West Somerset Express

    6024 waits with the Somerset Coast Express  4160 runs round at Minehead  6024 at Minehead  4160 comes on to her train at Minehead  Sentinal and Foden steam lorries at the Steam Fayre

STOP PRESS

New General Manager for West Somerset Railway

 The West Somerset Railway has appointed a new General Manager.  He is Paul Conibeare (42) who lives at Bishops Lydeard, near Taunton.  Paul is currently the company’s Traction Inspector and is responsible for running the very popular Steam Experience courses.  Previously, he was Managing Director of the Bure Valley Railway, a successful narrow gauge line in Norfolk.

He moves up to replace Mark Smith who retires after 16 years as Managing Director of the railway from March 10th, and Paul will take up his duties from Monday March 13th, just before the Railway’s Spring Steam Gala. 

At the same time, Andrew Forster, the railway’s Chief Mechanical Engineer will take on broader responsibilities for locomotive policy and procurement and will report to the company’s Executive Group.

Chris Austin, Chairman of the West Somerset Railway plc said, “We are delighted to be appointing Paul as General Manager of Britain’s longest heritage railway.  He was selected from over 100 applicants for this post, and will bring to it drive and enthusiasm as well as a wealth of practical experience. 

“At the same time, and along with the rest of the WSR Board, I would pay tribute to Mark Smith for his commitment and professionalism which has helped this railway increase its business and its reputation over the last 16 years.  His contribution has been significant, and I am pleased that he will stay on the Board as a non-executive director and continue his involvement with the West Somerset Railway Association.”

Paul Conibeare said “I am pleased to be taking up this challenging post at such an exciting time in the railway’s development.  I look forward to working with colleagues to continue the successful growth of the last ten years and to build on the developments planned, including the upgraded main line connection and the turntable proposals for Minehead.”

 

From the West Somerset Railway plc

Subscribers can go to westsomersetexpress (plain text) or westsomersetexpresshtml (html version) to manage their subscription.

WSR Links:

West Somerset Railway -an unofficial site full of information and photos of the West Somerset.

West Somerset Railway Association - the Association is the main support group on the line.

The Official West Somerset Railway Web Site - for trains times and fares etc.

West Somerset Railway, heritage steam and diesel trains - pages of photos of the WSR.

Diesel & Electric Preservation Group Ltd (DEPG) - who look after the line's diesels.

 

 

 

© 2006 S G J Huddy.  These pages and the newsletter are independent of, and are not officially supported by, the West Somerset Railway plc or any of the affiliated organisations, unless specifically mentioned on the appropriate page. All information is believed correct but neither this web site nor the Railway can be held responsible for any errors.