A TEENAGER is on track for a dream career after becoming Britain’s youngest train driver.
Logan Smallwood, 18, drives old-fashioned Sentinel shunter trains along Weardale Railway in County Durham.
The role is voluntary, but he aims to become a mainline driver — where salaries can top £60,000.
Logan, of Lanchester, Co Durham, said: “I’ve wanted to be a driver for as long as I can remember and I’m loving it.
“When I was tiny I’d watch Thomas the Tank Engine and that got me started.
“I started out as a ticket inspector and I worked up.”
The 18-mile Weardale line lets passengers enjoy local history.
The railway manager Claire Gibbons said: “Logan is an exceptional young man and a first-class volunteer.
“He’s passionate, focused, and determined to follow his dream of becoming a train driver.
“His story sends a powerful message to young people.
“Education, hands-on experience, and commitment can really open doors.
“He’s proof that volunteering and vocational learning aren’t just alternatives, they’re accelerators.”
Logan Smallwood, 18, drives old-fashioned Sentinel shunter trains along Weardale Railway in County Durham[/caption]