Newcarriage shed forAln ValleyRailway

THEAlnValleyRailway is to build acarriageshedas partof the growing complexat its Lionheart station headquartersonthe outskirts of Alnwick.

Northumberland County Council has grantedplanning permission to construct the 100ft long shed at Lionheart Enterprise Park with double- track laid inside and sufficient roomso that two coaches, or one coach and two or three wagons can be worked on simultaneously.

The shedwill be fitted with 12 translucent roof panels and will have roller doors at eachend, and therewill be inspection pits belowrail level.

Next to one of the two tracks will beamobileplatform which will allowwork to take placeat footplate level. A futuredevelopmentwill see amezzanine platform built to allowanoverall viewof the work in progress.

All- weather facility

Railway spokesmanRoger Jermy said:“Theshed is requiredso thatheritagestock canberebuilt undercoverandwill enablework tobeundertakennomatter what theweather conditions, unlikenowwhereithas tobe carriedout in theopenair or, whenspacepermits, insidethe locomotiveshed.

“This will greatly speed up the process of restoration and provide added security for stock and spareparts. It also means thatwork can be carried out throughout the year.

“This isahuge step forward for the railway and will enable volunteers towork on the carriages and wagons vital for the running of the railway.

“This carriage shed will formavital part in the success and the continuityof the Aln ValleyRailway by ensuring that the rolling stock required for the running of the railway will be available more readily than before.”