At the age of 17, Henry Ivatt became apprentice to John Ramsbottom, at the Crewe Works of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR). After working as a fireman for six months he occupied several posts before becoming locomotive engineer of the GS&WR, of Ireland, at Inchicore in 1882. Following this, in 1895, Ivatt returned to England and was appointed Locomotive Superintendent of the Great Northern Railway (GNR), succeededing Patrick Stirling in the post. He retired in 1911.