'I learnt train catalogue to keep railway running'

Darren Milligan started work at the Newcastle depot as a cleaner aged 16

A man who has helped keep trains on track for more than 40 years, thanks to his encyclopaedic knowledge, is about to hang up his hardhat.

Darren Milligan's impressive memory meant he memorised the names, suppliers and catalogue numbers for thousands of items at Heaton Train Care Centre in Newcastle, helping engineers find what they need to keep trains in the North East running.

The 59-year-old manages the storeroom which contains everything staff from Northern Rail need to clean and repair trains.

He started work at the depot as a cleaner, aged 16, and spent his lunch breaks learning catalogue numbers for different parts and inputting them into the database.

He later got a job in the storeroom and worked his way up to a management role.

"I've been here all my working life and the people here have been like a family over the years," Mr Milligan said.

"It's about being able to find the part for the train quickly, so they can get it fixed and get it out for passengers."

He added a challenge of the job was keeping on top of new parts for trains, as many others become obsolete.

But testing his knowledge is something is colleagues take great pleasure in.

Nigel Bendelow, a materials controller at the depot, said: "Someone will mention in conversation a part that we have not used for 10 plus years and Darren will give you the catalogue number and the company that supplied it.

"He's unique, a one off, and he will be massively missed when he goes."