Scalar in structure field name

dpath2o has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Dear Perl Monks, I hope a quick question; I had a hard time finding any leads here or here, so I've come here! My problem is that I have a YAML configuration file:

.
.
.
 stations : [ ... , ghed, lanc, ... ]
.
.
.
  ghed :
    table_type   : lluv rdl9
    pattern_type : measured
  lanc : 
    table_type   : lluv rdl8
    pattern_type : ideal
.
.
.
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I read this file in just fine with:

my $params   = HFR::SeaSonde::FileOps->new_operation();
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which calls the package that, for the purpose of this query, does this:

   my $config_file = exists $args{config_file} ? $args{config_file} : 
+$ENV{"HOME"}.'/acorn_perl.yml';
   $self           = LoadFile $config_file;
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and returning back to the calling script:

my @stations = @{$params->{codenames}->{codar_stations}};
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My PROBLEM is this:

foreach my $station (@stations) {
my $table_type       = $params->{local}->{$station}->{realtime}->{tabl
+e_type}; print $table_type."\n"; 
} 
exit;
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which prints nothing and exits. I know my problem is $station as a 'field name'. Is there a solution to this?

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