Hachette India

ALL ABOARD!: Tales from a Yorkshire Steam Railway

Paul 'Piglet' Middleton

Paul 'Piglet' Middleton's first book is a heartwarming and hilarious collection of stories from working, for thirty years, on the beautiful and historic North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Best known as the star of Channel 4's hit series Steam Train Diaries, Piglet brings readers into a world of steam, nostalgia, Yorkshire humour and some truly unforgettable characters. He has worked with engine royalty such as the Flying Scotsman, Locomotion No. 1 and Sir Nigel Gresley; acting royalty, including Tom Cruise and Harrison Ford; and even helped make a few things happen for actual royalty, namely His Majesty King Charles III.

Well-known for his laid-back demeanour and love of 'all things oily', Piglet even has his own steam engine, Lucie, which he bought and restored with his family about a decade ago, and now runs on the NYMR. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway, which stretches for 24 miles between Whitby and Pickering, is a piece of Yorkshire like no other.

So, climb aboard, sit back, keep your feet off the seats and get ready to be transported into a wonderful world of adventure, nostalgia and - of course - steam.

Paul 'Piglet' Middleton

Paul started work at the NYMR in December 1996, at the tender age of 16, after he finished school. Paul's mum spotted an advert in the Whitby Gazette for an apprenticeship and made him apply because he owed her £50!

Paul was nicknamed "Piglet" by Mike Smith, a now retired welder, whose grandson had put a small plastic Piglet figure (from Winnie the Pooh) in Paul's lunch box. Mike commented that Paul looked a little bit like Piglet, and the nickname stuck.

Paul has worked at the NYMR ever since and was promoted to Foreman in 2007. He then became Depot Manager in 2016 and finally Traction and Rolling Stock Manager in 2017. Paul's hobbies include - cycling, flying model aircraft, motorcycling (touring Europe), backpacking holidays, working on his allotment and dog walking. He is also a volunteer fireman on the NYMR.