Buyabucket of coal for the Aln Valley tosecure steamfor 2021

RESPONDING to sector- wide concernsabout theUK’s suppliesof steamcoal, the AlnValleyRailway has launched an appeal to secure essential fuel for the line until the end of 2021.

The‘ One LumporTwo?’ appeal aims to raise around £ 10,000 by supporters funding a JCB bucketful of coal for £ 30.

The railway is conscious that its current local supply of coal, which comes from Shotton open cast mine, will not be available after this summer and plans to open another local open cast pit have not yet been confirmed.

Planning permission to open Highthorn open cast pit has not yet been approved and so the railway wants to stockpile the coal it can locally source now, in order to look at thebest options for supplies going forward.

The line’s operations manager RichardMaughan said:” We are all toowell awareof the limitations we will facewith coal supply. By launching this One LumporTwo? scheme we are securing coal for the 2021 season, giving usabit of breathing space to see what happens with our local opencasts. We really do likeusing local coal as it is supporting our local economy.

If youwould liketofundabucket of coal, email coal@ alnvalleyrailway. co. uk or write to AlnValleyRailway Trust, Lionheart Railway Station, LionheartEnterprise Park, Alnwick NorthumberlandNE66 2EZ.

Theopening of the line’s new platform at Greenrigg has been postponed due to Covid- 19.