A North Yorkshire railway manager who led station teams across the region is retiring after more than 30 years in the industry.
Mike Drewery has spent 32 years working on the railway, with the last 20 at TransPennine Express (TPE).
TransPennine Express station manager Mike Drewery retires after 32 years on the railway, having led teams across North Yorkshire and the North East (Image: Supplied)
Born in Middlesbrough and a lifelong resident of the villages surrounding Whitby and the North York Moors, Mr Drewery began his railway career as a guard with the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
He progressed to traincrew inspector and later helped introduce standards for mainline services to Whitby.
Mr Drewery said: "The railway is ultimately about people. I’ve been blessed with wonderful colleagues across the North East.
"They care deeply about their stations and communities, and I’ll miss them immensely."
During his time with the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, he managed filming projects, including TV soap Heartbeat and Harry Potter.
Alongside his railway duties, Mr Drewery also served as an on-call firefighter and eventually became officer in charge at Goathland Fire Station.
He later joined TPE as a customer service supervisor in Northallerton’s booking office before becoming station team leader at Middlesbrough.
A temporary 12-month role as station manager evolved into a long-term position overseeing stations across the North East, including York, Malton, Seamer and Scarborough.
Mr Drewery said: "I’ll always be proud to have been based at Middlesbrough.
"The staff are one big team of passionate railway professionals."
He plans to enjoy retirement by exploring the UK’s inland waterways on a narrowboat.
He said: "A part of me will always be a station manager, but retiring feels right.
"I’m looking forward to remote moorings and a back-to-basics life."
Andrew McClements, Customer Experience & Transformation Director at TPE, said: "Mike’s warmth, experience and dedication have made a lasting difference to colleagues and communities across the North East.
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"He can be incredibly proud of his contribution to the railway.
"On behalf of everyone at TPE, I’d like to thank him for 20 years of commitment and wish him a long, happy and well-deserved retirement."
Mr Drewery’s career is a testament to his passion for people, teamwork, and his lifelong connection to the railway.