■ The NHS worker caring for a railway in self- isolation
LOCKDOWN has turned into a steam dream for Matthew Armstrong, who in splendid isolation has become the sole occupant of the closed Wells & Walsingham Light Railway.
By day, Matthew carries out his duties as community nurse under Hellesdon Hospital in Norwich, but working from home - which at the moment is a caravan at the 1 0 ¼ in gauge line's Wells- next- the- Sea station. Out of hours, at evenings and weekends, however, the 29- year- old is carrying out track maintenance, ensuring that grass does not grow over the otherwise unused line.
The pandemic has forced him to isolate from his partner Kat Zbrog, 37, a clinical support worker at Julian Hospital in Norwich and with whom he shares a house in the city, as she has worked with people who contracted Covid- 19.
However, the railway has allowed him to share his caravan - with Dave, his 13- year- old black cat, while using the signal box with its sea and sunset views as his office during the day. Apart from Dave, Matthew has been left all alone in isolation on the line.
Patrols
Matthew drives the line's two diesels to access the parts of the 4 ½ - mile line - billed as the world's smallest public railway- because he cannot use the railway's own works van, as it is not insured for drivers under 30.
He also drives the diesels along the line to enforce security, because as with several other heritage lines, the Wells & Walsingham has experienced trespass during lockdown, with walkers wrongly believing that nothing is running.
One Thursday, Matthew fired- up Norfolk Heroine to both give the 2010- built articulated Garratt a run and to record a video for that day's evening's Clap for Carers event honouring the NHS. He said: "Heroine was the prefect loco for a tribute to heroes in our health service, as it is named in honour of Edith Cavell, a nurse who put her nursing duties above all else, much like our brave health staff have had to during this crisis. Working for the NHS myself, I wanted to use it as a thank you to my colleagues too."
Matthew is also doing his best to promote the line's emergency appeal for £ 25,000, set up by director Nick Champion at www.gofundme.com/f/keep- the- wells- walsinghamlight- railway- steaming and which had raised nearly £ 5000 as we went to press.
Not only is the fund essential for covering operating costs while there's no income from ticket sales, but money is desperately needed to keep steam alive on the line.
Norfolk Heroine's 10- year boiler ticket shortly expires, while 1986- built sister Norfolk Hero is currently under overhaul.
Lockdown experience
Matthew, who also volunteers on the North Norfolk and Northampton & Lamport railways, said that because of the loss of venue, the line could be left without both of its steam locomotives.
He said:" I would like to thank the Wells & Walsingham Railway for keeping me safe, housed and entertained. They have gone above and beyond to make me comfortable and happy, including allowing meto bring my cat Dave for company:' Since Matthew's lockdown experience went viral on social media, he has been approached by global organisations including the Washington Post and ITV's This Morning.
In making the appeal, Nick said: "The winter storms this year significantly affected the February half- term with wind speeds above our safe operating limit most of the week. The impact of coronavirus is likely to be catastrophic.
"We are doing all we can to plan ahead and build resilience in the business. We believe that we have the advantage with open carriages and have ensured good standards of hygiene for staff, volunteers and visitors throughout our operation.
"We are selling one of our 1880s GER/ LNER six- wheeler carriages; not because we want to but because we feel we have to make that sacrifice for the business. Cost control has been of paramount importance and continues to be so. We want this lovely little railway to continue for years to come and need your help to do that."
The line's officials have also been drawing up plans for reopening once the social distancing rules are sufficiently relaxed to allow it. Current thinking is that services will run every hour only to Wighton, two- metre isolating distances will be marked on the platform, payment systems without cash or contact as much as possible have been planned, and a one- way system will be operated.