A TEENAGE rail fan is making sure events run to timetable at the region's newest tourist attraction.

James Stoker turned his pictorial record of September's first day at Locomotion, the National Railway Museum, in Shildon, County Durham, into a calendar that will be given pride of place in manager George Muirhead's new office.

The 13-year-old, from Thornaby, near Stockton, wants to be an engine driver or signalman and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of trains and locomotives. He is spending much of his half-term break touring rail attractions and went back to Locomotion yesterday to present his calendar.

James has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, and is a pupil at Westlands Special School. He recently spoke about his condition at a conference in Stockton.

He said: "I just love trains. I know a lot about them and my family take me all over the country to see them."

His grandfather, Norman Kitchen, from Sedgefield, helped him produce the calendar on a computer.

Mr Muirhead said: "The pictures are beautifully clear. James could teach me a lot about computers."

Published: 26/10/2004