Robert Thornton and Malcolm Wood commenced their careers as architects at the Regional Architect's Office for the Western Region of British Rail in the 1970s, before contributing several decades' worth of architectural expertise to the railway architecture industry. They went on to be Principal Architect for Network Rail and Company Secretary to the Railway Heritage Trust, respectively. Their shared experience of designing for the railway environment, understanding the value of practical conservation and recognizing the unique power of railway buildings in regeneration, has led both to the appointed to the Railway Heritage Trust's Advisory Panel and both are judges for the National Railway Heritage Awards.