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Flag-flying Highland family on track to enter the record books

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A flag-flying mother and son are on track to make the record books.

Florence MacLean from Fort William has been a guard with West Coast Railways for more than 20 years, plying what has become known as the Harry Potter route.

And now, she is being joined on the famous Jacobite train by son Lewis, 18, who has just qualified for the same role.

Company bosses say it is the first time a mother and son have worked on board together since the popular steam train first puffed out of Fort William station 22 years ago.

The new season for the Jacobite began yesterday and the train takes passengers from the town to Mallaig twice a day. The route goes over the famous viaduct at Glenfinnan, immortalised in the much-loved Harry Potter films.

It’s only natural that Lewis decided to follow in his mum’s footsteps, as he was just a ‘bump’ when he first boarded the train.

James Shuttleworth, commercial manager at West Coast Railways, said: “Florence worked while she was pregnant with Lewis then she brought him on board in the pram. This is the start of our 23rd season and although we have had fathers and sons working for us before, I think it is the first time we have had a mother and son on this route.”

Florence, 55, who has worked on the railways for the past 35 years, said: “When I left school, I worked in an office, but it wasn’t for me. I then started with Scotrail, but left in 1995 to work with West Coast Railways.

“Lewis used to help out in the school holidays doing various jobs, so I suppose it’s a natural progression that he wants to work here too.

“As well being a guard, he is also helping as part of the engine crew so he is able to jump between the two jobs.”

Lewis, a former pupil of Lochaber High School, spent five days at Carnforth in Lancashire studying for the guards course then had to pass a written test.

He said: “I still have to sit the practical exam, so at the moment I am part of the engine support crew. The engine was built in 1937 and goes through almost four tons of coal a day, so there is a lot of shovelling to do. We have to be down at the train at 6am to get everything ready.”

But being up front in the engine does have it perks, as Lewis and the crew have their own source of fuel for the journey – they cook sausages for their rolls on the fire.