After working as a passed cleaner for about two years Alex transferred to Watford loco shed where he was promoted to fireman. After a while he took examinations to become a passed fireman qualifying him to be a driver. Much of the work at Watford was on freight and coal trains but they also had turns on the local stopping passenger trains between Euston and Bletchley. As he still lived with his parents near to Camden shed Alex was called out by the foreman there to work on expresses to the north and one unique loco he fired was the Turbomotive which had steam turbines instead of cylinders. His eyes were also opened by what one Bushey mother would do to keep her trackside house warm!