Avanti West Coast employee Gerry Bowie has marked his last working day on the railway after 47 years’ service.

Gerry, who started his railway career aged just 16, ended his working life as Fleet Interface Engineer at Avanti West Coast.

He lives in the Inverclyde seaside town of Gourock, and checked Pendolino trains at Glasgow before his retirement.

Avanti West Coast hosted a gathering of family and workmates at Glasgow Central station to celebrate Gerry’s career and wish him well in his retirement.

A message of congratulations was displayed on the departure board.

After leaving school, Gerry applied for a railway apprenticeship, and was one of sixty apprentices to join British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL), Glasgow’s Springburn Works. He started his railway career on 7 August 1978.

In 1983, Gerry took up a job at Grangemouth depot, working on diesel locomotives.

For the following three decades, Gerry worked in various roles at locations including Eastfield, Glasgow Central and Polmadie, the traincare depot in Glasgow which is operated by Alstom and which maintains Pendolinos and other trains.

His highlights included opening parts of Polmadie depot, preparing for Voyager trains and assisting apprentices.

In 2013, he became a Service Delivery Manager for rolling stock on the Glasgow Subway.

Three years later, Gerry returned to the West Coast Main Line as a Route Support Engineer, and continued in the role for nearly nine years before moving into his final job.

Gerry worked in Scotland throughout his career. He says that his fondest memory was handing back the Mk3 (British Rail Mark 3) fleet before the launch of the Pendolino trains.

“I’ve come a long way from the spotty teenager outside the gate of Springburn waiting to embark on my railway career. The railway has been my whole life and working with great people has kept me motivated. It’s been quite the journey with many highs that I’ll remember fondly. I’ve met many incredibly talented people and who have helped me and shaped my career. For that, I’m eternally grateful. I would like to wish my colleagues good health, good luck and continued success.”

Gerry Bowie