Paul Lewin

Paul Lewin

Paul is currently the longest serving Chief Executive of any UK heritage railway, having run the largest heritage railway in the UK for some 20 years. He joined the railway at a critical point with the major expansion plans to more than double the size of the railway coinciding with financial difficulties in the existing operating company. Since then, the FfWHR business has gone from a turnover of £1.9m making a £300k loss, to a £6m business making an annual surplus in the range £100-300k consistently for two decades. The railway, whilst employing over 100 staff, is also supported by over 500 regular volunteers.

Paul led the integration of the new Welsh Highland business into the existing line which included furnishing the railway with new rolling stock and stations. He was the principal point of contact between the ‘Office of Rail and Road’ and the railway company combining operational safety responsibilities with P&L responsibility. An interesting career direction from someone with a background in technical sales, export sales and marketing in the field of specialist electronics.

Marketing continues to play an important role in leading the railway, be it selling the tourist railway offer, fund raising or volunteer recruitment.

In order to maintain a critical mass in heritage engineering skills, the railway has further developed, under Paul’s leadership, to supply other railways with rolling stock and parts. The young and skilled team have built carriages and locomotives from the rails up and continue to do so.

Whilst marketing, sales and fundraising have been a prime focus, the engineering side of things is of great interest too. More recently, a close working relationship with the Ffestiniog Railway Company Chairman has additionally fostered Paul’s interest in heritage buildings.

Paul’s interest in railways started in the family model engineering business, learning mechanical engineering from his father in a hands-on way from an early age. With a career moving towards electronics, steam loco engineering interest was maintained by volunteering at Boston Lodge works (and still does). Paul progressed from driving steam locos to serving on the Ffestiniog Society board as volunteering director. He went on to lead, along with a partner, the Lyd project to fund and build a new build steam loco from drawings. Paul is the custodian of a locomotive owned by the National Trust and has the pleasure of being the owner of 1886 Quarry Hunslet, ‘Velinheli’, currently in the final stages of restoration.