Richard Hardy was formerly the District Locomotive Superintendent of BR Eastern Region.
 
This recording covers his home background and education, with an enthusiasm for railway, which led to an apprenticeship with L.N.E.R. at Doncaster at the beginning of the second world war. His appointment as supernumerary Forman at Kings Lynn and South Lynn in 1947 gave him the experience of the M&GN network and working with a staff of unique railwaymen with an individual outlook. Later he was Shedmaster at Ipswich and found the special qualities of the Suffolk railway workers. All this in the days of steam, just before diesel power and the rising costs changed working procedures completely.