John Keavey was a founder member of the railway, a man full of ideas and ahead of his time. John was the founder of the Embsay Railway bookshop, a keen industrial archaeologist he organized Summer schools at the railway in the early 1970s and published many books and pamphlets on the subject. John’s enthusiasm and positive attitude was a key driver in the development of the railway. His love of books was such that I believe that had he not devoted all his time and energy to the railway’s development he would have opened his own bookshop specialising in industrial heritage, transport and railways.