On 19 October 1955 Gandell was appointed a director of the New Zealand Railways Commission, and its general manager.
[1] On 13 June 1956 Gandell and the Minister of Railways John McAlpine visited Clyde Engineering in Sydney, and subsequently Cabinet approved on 26 June 1956 a tender for ten DA class locomotives from Clyde, to cost £NZ674,560.
This was 6.6% above the Canadian price, but reference was made to the reciprocal trade agreement with Australia.
Phil Holloway (Labour) asked a question in Parliament on 22 August 1956 about the extra cost.
[3] Latterly and in retirement he was on the New Zealand Ports Authority and the Government Railways Industrial Tribunal.