in 1845, at the age of 22, alfred was resident engineer at malton, supervising railway construction for the contractor, john cass birkinshaw. alfred lived firstly at hillside cottage, malton, but after his marriage on 16 may 1846 to helen, daughter of robert dobson, the stationmaster at strensall, he lived for a time in york where he was visited by his elder brother charles in december 1847.