Profiles

David started with British Rail at Watford Motive Power Depot December 30th 1955.
To gain promotion to Fireman he transferred to Willesden Depot in 1958.
Then he transferred to Camden Depot in 1958, but returned to Willesden in 1963 when Camden closed.
He passed out as Driver in 1963 and was allocated as a Passed Fireman in the Special Link and worked many specials with various engines until Willesden Depot closed in 1965.
David then transferred to Waterloo on the Southern Region and learnt to drive electrics on the Kent lines.
In 1969 he joined London Underground and started at the White City Training Centre on January 4th of that year.
He had to serve as a Guard for six months before finally qualifying as a Motorman at Rickmansworth on the Metropolitan Line
In the summer of 1969 he qualified as a Motorman and was allocated to Edgware on the Northern Line.
In 1971 he was recommended to train as an Instructor at the London Underground Training Centre and completed his training in 1972.
David was promoted to Area Manager in 1979 working on all the Underground lines until 1997, when he accepted voluntary severance.
Living in Tenterden, Kent and close to the Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway he joined the railway as a volunteer and passed out as a Fireman and was rostered most of the time with his cousin Roger "Cherry" Willes.
In 2000 he was asked to become the General Manager of the Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway and a member of the salaried staff. After accepting the job he found out about the terrible financial position that the Railway was in and realised it was going to be hard work.
David reached the magical age of 65 in 2004 and retired again leaving the Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway in a good financial position.

David Lloyd noticed that between Thomas the Tank Engine and adulthood no railway stories existed. So with his knowledge he created "Freddie" who, in the book he has written, follows David's own escapades on British Rail.
"Would I have changed my career", he says? "Not likely I loved every minute of it."

David Lloyd

Ted King did his National Service in the Isle of Wight where he passed his driving test learning to drive lorries.
After completing his National Service, Ted joined British Railways at Watford Locomotive Shed based at Watford Junction. He spent over 40 years on the railway, progressing from Engine Cleaner to Fireman and then passing his driving test to drive Steam Engines, Diesel Locomotives and Railcars, Third-Rail Electric Trains and eventually mainline Electric Trains.
Living in Bedmond near Kings Langley, one of Ted's pastimes was making concrete garden ornaments, mainly gnomes and small animals, a craft which he learnt from his father. He enjoyed making ornaments for most of his life, often selling them at markets and car boot sales.
He also liked cycling and going to Bingo 2 or 3 times a week.
Ted had one daughter and three grandchildren whom he spent most days with and loved to walk their dog round the local Bedmond woods.
He enjoyed his railway job very much and after his retirement still enjoyed meeting up with his old work friends for days out.