OBITUARY Frank Santrian

WELL-KNOWN main line steam driver Frank Santrian passed away on August 12, aged 87, writes Mel Thorley. Frank started at 5D Stoke in 1950 as a cleaner, and his career of almost 60 years took him via Aston to Crewe and on to Carnforth. He retired from EWS in 1999 and joined West Coast Railways to continue working on heritage traction.

He spent 10 years on ‘The Jacobite’, eight as driver and the final two as fireman. He also appeared in several Harry Potter films on the footplate of ‘The Hogwarts Express’. His final run was firing for Bill Andrew on former Stoke engine No. 44871 piloting No. 45407 on a Manchester to Carlisle ‘Cumbrian Mountain Express’ on December 30, 2009, at the age of 74.

His funeral was due to take place at 13.00 on September 8 at Christ Church in Biddulph Moor, Staffordshire.