Freddie and the Steam Trains: Book 1: Early Days

This is a 1950s story of a young man, Freddie Allard who leaves school at 15 to start a career on British Railways. Freddie has watched trains from an early age and has always wanted to work on the railway, now his dream has come true and he will be paid for it too! Freddie and the Steam Trains, Early Days, is the first book in the series that tells the story of the Authors early career starting as a steam train Cleaner. The oldest of two lads, post war, Freddie is used to hard work helping his Mother and Gran make the most of food rationing, and is striving to overcome a difficult relationship with his Father. However, having arranged to start on the Southern Region at Ashford he has a setback when his Father's work takes them away to Hertfordshire. His Father is opposed to him working on the railway, and wants Freddie to join him at as an apprentice at the De-Havilland Aircraft Factory. Freddie loves his Father but goes against his wishes as a friendly railway Clerk helps him to go to Watford Junction where he starts as a Cleaner on the London Midland Region. Follow Freddie's adventures as he starts work, is coached and nurtured, gains skills, knowledge and experience, overcomes mistakes, meets many railway characters, settles into the cleaning routine and other dirty jobs, learns the harsh discipline of railway life and overcomes his Father's opposition to his chosen career. During the next year he slowly learns about the railway and steam engines and, as he approaches 16, prepares for promotion to Passed Cleaner. The next book sees Freddie beginning training as a Fireman on the footplate, but that is another story.