A LIFE-LONG railway buff who was a West Somerset Railway ticket inspector while still at school has become the line’s new general manager.

Justin Kerr-Peterson, 36, was chosen from 22 candidates to succeed Paul Conibeare, who left last year. He has been involved with the West Somerset Railway (WSR), both as a volunteer and later in an executive role, for over 20 years.

He has worked for Great Western Railway as senior possession strategy manager at Swindon, co-ordinating track repair works since 2017, and previously as a senior manager for Network Rail from 2013. 

Mr Kerr-Peterson has also had a parallel WSR career since 1998 when he joined the railway’s youth organisation, the Trackers Youth Group, as a teenager.

After being a travelling ticket inspector, he became a guard while studying archaeology at Bournemouth University. He then joined the WSR’s commercial department full-time as assistant to the general manager and finally deputy operating superintendent, before moving to GWR seven years ago.

“I am absolutely thrilled and proud to be re-joining the West Somerset Railway ‘family’ on a full-time basis,” he said. “The WSR holds a very special place in my heart.”

More about Justin Kerr-Peterson in today’s Free Press (February 28).