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Monday 14 Jul 2025

Retired railway stalwart’s special 99th birthday celebration thanks to Network Rail

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Eastern

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A former signaller who spent nearly half a century working on the railway was treated to a tour of York Rail Operating Centre (ROC) as he celebrated his 99^th birthday.

Bob Abbott started in the industry during the Second World War and completed his last shift just before York Integrated Electronic Control Centre – the ROC’s predecessor – opened in 1989.

Network Rail arranged for Bob, son Ron and daughter-in-law Sarah to visit the ROC as a special birthday celebration. He was able to see the difference in working practices from his working days to the modern era.

Bob chatted with ROC staff about old times and mutual colleagues, was surprised with a phonecall from an old friend, enjoyed birthday cake in the ROC’s gold command room and was presented with a goody bag of rail items including ties and pin badges.

Bob Abbott, who turns 99 today (Monday 14 July), said: “My dad took me down the mine when I was about 14 and asked if I wanted to work there. I said ‘No way’ and made the right choice to pick the railway!

“Seeing how signalling is done nowadays was interesting – but mind-blowing! I wouldn’t know where to start – but they did offer me some Saturday shifts!”

Ben Bryan, Network Rail operations manager, said: “We were absolutely delighted to welcome Bob to York ROC to celebrate his 99th birthday and honour his incredible 49-year career on the railway.

“Bob’s service – spanning from wartime signalling to the dawn of digital control – is truly inspirational. It was a privilege to host him and his family at the ROC, showing them how railway control has evolved since his retirement, and of course wishing him a very happy birthday from all of us here.”

Bob was 15 when his railway career began as a number taker and messenger boy at Ferryhill, in his native County Durham, in 1941. After a year, he was taken on as a book lad at Ferryhill’s No3 signal box. 

When Bob became a signalman in 1943, his first signal box was Wingate, near Ferryhill. He attempted to join the RAF as aircrew that same year but was turned down as his job was a reserved occupation – considered vital for the country functioning during the war effort.

In the mid-1950s, Bob became a relief signalman at Durham, working at more than 20 signal boxes over the next 15 years.

By the end of the 1960s, however, there were fewer boxes in the Durham area and therefore less work. Bob and his family moved to York in 1969, and he became relief signalman covering the likes of York Yard North and South, Thirsk, Skelton, Tollerton and Selby. He took a permanent position in York power box for the last 11 years of his career – retiring in 1989 after 49 years’ service.

Bob worked the last shift as the railway control function was transferred to York Integrated Electronic Control Centre, which operated until the new York ROC opened in 2018.

Railway careers are certainly not rare in the Abbott family. Bob got his first job from his Uncle Harry, who was a locomotive fireman at Ferryhill. In turn, Bob helped son Ron into the industry via York station travel centre in the mid-1970s. They worked together for a while, and Ron has recently retired after clocking up his own half century in the industry, working across a number of railway organisations including British Rail, Fastline, Jarvis, Volker, Bombardier and Alstom.

Sarah Abbott, Bob’s daughter-in-law, said: “The railway has been Bob’s life, he recalls so many memories and speaks about it with such love and enthusiasm even after all these years. We’re grateful to Network Rail for allowing him to see inside York ROC and experience how signalling has changed since his retirement.” 

Sarah has also worked in the rail industry – and Bob’s grand-daughter Amelia (19) has followed the family tradition, having started a project manager apprenticeship at PlanBEE Rail in 2024.