Long Eaton man follows late father's footsteps as train driver

A man is set to follow in his late father's footsteps and graduate as a train driver for East Midlands Railway (EMR).

Owen Gunn, 22, from Long Eaton in Derbyshire, used to take photos of his dad passing through the town on a high-speed train.

Now he is set to get behind the controls himself after moving on from being a host onboard EMR trains.

His dad Darren died in 2021 aged 49, after complications from Covid-19.

Mr Gunn said: "Since I was a couple of feet tall I've wanted to be a train driver. I watched my dad as a young boy drive trains through our local station."

The 22-year-old's mum, Maz, said: "We knew that's where he'd end up. It's just sad that Daz isn't here to see it because we are so proud of him.

"All that we've been through and he's still done it. I'm very proud of him and I know Daz is too."

Darren, who was originally from Kent, came to the East Midlands at about the same age Owen is now to drive freight trains at Toton sidings in Nottinghamshire.

He then went on to run passenger services for Central Trains and East Midlands Railway.

His son is coming towards the end of his training as a depot driver and will soon start shunting EMR trains around at the end of a busy day.

After a couple of years doing that, he said he was hoping to progress to become a driver for passenger services, following in the tracks of his late father.

Mr Gunn added: "Coming home in this uniform, he'd be so proud."

On Monday, he was presented with a special golden key to the train cab, given to all new drivers.

It was handed over by EMR's managing director Will Rogers, who said the special ceremony was to mark Owen's achievement and remember Darren.

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