A charity that runs a heritage railway has appointed Abbie King as its first chief executive.

King will lead the Swanage Railway Company, which is the wholly owned operating company and agent for the Swanage Railway Trust.

The Swanage Railway Trust is a south-east Dorset based heritage charity that exists to preserve the heritage of the railways of southern England and especially of the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset.

It also works to re-establish a rail link between Swanage and the national rail network at Wareham.

King was previously director at the homelessness charity Shrewsbury Ark, where she developed the charity’s business, board and mission, as well as creating financial systems and supporting staff with their development.

She has worked for Weymouth Museum and was visitor services manager for the Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset. 

King was also director of the Shire Hall historic courthouse museum in Dorchester before becoming chief operating officer at the Ironbridge Gorge museum in Telford.

She said: “I am looking forward to coming back to Dorset and joining the established team at the Swanage Railway to help make sure the wonderful heritage line is future-proofed for generations to come.”

Frank Roberts, chair of Swanage Railway Trust, said King’s role is crucial and part of an important plan to take the Swanage Railway to the next stage of its development.

“There is so much the Swanage Railway can achieve to develop its current operation,” Roberts said. 

“Abbie’s appointment, as our new chief executive, will bring fresh ideas and an injection of experience and energy at the top of the Swanage Railway Company’s management team.”

King will join Swanage Railway on 17 March.