I like the thought of the two heads of their respective railway companies maintaining a friendship despite their company rivalry. I also like the thought of the Detective coming from the rival company to help out the investigation. This could cause suspicion and make him not exactly trusted by the people who he is supposed to be working for.

So, I’d like to introduce my initial characters to you.

Firstly

Sir Herbert Nigel Gresley, Chief Mechanical Engineer for the London and North Eastern Railway Company. He was knighted in 1936

Known commonly as Nigel, he didn’t seem to use his first name as is shown by the Locomotive named after him, Sir Nigel Gresley

Here’s a picture of Gresley and his namesake locomotive.

and his opposite number

Mr William Stanier, Chief mechanical Engineer of The London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company. He was knighted in 1943.

Yes, these are real people, and they have family that are still living so I will have to be careful what I write about them so as not to incur their wrath and possible legal consequences of a suit for libel.

I want these two men to play a minor though important role in the novel I’m planning to write.

So a good start then. I need to move on to my detectives.

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