Bob Meanley back on the West Somerset board
BOB Meanley has rejoined the board of the West Somerset Railway (WSR) as director of mechanical engineering.
The Board of the West Somerset Railway is delighted to announce two new appointments, with immediate effect.
One of the foremost locomotive engineers of the heritage era, for nearly 25 years Bob was the chief engineer of Tyseley Locomotive Works, overseeing the restoration and operation of much of the Vintage Trains fleet including Castle 4-6-0s No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgecumbe and No. 7029 Clun Castle.
He was responsible for managing the restoration of many other mainline steam engines and for the restreamlining of LMS Princess Coronation Pacific No. 6229 Duchess of Hamilton for the National Railway Museum. He also oversaw the operation of the Vintage Trains operation for nearly 20 years.
He jointly won the The Railway Magazine Preservationist of the Year Award 2020 at the Heritage Railway Association annual awards last February.
Bob was previously a member of the WSR board, but stood down for personal and family reasons in mid 2020. Now he is back, he will be monitoring all aspects of mechanical engineering and will be supporting the mechanical engineering team in developing the locomotive fleet, and the mechanical engineering facilities.
A second appointment is John Gibbins as civil engineering adviser to the board, with a view to joining as director in the near future.
John is a chartered civil engineer and his 45-year career included a period in project management with London Underground. He has worked as a volunteer in the West Somerset locomotive department for the last 20 years and is now a driver and passed fireman.
Prior to joining the WSR, he worked as a driver for 15 years on the Mid-Hants Railway, where he also managed the development of the Ropley yard and became a director of the Mid-Hants plc operating company for nearly four years. John also had a significant role undertaking bridge inspections of all the brick arch bridges.
WSR plc chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt said: “With the addition of Bob Meanley and John Gibbins to the board, we take a major step towards completing the key skills and experience which are essential for the board of a heritage railway. Bob and John are well known to many around the railway and their highly experienced advice and guidance will be of great value.”