Two dreams have come true for a man from Grantham in Lincolnshire when he celebrated a large win on the National Lottery by becoming a train driver for a day on the Great Central Railway.

Pete Thursby has held a lifelong passion for trains since he first became fascinated by them when he was aged 7.

He first stepped into a locomotive cab 25 years ago, and has now realised his dream of actually driving a train after he won £164,357.70 by matching five main numbers and one lucky star in the EuroMillions draw on 3rd July.

Pete will never forget that moment, just as he hasn’t forgotten the first time he spotted a Class 33 on the daily 11.00 am Reading to Redhill newspaper and parcels train from a window of his school aged 10.

Perhaps unsurprisingly for a man who spent decades pursuing his first dream, Pete was remarkably calm when he discovered he had won. One of Pete’s most memorable moments came when he shared the news with his family.

Once the win was confirmed, he messaged his three children, telling them he had some good news. They met for a meal, where he could utter the magic words, “I’ve won the Lottery.”

The win will allow Pete time to enjoy and explore more railway lines, especially since he lives near the Great Central Railway, a heritage line that operates steam and diesel locomotives. Further afield, he has always wanted to travel on the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada, so that could be his first big trip.

Sharing Pete’s time celebrating onboard a diesel locomotive at the Great Central Railway was Penny Yeates, the Winner’s Advisor from Allwyns, which operates the National Lottery.

The National Lottery has a long record of making grants to railways around the country. It made a £250,000 grant towards last year’s Railway 200 Exhibition train and The Greatest Gathering, and in January it made a £3.7m grant to the Talyllyn Railway.

“Pete’s story goes to show dreams really can come true! And while he won’t have that diesel locomotive on his driveway, we wish him well as he enjoys some of the incredible railway adventures around the world.”

Penny Yeates, Allwyns’ Winner’s Advisor to Pete Thursby