EVERYBODY hates waiting for trains, and even more so when it does not turn up.

So imagine the annoyance of holiday makers at Blackrod Station one sunny day in April 1968 when instead of delays or cancellations, their train just sped right by!

In a fine display of customer care, leading porter at the station, Helen Reid took matters into her own hands.

When the 10.30 special to Blackpool failed to stop, she used her initiative to come to the rescue and flag down the 10.57 from Manchester.

The quick thinking Mrs Reid refused to let the holiday makers suffer and called on the signalman to get them a ride.

Even though the train was not due to stop at Blackrod, it picked up the stranded passengers who got on the way to their holidays with just a 30 minute delay.

Speaking to the Bolton Evening News, Mrs Reid said: “I realised when the train was going so fast that it wasn’t going to stop. So I contacted the signalman who rushed down the line with the red flag. And I was able to stop the train in time.”