YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU!
The famous First World War poster emphasised how, before conscription, volunteers were needed during such an important part of history.
Today, it isn’t Lord Kitchener that needs you, but your help, time and funds are needed to help the organisations on these pages reach their goals. The preservation scene is in the position it is because of the support it has received through the years from grants, hard work and donations from the public.
Tireless efforts have been made to bring back locomotives and railways. Many hours have been freely given by volunteers, whether that’s engineering, cleaning, painting, general maintenance, ticket-selling or collecting... or even making well-earned cups of tea. Without them the paid skeleton staff that are employed by the railways couldn’t cope with demand.
Any type of work can be available for a volunteer, even driving a locomotive if you are qualified or you want to learn. These efforts have seen a world, that was once planned on being removed as it was deemed to be out of date, being reborn instead.
Unfortunately, locomotives are not cheap to build or maintain and donations are consistently needed, while projects are getting off the ground with the hope that once they are up and running they will become self-sufficient.
➜ ANY DONATIONS ARE GREATLY RECEIVED AND WILL HELP THIS WORK CONTINUE AND TAKE THE PROJECT A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN THE TRACK.
Tel: 01267 238213.
Running: Mar 21. Apr 4, 5, 8-16, 18, 19, 21-23, 25, 29, 30.
Llanberis Lake Railway
2ft gauge, three miles. Llanberis, Gwynedd. Tel: 01286 870549.
Running: Mar 15, 17-19, 22, 24-26, 29-31. Apr 1-3, 5-24, 26-30.
Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway
Standard gauge, ¼ mile. Cynheidre, near Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. Tel: 01554 759255.
Running: Mar 28. Apr 25.
Llangollen Railway
Standard gauge, 10 miles, footplate experience, wine and dine.
Llangollen, Denbighshire.
Tel: 01978 860979.
Running: Tues-suns. Daily from Mar 31 until Oct 4.
Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway
Standard gauge, two miles. Blaenavon, Torfaen.
Tel: 01495 792263.
Running: W/ES from Apr 4.
Rhiw Valley Light Railway
1ft 3in gauge, ¾ mile.
Manafon, nr Welshpool, Powys. Email: steam@rvlr.co.uk
Running: May 2, 3.
Rhyl Miniature Railway
1ft 3in gauge.
Rhyl, North Wales.
Running: Apr 4-19, 25, 26.
Snowdon Mountain Railway
800mm gauge, 4½ miles. Llanberis, Gwynedd.tel: 01286 870223.
Running: Daily from Mar 20.
Talyllyn Railway
2ft 3in gauge, 7½ miles, footplate experience.
Tywyn, Gwynedd. Tel: 01654 710472.
Running: Mar 21, 22, 28, 29. Daily from Apr 4.
Teifi Valley Railway
2ft gauge, ½ mile.
Henllan, Ceredigion SA44 5TD.
Tel: 01559 371077.
Running: Suns.
Vale of Rheidol Railway
2ft gauge, 11¾ miles. Aberystwyth, Ceredigion.
Tel: 01970 625819.
Running: Mar 14, 15. Daily from Mar 21 until Nov 1.
Welsh Highland Heritage Railway
2ft gauge, one mile. Porthmadog, Gwynedd.
Tel: 01766 513402.
Running: Apr 4-18.
Welsh Highland Railway
2ft gauge, 26 miles. Caernarfon, Gwynedd.
Tel: 01766 516000.
Running: W/ES, B/HS, Weds-thurs + Mar 31, Apr 6, 7, 14, 17, 20, 21, 27, 28.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway
2ft 6in gauge, eight miles, footplate experience.
Llanfair Caereinion, Powys.
Tel: 01938 810441.
Running: Apr 4-19, 25, 26.
SCOTLAND
Almond Valley Railway 2ft 6in gauge, ¼ mile. Livingston,west Lothian.
Tel: 01506 414957.
Running: W/ES.
Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway
Standard gauge, five miles. Bo’ness, West Lothian. Tel: 01506 822298.
Open: Daily. Running: W/ES, Tues +Apr 8, 15.
Caledonian Railway
Standard gauge, four miles. Brechin, Angus. Tel: 01356 622992.
Running: Apr 11, 12.
Keith & Dufftown Railway
Standard gauge, 11 miles. Dufftown, Banffshire. Tel: 01340 821181.
Running: Apr 10-12.
Royal Deeside Railway
Standard gauge, one mile.
Milton of Crathes, Kincardineshire.
Tel: 01330 844416.
Running: Mar 21, 22. Apr 5, 8, 11, 12, 15, 18, 19, 26.
Lothalmond Railway Museum
Standard gauge, ½ mile.
Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lothalmond, nr Dunfermline.
Open: Suns. Running: Apr 12, 26.
Strathspey Railway
Standard gauge, 10 miles. Aviemore, Inverness-shire. Tel: 01479 810725.
Running: Mar 28, 29. Apr Wed-sun + B/HS.
IRELAND
Cavan & Leitrim Railway
3ft gauge, ½ mile. Dromod,
County Leitrim.
Tel: 00353 71 9638599.
Open: Sat-mon.
Downpatrick & County Down Railway
Standard gauge, four miles, footplate experience. Downpatrick,
County Down.
Tel: 028 4461 5779
Running: Mar 22. Apr 11-13.
Stradbally Woodland Railway
3ft gauge, ½ mile. Stradbally, County Laois.
Running: TBC.
Waterford &
Suir Valley Railway
3ft gauge, six miles. Kilmeadan,
County Waterford.
Tel: 00353 384058.
Running: Apr 11-13.