[1] In 1882, Gibb joined the North Eastern Railway (NER) as a solicitor and was soon acting as assistant to general manager Henry Tennant.

The railway companies were facing twin pressures from parliament passing legislation to control transport rates and working hours and from expanding trade unions.

Among those he recruited were future transport industry leaders Ralph Wedgwood, Eric Geddes and Frank Pick.

[1][2] At the start of the 20th century he visited the United States to study American transport management methods and restructured the NER's organisation.

[1] Gibb was also innovative in his dealings with the unions; introducing collective bargaining into his negotiations and using independent arbitration to settle disputes.

[1] In 1901, Gibb served on the committee that considered the reorganisation of the War Office and was a member of the Royal Commission on London Traffic from 1903 to 1905.