[3] Geddes then spent 2½ years drifting between jobs like lumberjack and steelworker in the United States, eventually becoming a stationmaster for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, rising to car-tracer.

He was briefly considered as a possible chairman of the London and North Eastern Railway when that was formed at the end of 1922, but the choice fell to William Whitelaw.

[7] During the First World War Geddes was one of the "men of push and go" brought into government service by Minister of Munitions David Lloyd George.

In 1915 Geddes was selected by Lloyd George and given the title of deputy director general of munitions supply, whereupon he left the NER.

Lloyd George, now Minister of War, persuaded Sir Douglas Haig, Commander of the British Expeditionary Force, to invite Geddes and his three-man team over for two days in August 1916 to advise on transportation.

As the British merchant fleet was suffering, Lloyd George transferred Geddes to the Admiralty as Controller with the honorary rank of vice-admiral.

At war's end the world supply of shipping was larger than it had been at the outset, thanks to the growth of the Japanese and American merchant fleets.

Lloyd George's evaluation was that Geddes was "... one of the most remarkable men which the State called to its aid ..."[13] He left the Admiralty in January 1919 and was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

The new ministry was given control over railways, roads, canals and docks, but was criticised in both houses of parliament for giving in to nationalisation and for its large size.

In the autumn of 1921, the handing back of the railways to the companies after state control was being reviewed, which put the Ministry of Transport under further pressure.