ABELL, Paul (Class of 1970)

ABELL, Paul (Class of 1970)

The following obituary was written and published by https://www.railfuture.org.uk. 

Paul Abell, previously editor of Today's Railways UK

Paul Abell’s interest in railways was fostered by a number of childhood experiences including a round trip on the Liverpool Overhead Railway and being left on the cattle dock at Doncaster to watch the A4 steam locomotives, going through at 60 mph while my grandmother went shopping.

Student holidays included a summer on the Isle of Man Railway at Ramsey and three summers as a conductor on the Blackpool trams.

Paul obtained a degree in mechanical engineering, followed by naval training at Dartmouth and sea time in HMS Hampshire.

After 14 years as an engineering manager, Paul spent 22 years teaching maths, before becoming editor of Today's Railways UK in 2009.

He was a workshop volunteer and London area publicity officer for the Talyllyn Railway from 1981-89, and has been a conductor and workshop volunteer at Crich Tramway Museum since schooldays.

Paul became Railfuture vice president in 2015, and regrettably passed away in [October] 2021.

The following obituary was published in Railwatch magazine:

It is with great sadness that we have to report the sudden death of Railfuture vice-president Paul Abell.

Paul was a fierce advocate of railways and particularly of light rail; he had been a regular contributor to Railwatch since becoming a vice-president of Railfuture in 2015.

Paul has championed the issue of Access for All through the pages of Railwatch. Paul’s interest in railways stemmed from childhood experiences including a trip on the Liverpool Overhead Railway and observing A4 steam locomotives on the East Coast main line.
He acquired a passion for trams and light rail and, while a student, spent a summer as assistant stationmaster at Ramsey on the Isle of Man, followed by three summers working as a Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway conductor.

He obtained a degree in mechanical engineering, which was followed by naval training at Dartmouth and a period at sea as an engineering officer with HMS Hampshire. After 14 years as engineering manager at places as varied as British Steel Aldwarke and Watney’s Brewery, Mortlake, Paul studied for a post-graduate certificate in education and then spent 22 years teaching mathematics.

Paul joined Platform 5 Publishing in 2009 as assistant editor of Today’s Railways UK and was elevated to editor the same year, where he remained until retirement in 2015. He continued to contribute articles, and photo, particularly on light rail and heritage matters.
Paul was heavily involved at the National Tramway Museum at Crich, both in the workshops and as a conductor, as well as serving on its health and safety committee.

He was also a volunteer at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre at Ruddington and was workshop volunteer and London area publicity officer for the Talyllyn Railway from 1981 to 1989 as well as area officer for the Light Rail Transit Association Sheffield branch until 2018.

Paul’s funeral was held in Rotherham on 19 November. Our thoughts are with his widow, Shirley, his children, grandchildren and all their families.