Tom Swaby was the station master at Woodlesford from 1953 until 1970 when it became an unmanned halt. He was born in Driffield in the East Riding and served in the army in North Africa and Italy duing World War II. After he retired he emigrated with his wife to Australia to join his son Sydney who had already moved there. Here Sydney, who now lives in Melbourne, talks to Howard Benson about his father's life and career as a railwayman.
Tom Swaby in the station house garden in the early 1960s.
Future trainspotters! Stationmaster Swaby talks to Clifford Brunt and his grandchildren Nicholas and Christopher. Clifford was a wages clerk at Water Haigh colliery and lived on Aberford Road opposite the Ritz picture house.