Chasewater earns lockdown income – as a takeaway!

A CORE element of the Chasewater Railway has remained open during the pandemic and continues to provide a vital income stream.

Conforming to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions and faced with the loss of revenue through the enforced lack of trains, the heritage line turned its Sidings tearoom at Brownhills West station into a takeaway in June, and the service has continued.

Buoyant

Trustee Dan Weeks said: “It has had a really good response and is keeping the railway buoyant through the pandemic.

“It is busiest at the weekends with walkers in Chasewater Country Park. We maintain social distancing rules and require customers to wear a face covering at all times.

“Our onsite model shop has also brought in much-needed funds with predominantly online sales at chasewaterrailwayshop.com – we also offer a click and collect service from Brownhills West station.

“We have had to think outside the box during the pandemic. With a lot of time spent information gathering, risk assessing and making several phone calls to various government bodies, we were eventually allowed to run our Santa specials, which sold out within 24 hours.

“Although it was a much smaller affair than usual, we managed to bring the magic of Christmas to hundreds of local people, which we are all most proud of.”

Funding

Dan added: “Even though we made several applications for grant funding to help us through the pandemic, we appear to have been largely overlooked.

“We did, however, receive a small grant from the Arts Council to help keep the electricity on in the museum and a £10,000 grant from the local council at the start of the first lockdown.

“We are of course very grateful for these grants, but we have had to adapt and change the way we run the railway in order to survive.

“Due to the lack of income, our

The Sidings tearoom at Brownhills West is earning income in lockdown as a permitted takeaway. CR

restoration works have largely stalled, leaving a number of unfinished projects to complete.”

The railway is trying to raise a further £10,000 through public donations at www.crowdfunder. co.uk/chasewater-railway-pandemicsurvival