New Curator appointed at Colonel Stephens Railway Museum
Chris Jackson has been appointed as the next Curator of the award-winning Colonel Stephens Railway Museum (CSRM) at the Kent & East Sussex Railway. He takes over from Brian Janes, who stepped down last year after holding the post since 2010.
Chris Jackson, new Museum curator
Photo by Alison Miles
Chris Jackson has been a valued member of the Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) since 2005 and an active volunteer at the railway's museum in recent years. A long-standing member of the Colonel Stephens Society (CSS), he has played a key role in preserving the legacy of Lt-Col Holman Fred Stephens and the history of his network of light railways.
Chris is currently the Editor of The Colonel, the society’s quarterly magazine, and has served as the CSS representative on the CSRM Museum Committee since 2023.
Chris’s dedication to the railway preservation movement extends to the Bala Lake Railway, where he has been a volunteer since 1973. Recently, he was honoured with the position of Vice-President of the Bala Lake Railway Society, further solidifying his commitment to maintaining the heritage of the railway.
Professionally, Chris has had a distinguished career spanning over four decades at Railway Gazette International, a leading global business and technical publication. He served as Editor between 2006 and 2022, and continues to contribute to the magazine in retirement. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport and an Affiliate of the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers, Chris has made significant contributions to both the industry and the preservation community.
Chris Jackson’s extensive knowledge, passion for railway history, and dedication to the preservation of railway heritage make him a respected figure in both the volunteer and professional sectors.
"I am greatly honoured to have been appointed as the next Curator of the Colonel Stephens Railway Museum", said Chris Jackson.
"It is without doubt one of the best railway museums in the country, with an unrivalled collection of artefacts and archives related to the light railway sector. Founding curator John Miller and his successor Brian Janes have worked hard to develop the museum over more than 25 years, and I hope that I will be able to continue that progress, with the support of a small but enthusiastic team of volunteers.
"I would like to express my thanks to Brian and to Assistant Curator Bob Clifford for their guidance and support, and to the museum committee led by Philip Shaw for their confidence in entrusting me with this important role."