Your favourite heritage railway needs you NOW!
IN the days before we closed for press, several other heritage railways also issued SOS appeals for donations to help tide them over this unprecedented crisis in the 70-year history of the movement. ➜ At The Llangollen Railway, which closed on March 17, general manager Liz Mcguinness appeared in a video on Facebook to reinforce her line’s pleas for financial help from supporters far and wide. The video can be seen at www. facebook.com/llangollen.railway/
A statement from the railway said: “We could potentially lose up to £600,000 over the upcoming weeks. Figures of this magnitude could threaten the very existence of the railway. The only Government help currently available would put the railway into significant debt, which may take years to pay off.
“Please help by donating to give the railway a fighting chance to be able to continue once this current pandemic is over.”
A donate button can be accessed at www.llangollen-railway.co.uk
Alternatively, a bank transfer to the Llangollen Railway Charitable Trust can be made at sort code 53.81.03 account No. 23423455, or telephone 01978 860979 for card payments, or send a cheque payable to Llangollen Railway Trust to: Llangollen Railway,
The Station, Abbey Road, Llangollen, LL20 8SN.
➜ The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway has launched a Victory Over the Virus appeal at www.e-v-r.com/victory/
It said: “The railway’s management is doing all it can to reduce the financial consequences of this emergency upon the railway, but with a weekly operating cost of £5000, the fixed overheads and salaries for our tiny but essential paid workforce mean that the loss of revenue at this crucial time of year as we emerge from the winter break will be crippling.”
➜ The Swanage Railway, which suspended its commercial operations until May 1 at the earliest has invited well-wishers to donate at www. swanagerailwaytrust.org/giving to ensure that the line“is not put into financial jeopardy through no fault of its own.”
➜ The South Devon Railway, which suspended trains from March 17 until provisionally May 16, has appealed for donations at www.southdevonrailway. co.uk/financial-support/
It also urged supporters to buy goods online from top stores under a free scheme which gives a percentage to the railway as a donation. Further details can be found at www.easyfundraising.org. uk/causes/southdevonrailwaytrust/
➜ The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
set up a Worth Saving appeal at kwvr.co.uk/worth-saving/ following the line’s closure on March 19 to all but essential work.
A statement said: “2020 has been a tough year so far. We’ve had to replace a bridge at the cost of £150,000 (see News, page 49); have been hit by the worst flooding in years, leaving us with a heavy repair bill; and now we are expecting further financial loss due to Covid-19.
“We are unsure how long the railway will be closed, but as a registered charity the cancellation of our passenger trains, events and the closure of our commercial outlets will hit us hard. Your donation will go towards keeping the railway afloat.” ➜ The Dean Forest Railway Society
was looking forward to celebrating 2020 as the 50th anniversary of its origins, with several special events planned for the March-november running season. However, it has been forced to temporarily close. There is no guarantee when it will be able to reopen.
General manager Duncan Rowe said: “We have various fixed costs which won’t go away just because we’re closed and these costs threaten the future of our heritage line.”
Supporting charity the Dean Forest Railway Society is asking for help to ensure the survival of the railway, one of the main tourist attractions in the forest. To donate, visit www. dfrsociety.org.uk/dfrs-emergencyfund or visit www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/dfrs-emergency-fund or text DFRS to 70191 to donate £10.
➜ Cambrian Heritage Railways
is appealing for donations at a time of growth for CHR, including the extension project to Weston Wharf. In a statement, it said: “This period of no income after our winter shutdown may impact on some of our activities. Please consider a donation not only to keep our project advancing, but also assist in keeping the local economy moving.” Donations can be made at: www.cambrianrailways.com or by post to: The Treasurer, Cambrian Heritage Railways, Old Station Building, Oswald Road Oswestry, SY11 1RE.
➜ The Gwili Railway has opened an emergency fund in a bid to replace lost income from services. It can be accessed at gwili-railway.co.uk/help-save-therailway
Any surplus money raised will be allocated for the eventual return to steam of RSH 0-4-0ST Olwen and Vulcan Austerity 0-6-0ST Haulwen.
➜ The Nene Valley Railway,
which has been forced to cease train operations and shut its rateable cafe at Wansford, is appealing for donations. Donate online at nvr.org.uk/ or by post to Nene Valley Railway Ltd, Wansford Station, Stibbington, Peterborough, PE8 6LR. ➜ Thewensleydalerailway has set up its emergency appeal at wensleydalerailway.co.uk/campaigns/railwayappeal-2020
Or, you can set up a standing order or make a BACS payment to Wensleydale Railway plc, sorting code 40-35-03, account No. 21319353.
A statement said: “With no operating services we have zero cash flow and revenue and our future looks bleak. Please help by donating to giving us a fighting chance.”
➜ The Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway has appealed for donations at cafdonate.cafonline.org/9557#!/ Donationdetails
Alternatively, cheques payable to W&LLR Preservation Co Ltd can be sent to the Station, Llanfair Caereinion SY21 0SF, ticking the Gift Aid box on the downloaded form.
➜ We are happy to publish details of subsequent appeals from other heritage lines in our next issue, or alternatively, post your appeal details on our www.facebook.com/ Heritagerailway site, which with nearly a third of a million followers, is the biggest of its kind in the sector.