London North Eastern Railway (LNER); lad messenger; apprentice fitter; fitter; dieselisation; quality inspector; mechanical foreman; train crew supervisor; privatisation; train performance; childhood; school; first job; joining London North Eastern Railway (LNER), 1945; lad messenger, Ferryhill Shed Aberdeen; messenger duties; prospects; Ferryhill Shed; apprentice fitter, training; Kittybrewster Shed, Aberdeen; Inverurie Works; apprentice, Inverarie Works; completing apprenticeship; fitter; work trial; LNER V2 02-06-02; fitter, Ferryhill Shed; relations between companies, London North Eastern Railway (LNER), London Midland Scottish (LMS); Stirling, appointment as permanent fitter; Stirling; London North Eastern Railways (LNER) loyalty; Blair Athol; fitter's duties; London Midland Scottish (LMS) locomotives; Blair Athol; water column, Dalnaspidae; Kittybrewster shed, fitter; locomotives; servicing; Ferryhill shed; wheeldrop; drivers; training on diesels, 1958; steam generators; brake systems; Diesel Multiple Units (DMU); job interview; quality inspector, Dundee diesel depot; mechanical foreman; duties, train crew supervisor, Perth; train crew supervisor; Perth, duties; privatisation; Railtrack clerk; train performance; retirement; 1995; modelling steam locomotives; d.o.b. 1930-11-03; railway work 1930-1995. Aberdeen, Ferryhill Shed, Kittybrewster Shed; Inverarie Works; Stirling; Blair Athol; Dalnaspidae; Dundee; Perth.