriving at the station in a Rolls Royce, they were greeted by stewards from the train and escorted to their seats.

Although they knew they were getting on the train they had no idea where it was bound for its seven-hour trip.

In the end the train travelled the countryside around Swindon. While onboard the couple drank champagne and enjoyed a five-course meal.

The whole experience was a far cry from Roy's working days on the railways.

He started working as an axle greaser on Swindon's railways when he left school aged 14, in 1941.

Before long he switched to a job as a shunter and stayed on the rails until 1959.

"I never saw the Orient Express during that time," said Roy.

"I saw some pretty plush Pullman coaches during my time on the railways, and I worked on all different kinds, but the Orient Express never came this way.

"The family all knew that I was a train lover and that I have about 40 model trains.

"But I never had any inkling whatsoever that any of them would do something like this for me. Which is what made it an even nicer surprise."

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