If there’s one thing the railway is known for (other than clean, safe, and efficient travel) it’s the dedication of its staff. Indeed, much is made about the length of service of many its employees who have stayed loyal over many decades.
Because of this, the rail industry maintains a vast wealth of knowledge and experience, a fact we only tend to remember when discussing the pending ‘brain drain’ as employees begin to retire. But surely, it’s something that should also be celebrated?
As we gear up for the RailStaff Awards, our thoughts turn to those who’ve dedicated their entire careers to the industry. Those who may receive a nomination for the Lifetime Achievement Award. One individual who could well be in the running is Paul Brewer, head of operations for rail at Carlisle Support Services.
On 26 August Paul celebrated his fortieth year in the industry. Here, we’re pleased to present his story and fill you in on the role his family has played on the rails over the past two centuries.
A varied career
“My family has very deep roots in the rail industry,” Paul told me when we met back in May.
“My Dad, Roy Brewer, was on the railway for almost 40 years, starting off as a fireman on the steam trains, before progressing to become a driver at Fratton, which forms part of what we know as Southwest Railway. He worked his way through the different ranks as shed master at Hither Green. Sadly, he died in service in 1989 whilst station manager at Manchester Piccadilly.
“I remember going with my Dad to the depots at Hither Green and Guide Bridge and seeing all the trains, so the railway was always a part of my life. At that point I didn’t realise I would go on to work in the industry, but I remember being fascinated with all of these locomotives.”
Despite the family background, Paul didn’t really consider it as a career until he was much older.
“I went to school in Wilmslow before going on to college, where I studied computer electronics. I always thought that was the route I was going to go down.
“One day, my Dad asked whether I’d consider a role on the railway and I’d seen that it had given him a rewarding career and had great benefits. As he’d stayed in the industry for so long, I figured it must be a good career.
“My father then pointed out that there were some vacancies for train drivers in the North, so I thought I’d give it a go. After an interview and a few tests, I received a letter asking me to report to Manchester Victoria for the driver’s second man (or assistant driver) course on 26 August 1985.
“I vividly remember my first day arriving at Victoria, being inducted in the offices, and the lift which had an operator. After an introduction at employee relations, we were ushered into a classroom where I met other new trainees. We were trained in our roles and then sent down to Platform 11, where we booked on and supported the drivers. Walking into the messroom for the first time was quite daunting, with all eyes on me, but it soon became the norm, and I got to know everyone as time passed.” Paul stayed at Manchester Victoria until August 1988 before moving to Old Oak Common to become a driver. By February 1989 he had completed his training and driven his first solo train.
As his career progressed, Paul transitioned to become a traincrew supervisor at Reading, a challenging but rewarding position which, he says, “felt like playing chess”. Next, he became a driver manager, managing day-to-day operations, incident management, and union engagement. Paul served in this role for several years before an opportunity arose to join Virgin Trains in April 1999.
“Working for Virgin was fantastic, and I even had the chance to meet Richard Branson multiple times,” he says. “He was a very pleasant and genuine individual, always interested in how things were going with the company and his staff. My time at Virgin played a huge part in making me the person I am today.”
Paul stayed with Virgin until April 2010 before moving to Yorkshire to work with Grand Central as a traincrew manager. Despite early challenges with fleet reliability, the company had a great family spirit, and the staff’s dedication to excellent customer service was evident, he says.
Sadly, he was made redundant when Grand Central was sold to Arriva, but he returned to London in April 2012 to work with London Overground as a traincrew manager for the North London Line. Though it was a significant change, with trains running every 10 minutes on a busy shared railway, Paul and his team delivered a safe, reliable, and customer-focused network.
As he progressed to become a general manager, managing older stations and their infrastructure posed its challenges, but the experience was very rewarding.
“We formed fantastic relationships with Network Rail and made some huge improvements over the years,” he says. “Some of my most memorable moments with Overground include the 2012 Olympics, the Notting Hill Carnival, and the London Marathon. The staff were fabulous, and the atmosphere was always vibrant, allowing everyone to showcase their personalities.”
In October 2023, Paul was approached about the head of operations for rail role at Carlisle Support Services, where he now works to support various operators and help them deliver excellent customer service.
“Safety has been paramount through my 40 years on the railway and, sadly, I’ve been involved in a number of high-profile incidents, including Ladbroke Grove and Grayrigg. These have taught me a lot about processes and the competencies of staff. Fortunately, these incidents are rare, but they are times that I will never forget.”
He doesn’t dwell on the bad times, however, and has fond memories of his entire career. He also admits to retaining some of the smallest, and seemingly trivial bits of information from his years on the tracks.
“It’s funny how as a driver I remember the numbers of some of the trains I drove. The last I drove before leaving the driver grade was 47465 ‘Minerva’. The Class 50 50031 ‘Hood’ seemed to be my regular loco, and 390010 was the first Pendolino I drove as a driver manager for Virgin. I always have a smile when I see it still travelling around the Network.”
“I’m proud to celebrate 40 years in the rail industry. Time has flown by, and it feels like just yesterday that I was an 18-year-old fresh on the job. I’ve met amazing people who have supported me throughout my career and the tough times, and for that, I am eternally grateful.”
Family tradition
It’s not just Paul’s father who preceded him on the rails. His family connection to the railway goes back to at least the late 19th Century. Paul is in possession of a photograph of his great, great Grandfather, Alfred who was a railwayman in the 1800s, though he’s unsure of what role he served.
“We’ve tried to ascertain exactly what he did, but I think we need to talk to a railway historian who might know more details about the uniform he’s wearing in the picture.”
And, just like Paul’s father, his grandfather, Jack Brewer was also a driver at Fratton.
“I was very young when he died, but from what I can remember he drove steam trains before moving on to the electric units introduced on the Southern Railway. I do recall that he drove the historic Brighton Belle, which was the flagship of Southern Railway’s mass electrification project in the 1930s.”
Closer to the present day, Paul’s older sister, Sharon and brother, Kevin, now retired, were also rail industry stalwarts.
“My sister Sharon started her career around the late 1970s and early 80s. She started work at Waterloo in employee relations before moving up to Manchester to work in HR. She moved back down south to Croydon to work on the recruitment side of things, before moving into the health and safety at Euston. She ended her career working at Kings Cross.”
“My brother joined the railway later in life. He was a car mechanic and brought his skills over to rail in-fitting. Eventually he moved into operations, and he ended his career as a driver manager.”
Great industry
Paul is rightly proud of his family history and to have worked in the industry for so long. He encourages anyone with even the slightest interest to consider a career in rail.
“Rail is a fantastic industry to work in. It’s going through huge changes at the moment, but it can provide an amazing career for anyone who wants it. Rail has looked after me and done me well. There have been some ups and downs for me personally over the years, but you can expect that in any industry.”
“To all the friends and colleagues who are no longer with us, the laughs, tears, and everything in between, this industry is fantastic, and I would recommend it to anyone. The family feeling still exists, and it’s a culture we must never lose.”
With that said, what advice would he give to young people entering the industry today?
“I would encourage people from all walks of life to consider the railway,” says Paul.
“In particular, I’d like to see more women viewing rail as an option. The industry is making changes, but there needs to be greater accommodation around flexible working and inclusion.”
“In practical terms, life seems to move so quickly these days and there are so many distractions. It must be tough for young people coming into rail, having to manage a fast-paced personal life with their operational roles. One thing I never had to worry about was mobile phones or social media!
“Mobile phones and the railway do not mix well. My advice would be to leave them in your bag and just forget about them for the day. There’s a huge safety aspect to this. Rail is an industry where complete situational awareness is essential, and you can’t maintain that with the distraction of a mobile phone.
“We also now live in a 24-hour society, and the railway never sleeps. To keep up, you need to be fit to work. Rest is essential and you must manage social pressures from family and friends. That applies to learning too. There are so many opportunities to learn new things in rail, and you’ll need to if you’re going to progress. That said, you’ll need to make time for training and building your knowledge.
“Finally, I’d give young people the same advice that my Dad gave to me in 1985 – ‘do your job and keep your nose clean!’
“That message has served me well over the years!”
Paul’s journey is more than a personal milestone – it’s a reminder of the enduring strength of the railway family. His 40 years of service reflect the knowledge, resilience, and pride that keep the industry moving forward. As the next wave of railway professionals step up, his story shows that while technology and times may change, the values of dedication, camaraderie, and commitment remain constant. And that, as much as anything, is worth celebrating.
Images provided by Paul Brewer
