A disabled man with the mental age of a four-year-old child was ordered to take off his costume at a Thomas the Tank Engine–themed event.
Train fan Gareth Bell, 27, was dressed as a station master but a volunteer told him to remove the outfit "because he was impersonating a member of staff" at the Caledonian Railway, his devastated mum Laurie says.
Mr Bell, who has his own ticket office in his family's back garden in Fintry, Dundee, left his beloved hat, jacket and tie on a bench.
Describing her son as a "toddler in a big man's body", Laurie told the Daily Record that Mr Bell didn't understand and called her "Bad mummy" when she told him he had to remove the clothing.
The Bells were on a family day out at Brechin's Caledonian Railway with their son, a Thomas the Tank Engine fan who has a rare genetic disorder called Angelman syndrome.
The condition affects the nervous system and causes severe physical and intellectual disability, requiring life-long care.
Mr Bell, who stands 6ft 3ins, travelled on the Thomas train without his costume after being told to remove it.
Mum Laurie, 52, said: “I’m totally broken and can’t stop crying about what happened.
"Gareth has Angelman syndrome and he’s a gentle giant.
"He is a toddler in a big man’s body.
“The man asked if Gareth could remove his hat, jacket and tie because he was impersonating a member of staff.
"I was also told he had to sit further along the platform away from all the other visitors.
"They blamed health and safety.”
She added: “Gareth has always loved trains and he adores Thomas.
"I just wanted the ground to swallow me up and I thought I was going to start crying.
"But I kept my emotions in check because Gareth was unaware of what was happening.
“When I asked him to take off his costume, he told me, 'Bad mummy'.”
Mr Bell's dad Robert said: “Gareth doesn’t look like he has learning difficulties but not everybody that is disabled is in a wheelchair.
“The situation could have been handled totally differently and it’s a real shame that it has come to this.”
The Caledonian Railway is a volunteer-run, non-profit organisation that operates heritage steam and diesel trains along a four-mile line between Brechin and Bridge of Dun.
For a few days this summer, including the August Bank Holiday weekend, it offered children and train fans a return journey on a Thomas train and a chance to meet the Fat Controller for up to £14 a person.
A spokesman for the railway said: “We would apologise for any upset that was caused, which was never our intention.
“We are not here to single anybody out and this was a case of miscommunication between the two parties.
"We would like to clear the air and invite Gareth to join us next weekend at the station for a look around and a train ride."
