Cambridge Man Retires After 45 years on the Rails

Published on: Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Graham Ellingham, Assistant Station Manager at Cambridge station for the train operator Greater Anglia has retired after completing 45 years of service on the railways in the Cambridge area.

Cambridge man Graham, 61, who lives at Bar Hill began his railway career straight from school at Ely North Junction signalbox in 1967 as a ‘box lad’ before going on to attend the British Rail signalling school in Ilford, Essex. Graham’s first job as a signalman was at Littleport in 1970 where on qualifying he became the second youngest signalman in the country at the time.

Graham then worked at signal boxes and signalling centres in the Cambridge / Royston area until the mid-1980s when he transferred to work on electrification projects. From the late 1980s Graham has been mostly based at Cambridge station fulfilling operational supervision roles and acting as station supervisor and duty manager, prior to undertaking his final position as Assistant Station Manager.

Commenting on his retirement, Graham Ellingham said: “Working on the railways has been a fulfilling career and I have thoroughly enjoyed my 45 years in the industry. I will miss the direct contact with the customers on a daily basis and all the variety the job brings.”

Keely Pagdin, Head of Customer Service West for Greater Anglia said: “We will all miss Graham and his comprehensive knowledge of the railways in the Cambridge area. It is a wonderful achievement to have completed 45 years of service and all the team wishes him and his family all the very best in retirement.”