IAN Lyons, pictured, the only man to stop a train with a bucket of potatoes, is finally cashing his chips in after 45 years on the railway.

A native of Halifax, Ian's track record began in 1953, when he took on his first role as signaller at Sowerby Bridge signal box.

He remembers: "I started the day I left school and after several years was given my own box on the Calder valley line before transferring to the next stop at Ludden Foot."

Ian's present home of Blackpool beckoned in 1961 when he moved to the area to take up a signaller's role at Poulton, while helping to run the family guest house in his spare time.

It was during this period that Ian discovered a unique way to stop a train using only the common household spud.

He explained: "I used to peel potatoes while I was in the signal box and left my two buckets, one red and one white, on the steps while I let a train through.

"The phone went and the next thing I knew the steam loco passing through came to a roaring halt.

"I then discovered the driver had mistaken my buckets for an emergency signal. Mind you, he still got to the station on time."

After working on the railways for 45 years, Ian has put the brakes on his career, leaving the Blackpool North No 2 box where he has spent the last three years as a signaller for infrastructure custodian Railtrack.

The father of three now wants to enjoy an active retirement, saying: "It's nice to have the time to do things you've always wanted to do - living in a greenhouse and standing behind a paintbrush."

To help him celebrate his retirement in style, Railtrack held a special evening in his honour, with guests including former colleagues and workmates.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.