Our flourishing and pioneering spirit thrives
IN the year we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Talyllyn Railway becoming the world's first volunteer-led heritage line, the euphoria from the local community that greeted the return of steam to Bala town centre on June 12/13 shines like a beacon in these dismal times.
Raw enthusiasm for the potential that a heritage line can bring to a locality and its economy shows no sign of dissipating. The ReRailed weekend, as reported in News, pages 26/27, worked wonders in raising the profile of the hugely commendable plan to create a major tourist attraction of the heart of a town that is so often largely bypassed by visitors.
The event reminded me of the atmosphere at embryonic rail heritage venues I visited with my dad in the early 1970s when the movement was still very much getting started; the first open days at Tyseley, the Severn Valley Railway running its first trains to Hampton Loade, the Welshpool & Llanfair pushing from Sylfaen to Raven Square, and many others.
The Bale Lake Railway is now flying the flag for us all – big time.
Further down the Dee Valley, the Llangollen Railway is restarting operations after surviving administration in which much of its rolling stock was auctioned to pay off £325,000 debts incurred under the previous regime.
Full credit must go to the officials of the Llangollen Railway Trust, who have not only saved one of the most beautiful lines in the UK standard gauge heritage portfolio by seemingly a whisker but have also manoeuvred it into a position when it can rebuild public services, with the prospect of that showpiece new Corwen terminus on the horizon.
Llangollen needs its railway and the powers that be must do all they can to further its survival, but we can also play our part. The line is now appealing for volunteers in several departments and, of course, is still very much receptive to donations. If you have the chance to visit this year, take a round trip and show your support.
Just as in 1951, the sector heavily relies on public goodwill and enthusiastic volunteers, and in this issue we highlight projects and appeals which deserve your backing. On the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, the overhaul of repatriated WD 2-10-0 No. 3672 Dame Vera Lynn has now begun. Turn to our special feature on pages 50-57 to see how you can contribute.
In Headline News, we report on the appeal to develop the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) in advance of it being linked to its southern counterpart. Its first goal is the reconstruction of the A60 overbridge at Loughborough, which has remained closed since last September.
The big event this autumn may well be the launch of a new example of a lost major GWR class in 4-6-0 No. 6880 Betton Grange at its new Tyseley home. Although the project to create it is now on the home straight, more public support for it can never go amiss.
We are by no means clear of the pandemic but during the past 18 months since the first lockdown was imposed, many of our proud heritage lines have been hard at work behind the scenes, working wonders for the day when everything returns to normal.
Trains have not run for much of that period, but there is certainly no shortage of essential news generated from the sector. At Heritage Railway, we strive to bring you the fullest and most comprehensive coverage of the entire movement every 28 days. At no time in our 22-year history is that task more vital than at present, with circumstances changing by the day – so if you miss a copy, you miss out.
On pages 30-31, see how you can take advantage of our latest subscription offers. Alternatively, if you prefer to buy just one issue at a time but do not want to visit shopping centres, order the next one to be delivered to your door by telephoning our customer services team on 01507 529529 or going online at mrtns.uk/ pre-order-hr
“Many of our proud heritage lines have been hard at work behind the scenes, working wonders for the day when everything
returns to normal.”