For some people, a lifetime's work can crystalize in one momentous occasion and for Noel Playfair, that happened on June 28, 2016.
After decades of dedicated service to NI Railways, the Carrickfergus man was "proud as punch" as he became the 'Royal Steam Train Driver' who drove Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip from Coleraine to Bellarena, where the late monarch opened a new platform.
Sadly, the 62-year-old became unwell on duty at work on Monday and later passed away at Craigavon Area Hospital.
Read more: The Queen's Death: A special relationship with Northern Ireland
However, his son Christopher has been chief among those paying tribute to a man who travelled all over the island of Ireland and was fortunate enough to have achieved his dreams doing what he loved.
He said he and his siblings, Gemma, David and Rebekah would miss their father tremendously.
"He joined the railway in 1979 and became a driver in 1981 and remained driving for these past 42 years," he told Belfast Live.
"And across that total of 43 or 44 years of service, he only ever had two days off sick.
"He dedicated his life to the railway and his family.
"I don't know anyone who could match a career like his - he drove trains all over the island of Ireland, he reached Cork, Kilkenny, Galway as well as Rosslare and towards Mullingar."
That love affair with the railways also tied Noel to one of the great sights that harken to an era almost left behind now.
"As well as driving passenger trains for NI Railways, he was also the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland's main line steam driver," Christopher said.
"He drove those trains from 1987 right up to this past Christmas.
"My father was the last remaining steam train driver in NI, qualified - he has left a huge hole in the society and the era of steam on the main line in Northern Ireland."
Among these great career achievements, he was also a loving father and inspired Christopher's life-long love affair with the railways too.
"He has left a huge hole behind him in so many people's lives, in the family, in his railway career and most of all as a dad," he added.
"You know, I look upon him as my railway hero - he got me my interest in the railway and I followed in his footsteps and I also work with the railway.
"For that and for him, I'm really pleased and glad that he gave me that interest and love for the railway.
"I'm just going to miss my railway hero, that's all I can really say."
His partner of 20 years, Rachelle Livie, also paid tribute to the man whom she described as a soul mate and said their four boys, Daniel, Tyler, Ben and Sam had lost the "most amazing father".
She said they would cherish their shared love of the railway, with their eldest son also helping him out at work at times.
"We travelled Europe and England he loved the railway," she said.
"He was building a railway in the loft with his boys, everybody was involved, we were a railway family.
"It's just sad because his two-year-old son was Daddy's boy and everything was about Daddy.
"He was the love of my life and we had went strong for 20 years and we would have continued on if this hadn't happened."
She said he had been one to embrace each day and to try and squeeze the most out of life.
"His motto was that 'life is for the living', he lost his mother last year and he just felt he had to live life to the full," she said.
"I'll take that comfort and try and give my kids the best life I can give them.
"He was the love of my life and I have lost my soul mate and it's the hardest thing."
The man Christopher described as his railway hero would realise one of his greatest dreams in June of 2016, as the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited, with Christopher saying it was one of his proudest moments.
It was a moment that father and son would share, something Christopher reflects on with genuine pride and affection.
"I was with him that day, we were both on the train - he was driving and I was on the train," he said.
"That was a very surreal day but it was over in no time, as my dad said.
"From a family point of view, it was a true memory for father and son to be together on that Royal train.
"He was in his element - he had seen stories of The Queen being driven all over, she had visited in the past and he never thought he would get the opportunity.
"He shook The Queen's hand, he spoke to her and the Duke as well and he was absolutely over the moon and so proud.
"I've never seen my dad with as big a cheesy grin in his life, for someone with such a big love for the railway and the job, when you're doing something like that with The Queen, it was the pinnacle of his career."
Christopher said his father was among the most senior of train drivers in Northern Ireland with his lifetime of experience and he said the family had been heartened by the many people getting in touch to pay their respects.
"Myself and the Playfair family, we'd like to thank everyone for the messages we've received, it really has been such a comfort at this tragic time," he said.
"What I would like to say as well is to pay tribute to the railway staff involved in the tragedy and the health staff at Craigavon Area Hospital, I just want to show my gratitude to them for everything they tried too.
"He'll be greatly missed by us all."
At Translink, colleagues felt the loss of one of Northern Ireland's best-known train drivers and Head of Rail Services Richard Knox paid tribute to Noel.
“We were shocked to learn of Noel’s sudden passing. He was renowned across the business, as an enthusiastic and committed member of our railway team," he said.
"With over 43 years’ service, 40 years as a train driver, he often spoke out positively about his role.
"Many will remember him as the ‘Royal Steam Train Driver’ for Queen Elizabeth II on June 28 2016, when she travelled to open the new station platforms at Bellarena Station.
“Noel will be much missed by the Translink family, and we would like to extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends at this sad time.”
For Noel, a dedicated driver who loved the railways his whole life, the final stop has arrived - but that love of the railways and the journeys therein will continue with his family and in the tributes of the many people whose lives he touched.
A fund has been set up in memory of Noel by one of his friends and colleagues and to help the family with any costs at this tragic time.
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