26-Year-Old Lottery Winner Spends Fortune on Thomas the Tank Engine Train
A Passion for Thomas the Tank Engine
Neil Leighton, a 26-year-old railway enthusiast from Hereford, has made a unique and remarkable choice with his £1 million National Lottery win in 2023. Instead of purchasing a real locomotive, he decided to invest his fortune into collecting Thomas the Tank Engine models, creating a collection that is now valued as highly as a real train.
Neil won the money just two days after downloading the National Lottery app, playing the Cash Bolt Christmas Millionaire game. Initially, he had plans to buy a full-size train, but he quickly changed his mind, opting instead for memorabilia from the beloved children's TV show. He described this decision as a "wise investment."
His collection includes models of carriages, main sheds where the trains live, and many of the buildings seen in the background of the series. Some of these items needed renovation, but Neil was happy to restore them with the help of friends. Scattered throughout his house are pictures of characters from the show, including Sir Topham Hat, the station controller.
Neil shared with the Mirror that while it wasn't the obvious choice for a National Lottery winner, it was definitely one of the best decisions he ever made. He said: "It’s not the obvious choice for a National Lottery millionaire, but if winning is about making dreams come true, it 100 per cent has made my dream come true, and I’m pretty sure [my] Grandad Bynon would approve."
He also mentioned that the collection isn't the only thing he's invested in. Neil has taken his family on amazing holidays and treated 14 friends to a five-star villa holiday complete with a yacht. He has also upgraded his four-bedroom home with train-themed gear.
Neil has supported various train projects, including keeping the memory of Reverend W. Awdry, the author of the original Thomas the Tank Engine books, alive. The show, which became a huge hit in the 1980s, is based on The Railway Series, first published in 1945. The series features trains with human characteristics going on adventures on the imaginary island of Sodor.
A total of 584 episodes were aired, capturing the hearts of generations. Neil also volunteers at the Talyllyn Railway in Wales, believed to be the inspiration for the books.
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