Tyne and Wear Metro worker, Steve Griffin, will retire this June following an incredible 43-year career working with the iconic suburban rail network.
Steve, who is from Whickham, began his career with Metro back in 1980, working as an electrician at Gosforth Metro Depot, taking care of the fleet of trains and being part of a team which carried out acceptance testing when the network first opened.
In 1990, Steve moved into a new area which has seen him dedicate 30 years to maintaining ticket machines across all the network's 60 stations. Nexus, who owns and operates the Metro network, has said that Steve's work has been essential in keeping the system moving for so many years.
Steve said:
“It's hard to believe I've been fixing the Metro ticket machines for so long, but I've enjoyed doing it. People often think it's just a box of coins, but there's a bit more to it than that. A lot of work goes into keeping them running. I'm going to miss the job. The team I work with are like a family. What I won't miss are the 6am starts, and being out there working in all weathers.”
Over his years of diligence and ingenuity working with ticketing machines, Steve has supported Metro to stop a great deal of ticket machine fraud.
Steve explained:
“When the Metro system opened in 1980, it was a great time as everything was lovely and new. The first generation of ticket machines were made in France and they only accepted coins. Vandalism did become a problem in some areas. We came up with ways to prevent people from getting the money out of the machines. It worked. Some were trying to use fake pound coins that were made from lead, but we managed to put a stop to that with a modification to the coin readers.”
“Kids would often try and block the old ticket machines with tissue paper, so they could come back later for all the loose change, but we had another modification done which stopped that little trick too.”
“One of my most vivid memories was going out to repair ticket machines in the aftermath of the riot at Meadow Well in 1991. It's something I'll never forget.”
“The old ticket machines had an analogue set-up. They were amazing technology at the time, but the game changer was the new generation of ticket machines, which started going into place in 2012, accepting notes and cards. They've been great for Metro customers, and we had to almost relearn our jobs so that we could maintain them, and also the new generation of ticket gates you see on some Metro stations.”
Steve also got the chance to meet HRH Queen Elizabeth II back in 1981 when she opened Metro and in 2021 got the chance to have a chat with the Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, on a visit celebrating the network's 40th anniversary.
Steve said:
“I got to meet the Queen in 1981 when she officially opened the Metro. I was in a line-up of staff at Gateshead who were introduced to her. I recall she asked me what my role was. Prince Phillip seemed really interested by the fact that I was an electrician, and he asked me how I found the job.”
“Forty years later, I had the huge honour to be chosen as one of the Nexus staff to meet Prince Charles when he visited. He travelled on a Metro train with us, and we had a really interesting chat. He was interested in how we repair all of the equipment ourselves.”
Steve has plenty to keep him busy in retirement and plans to focus on his passion for restoring classic cars and buses. He already owns five London taxis, ranging from 1957 to 2002, and a 1966 London Routemaster bus.
Steve explained:
“I've loved working on classic cars for many years. I like to work with my hands, and that's what I love about it. I'll have more time for that now that I'm not needed to fix Metro ticket machines!”
Steve also plans to spend more time with his family alongside volunteering to repair trams and trolley buses at the well-loved Beamish Museum.
