People

Steve Davies MBE

Steve Davies MBE

A former Colonel in the British Army, Steve has been a lifelong railway enthusiast, and is involved in a significant number of heritage railway projects. It was whilst on secondment to the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces that he exercised his personal initiative to create the Country’s National Railway Museum, which he remains closely associated with as President of the British Charity, The Friends of The Sierra Leone National Railway Museum.

On retirement from the Army he subsequently served as Director of the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, then as Director of the National Railway Museum in York. Now Steve is President and a Director of a private company owning and operating a main line steam locomotive, and is foremost a natural leader and organiser who looks forward to positive and constructive engagement with international clients.

Helen Ashby OBE BA FMA

Helen Ashby OBE BA FMA

Helen joined the National Railway Museum in July 1982 as a junior curator rising through the ranks to Head of Knowledge & Collections in 2003, managing all collections activities at the museum. Between 2000 and 2001 she worked on the development of SPECTRUM Knowledge, the UK Standard for Collections Information Management. During that period she also published the Railway Object Names Thesaurus in association with colleagues across the railway heritage sector.

Helen serves on the Heritage Committee of the Heritage Railways Association and is Chair of the British Charity Friends of The Sierra Leone National Railway Museum. She is also engaged as a consultant advising a joint enterprise between Leicester City Council and The Great Central Railway in developing a brand new museum.

Professor Colin Divall BSc, MSc, PhD, FRHistS

Professor Colin Divall BSc, MSc, PhD, FRHistS

Colin enjoys an international reputation as a railway historian with a particular expertise in heritage and museums. The author or editor of six books, Colin brings his extensive knowledge of global railways to open up the past to a wide range of audiences, strongly believing that heritage and history have powerful roles to play in shaping our understanding of the railways’ future.

Colin’s main research interests are in the history of transport and mobility, the history of technology, and the public histories of both of these fields. Colin is a member of the editorial board of the International Journal for the History of Engineering and Technology, a member of York Management School’s Centre for Evolution of Global Business and Institutions, and is frequently to be seen on TV as a subject matter expert on a variety of railway-related documentaries and programmes.

Richard Gibbon OBE, BSc, Eng, C Eng, FIMechE

Richard Gibbon OBE, BSc, Eng, C Eng, FIMechE

Richard Gibbon is one of the most accomplished and experienced railway and mechanical engineers in the United Kingdom, with a strong focus on heritage equipment. Formerly the Head of Engineering at the National Railway Museum in York, he has been intimately involved in the restoration and operation of a number of important steam and diesel locomotives.

He has authored twelve publications and papers, and has appeared on many TV programmes as an expert consultant. Amongst the numerous accolades bestowed on him in recognition of his considerable achievements are the Institute of Mechanical Engineers 150th Anniversary Gold Medal (in 1997), the Heritage Railway Association’s Plaque for Outstanding Achievement (in 2003), and appointed Honorary Chief Mechanical Engineer to the Friends of the National Railway Museum in 2006.

Stephen Middleton

Stephen Middleton

With a background in timber technology and marketing Stephen was able to restore carriages to a high standard and market them so that they could make sufficient income to cover ongoing maintenance. He was passionate about sharing these skills and established the annual carriage restorers' convention in 1999. Stephen’s ten pre-1914 carriages have won several awards and are used on heritage railways to encourage a wider appreciation of vintage railway travel. Stephen has restored a unique standard gauge locomotive, rescued and headed the £750,000 UK heritage Lottery Fund-supported North Eastern Railway pioneering 1903 petrol electric ‘Autocar’ and auto coach.

Stephen is often invited to present his work, encouraging co-operation between individuals, groups and State organisations to give optimum results. He was appointed council member of the Transport Trust in 2014 and is a firm believer in mutual co-operation and friendship to achieve ambitious objectives.