Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Massive support helps get rails back on track
‘We have received an incredible amount of support from everyone who has heard about the incident, to the point where we have been struggling to respond to everyone individually’
Supporters have steamed in to help model engineering enthusiasts after their miniature railway was targeted by thieves who damaged 200ft of track.
The theft last week at the home of the Canterbury and District Model Engineering Society at Bretts Quarry in Sturry was a hammer blow to members who regularly open up the track to families.
But a Justgiving page set up by regular visitor Chris Holloway has already raised almost £1,500 towards repairing the damage and replacing the rails.
Chairman Paul Kemp said: “We have received an incredible amount of support from everyone who has heard about the incident, to the point where we have been struggling to respond to everyone individually.
“It has been truly remarkable in both the generosity and strength of feeling demonstrated by those contacting us.”
Mr Kemp says the site was insured but the settlement will be on a “like for like” basis, with the society receiving less than the cost of laying the new track.
But he said: “In little more than a week, a lot of work towards its replacement has already been done.
“Our members have rallied round and cleared all the remaining debris from the concrete foundations ready for new track to be installed and quotations have been obtained for materi- als to allow the insurance claim to be quantified.”
Members have decided to replace the previous aluminium rail with profiled steel rails which are much stronger and more resistant to vandalism.
Mr Kemp says they hope to start laying the track next month but there is still a lot of preparation work to do.
He also thanked site owner Bretts for its support, adding: “Through the generosity of all we will now be able to keep the cost of replacement down by utilising offers of help and equipment, and the financial burden on society funds will be minimised.”