A TEENAGER who died after suffering kidney failure has been given a tribute which honours his passion for trains.

Louie Butler-James loved the railway from an early age. He was born just around the corner from Brighton Station and loved hearing his father Ray’s tales of commuting.

When he was one, Louie was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome, a condition that causes the kidneys to leak protein into the urine and can cause a range of problems, including the increased risk of catching infections.

Much of his childhood revolved around his beloved trains and by the time he was four, he knew every single train stop along the line.

The family moved to Hassocks in 2005 and, much to Louie’s joy, the new house was right next to the station.

Louie did work experience with Southern and later undertook a train driving simulator test, which he passed with flying colours.

Louie attended Downlands Community School and then Vardean College in Brighton.

His knowledge of all types of trains and stations was outstanding – he didn’t love just trains but everything associated with them. He could tell you which train was coming just by the sound.

Louie died suddenly on March 22 last year following a pulmonary embolism, a risk related to Nephrotic Syndrome. He was just 16.

On Monday, Graham Thrower, station manager for Haywards Heath to Preston Park, unveiled a memorial bench for Louie on the platform at Hassocks Station.

More than 40 family and friends attended.

Parents Louise and Ray said: “To have a bench on the platform in his memory means a great deal to all of us. This is somewhere that family and friends can sit and remember him and is a place where so many people start their journeys – Louie would have enjoyed that. We would like to this opportunity to say huge thank you to our good friend Gayle Newman and Graham Thrower who made all this possible.”

Graham said: “He was a very special young man with a great love of our trains.

“I am so pleased that we could dedicate a section of the platform at Hassocks Station to him and his family in his memory.”