A Fife train driver has said he was only doing his job after rescuing a three-year-old child he saw running along the tracks.
Martin McManus slammed on the brakes of the locomotive he was driving after witnessing the boy chasing a train he had just passed.
The 45-year-old ran after and rescued the youngster from the line near Wester Hailes. The boy was running after the train that his parents were on.
The child had jumped off an afternoon Glasgow to Edinburgh service and had been left behind on the platform before he decided to pursue it along one of Scotland’s busiest rail routes.
The drama unfolded on Thursday, with Mr McManus, who had been in charge of the Edinburgh to Glasgow service, risking his own life to save the boy, who had run almost a mile by the time he was rescued.
He was successfully reunited with his parents by British Transport Police officers.
Mr McManus said: “He was very lucky. I was very shocked seeing this small child.
“I saw the wee lad running along the track crying so I stopped my train and made sure it was safe,” he added.
“I went out and picked him up and brought him back in.
“He was looking for his mummy and was just asking if his mummy was on the train.”
He continued: “He was halfway between Kingsknowe and Wester Hailes station when I saw him.
“People on the train were trying to work out what had happened.
“I haven’t a clue how he got off the train or ended up down there.
“I’m quite surprised by the reaction, I was only doing my job. Passengers were getting off and thanking me for saving the wee boy.
“It could have been really tragic so I was lucky I spotted him but it’s all just part of my job.”
A ScotRail Alliance spokeswoman said: “Our staff are trained to look out for vulnerable passengers, and on this occasion our driver took swift action to ensure the child’s safety.”
A spokesman for British Transport Police confirmed that the boy had not been harmed during his ordeal, adding: “We can confirm a three-year-old boy was found by a driver along the tracks.
“He was later taken to Wester Hailes and reunited with his family.”
