The author was born in south London and developed a love for railways and steam locomotives at an early age. Most of his career was spent in the transport industry, both public and private sector, including ten years owning and running his own bus company. The author spent many hours covering the end of Southern steam and, following this, chased down the remaining steam in Europe between 1970 and the early 1980s. Since retirement he has worked part time for two transport companies and writes a monthly column for a railway magazine. He often travels across Britain and Europe in search of steam.