Railway lover Colin is just potty about trains

As a young boy, Colin Cartwright used to watch in wonder as his father built model trains on the kitchen table of their Black Country home.

Over the years his interest in transport grew, so much so he moved 100 miles away to run his very own railway museum in Wales.

Now at the age of 84, the grandfather-of-seven still loves working with trains and says he won't be packing up and retiring any time soon.

"I've always had an interest in railways ever since I can remember," he said. "My father Edward used to construct models.

"I remember seeing him building little models on the kitchen table. I was hooked from there."

Mr Cartwright even has a miniature railway track in his back garden, complete with powered trains.

He said: "My three children used to go on the trains and ride around the track when they were younger.

"It doesn't work now but I've been allowed by my wife to keep it. She has no interest in model trains, but I think interest genrally in model railways is growing.

"Kids these days are getting fed up of just sitting and playing on a computer. I think the quality of equipment is so much better these days.

"They can control their trains now with a computer."

Colin was born and bred in Willenhall to parents Edward, who owned locksmith firm Robert Jones & Co on Walsall Road in the town, and Doris, a secretary.

He was an only child, attending Wednesbury Boys' High School, later training to be an engineer at the Staffordshire and Wolverhampton Technical College.

He set up his own ironmongers firm — Burton's Ironmongers - in Bridge Street, Walsall, in 1950 and ran it for around 20 years.

The business branched out into making and importing model railways and miniature vehicles.

He then took an ambitious step and built a railway line at Walsall Arboretum in 1977, later selling it to Walsall Council for £8,500. In 1989, he decided to buy the Conwy Valley Railway Museum & Model Shop in the picturesque Welsh village of Betws-y-Coed.

"I heard about the museum in Conwy going up for sale and bought the shareholding," continued Colin.

"I thought it had a lot of potential and I was starting to get a bit older and thought it would be a lovely place to work.

"I very much enjoy running the museum. It's a great place. You meet so many people and you all have a common bond.

"You get people coming from all over the world, from the likes of Japan and America."

The attraction also features a miniature railway, which allows Colin the joy of taking visitors on a 10-minute tour of the site. There are also electric model railways, train artefacts and miniature railway engines.

The museum even featured on the BBC show Great British Railway Journeys with Michael Portillo, which aired several weeks ago.

He admitted: "It was great to meet Michael. He knew a lot about trains. It was nice to see the museum on TV as well."

Colin spends the week in Wales, and returns to his family home in Charlemont Road, Walsall, where his wife Christina remains, at the weekend.

He added: "I won't be giving up any time soon, that's for sure."