Train worker's 100-year family history in railways

Being a railway worker is in the blood for one train conductor, who recounted his family's 100-year history in the industry.

Alan Holtom, a senior conductor based in Worcester, has been a railway worker for more than 50 years.

Speaking on West Midlands Railway's "On the Rails" podcast, he said his family's history began in 1916 when his grandad became a station master.

He said: "The railway has been a major part of my family's life, going back over 100 years, so I didn't question whether I wanted to join too – it was already part of me."

His grandfather, Thomas Allen, began working as a station master at Hampton Loade station, in Shropshire, in 1916.

He went on to work as a signalman at Highley signal box before transferring to Chipping Campden on the Cotswold Line - a role he returned to once the war ended.

When he finally retired in the 1960s, he had served more than 45 years.

His mother, Marion Holtom, began working at the Chipping Campden booking office in 1940. It was where she met his father, Geoffrey Holtom, who worked as a relief clerk in the Worcester area from 1936.

Mr Holtom said: "When my dad told me to get a job at Worcester Shrub Hill, it was as simple as speaking to the area manager and asking for a role.

"I was lucky as well, as my mother knew the HR officer at the time. Now my daughter is a senior conductor at Worcester, and I couldn't be prouder.

"She worked hard to get the job, and now she's thinking about becoming a driver."

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