Lottery winner closer to dream of buying steam tank engine after £1milion prize
A lottery winner is one step closer to achieving the dream of buying his own steam tank engine after bagging a massive £1million prize.
Neil Loughton, a 24-year-old passionate admirer of trains, was hanging out with friends online one evening in his "man cave" when he realised he'd won the lottery. The Part-time Assistant General Manager from Hereford won the top £1million prize on the National Lottery’s 'Cash Bolt Christmas Millionaire' Instant Win Game and has big plans for his winnings.
In his spare-time, Neil makes his own Thomas the Tank Engine films, but now is planning a future where he may own a steam engine of his own.
He said it as an "accidental" win. Describing what happened, he said: "I was in my man cave – otherwise known as the shed in the garden – having a very chilled evening, enjoying a drink and chatting to my friends in the UK and the States.
"Having downloaded the National Lottery app just two days previously, I was also aimlessly playing the Cash Bolt Christmas Millionaire game on my phone. It wasn’t until all the spins had completed that I even looked at the screen where I saw a message 'Congratulations You’ve Won £1million'. At which point I said to my friends 'I’ve won a million' and left the chat."
Woman was 'adamant' she would win top lottery prize - then pockets $200,000
Train connoisseur Neil celebrating his win (walesonline.co.uk)Leaving his friends equal parts baffled and bemused, Neil tried to call up The National Lottery to confirm his win but the phone lines weren’t open at that time. So he jumped back on the call with his friends, saying: "I think I have won on The National Lottery by accident!"
Neil added: "They were so happy for me although there was plenty of joking that only I could have won £1M by accident! We stayed up into the early hours discussing the crazy turn of events and having a little browse on the internet looking at houses and holidays I could now afford.
"I didn’t tell my family the news until I was able to confirm the win for definite the following day. I walked into the house and my mum and dad both jokingly said I looked far too happy, what had I been buying. When I told them I’d bought something - a National Lottery Instant Win Game - and I’d won £1M, Mum screamed, used some colourful language and then was convinced it was a scam."
Neil, who said he intends to keep working for now, continued: "If someone had told me two weeks ago I would be in a position to own a steam train I'd have laughed, but then if someone had told me I’d be a millionaire I’d also have laughed – just goes to show, magic can happen!
"Ever since my grandad took me to see my first steam train when I was three, I have been fascinated. It started with Thomas the Tank Engine and to be honest, I never grew out of it. Now, if I’m not visiting a railway, I’m busy writing and filming my own take on Thomas the Tank Engine storylines which I share online, or collaborating with Thomas fans around the world on future projects. So top of the list is buying my own home, where I can have a train room, an entire space dedicated to trains, and another room for filming and editing my Thomas content.
"And maybe one day, if I’m wise with this win, I’ll swap the train room for my very own steam train."
Neil also wants to treat his families with a few surprises in the run up to Christmas and plans to escape on holiday with his friends in the new year. He described being currently “tempted” by a trip to Canada as well as finally being able to afford driving lessons.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
