Man, 90, says heritage rail driving keeps him young
Jim Goldsmith says volunteering gives him a "purpose"
- Published
A 90-year-old driver at a heritage rail attraction says he has no plans to stop volunteering because it "keeps him young".
Jim Goldsmith is the oldest helper at the Steeple Grange Light Railway near Wirksworth, in Derbyshire.
Mr Goldsmith operates one of the ex-industrial locomotives, which carries passengers in old manriders, historically used to convey miners below ground to Middleton and back.
He said: "It keeps you going, gives you that interest, that reason to get out of bed."
Mr Goldsmith has been driving at the heritage rail attraction for more than 15 years
The heritage railway is a volunteer-operated 18-inch gauge line, built on the track bed of the old Cromford and High Peak Railway, now the High Peak Trail.
Mr Goldsmith started volunteering in 2007 following the death of his wife, Margaret.
"I met this chap who was very persuasive and said that I could learn to drive the locos and that's all he needed to say really, I’ve been here ever since," he said.
"It helped with grieving because we all grieve in different ways - they are such a lovely bunch here."
Mr Goldsmith drives visitors to Middleton and back
Mr Goldsmith's time in the Royal Air Force led to a career in transport management, which brought him to Derbyshire 30 years ago to work for Dairy Crest.
He said he had no plans to give up his volunteer work, despite recently celebrating his 90th birthday.
Bob Smyth, 77 - who also volunteers at the railway - said: "Jim is one of the stars and it is super working with him. When he came to be 90, it was a special event to us."
Mr Goldsmith added: "You have to keep going as long as you can, don't fall into that fatal trap of sitting in front of the TV with a cup of tea and a biscuit, just watching rubbish.
"You need human contact and when you live on your own, it's more important."
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, external, on X, external, or on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk , externalor via WhatsApp, external on 0808 100 2210.