civil engineer; district engineer; chief civil engineer; director, civil engineering; Second World War; weather, snow, flood; permanent way maintenance mechanisation; trade unions; track inspection; saloon inspection; track renewal; continuous welded rail; derailment; graduate training scheme; McAlpine; research and development committee; advanced passenger train; business sectors; budget; suppliers; corruption allegation; d.o.b. 1926-03-16, railway work: 1948-1988, London Midland and Scottish Railway; British Rail Western Region; St Margaret's Edinburgh; Port Said, Egypt; Forth Bridge; Tay Bridge; Carstairs; Edinburgh; Glasgow Central; Paddington; Uddingston; Carlisle; Watford; Newcastle;