IT was the end of an era when railways ran out of steam on August 4, 1968.

For engine drivers, such as Arnold Hodgson, it meant a whole new working life.

In this photograph by Hugh Sykes, the two are shown on the very last steam engine to pull into Rosegrove shed, Burnley, that summer's day, a journey which signalled the closure of the depot and the end of steam on British Rail.

For Rosegrove, which in its heyday operated 40 steam engines, was one of the three last depots in the country to run with steam, before diesel locomotives fully took over.

Their engine, a Stanier 8F, number 48773, one of the few to be reprieved from the scrap yard, went on to work the preserved Severn Valley railway in Shropshire.

Jim, who was born in Burnley, started working on the railways straight from school in 1960, at the age of 15, earning £3 16s for a 44 hour week.

Now living in Carnforth, after leaving British Rail in 1977, he said: "The end of steam was a very sad day.

"Every little boy wanted to be a steam train driver and in my experience they had almost human qualities, as you could smell them, hear them and see them.

"I remember the days when everything that moved was pulled by steam and then suddenly they were obsolete.

"Seeing rows and rows of lifeless engines, knowing they were going to be towed away for scrap, was tragic, because there were stories you could tell about all of them."

There was certainly a story about engine 48773 as, during the Second World War, it was deployed in the Middle East, with the British Army.

Later found abandoned in Egypt it was returned to service in Britain.

l Jim believes Arnold's daughter today lives in Colne and has asked readers to contact him if they know her. You can do this through the Looking Back desk on 01254 298223.