Western group planting trees to offset its carbon emissions
THE Severn Valley Railway-based Western Locomotive Association is planting trees in the Scottish Highlands to offset the carbon emissions of its two Class 52 diesel-hydraulics.
It has teamed up with specialist rewilding charity Trees for Life to create the new grove in Glen Affric, 15 miles west of Loch Ness. It has been named Whizzo Woods, after the nickname applied to the Westerns towards the end of their BR career.
The group owns D1062 Western Courier, which, as reported last issue, returned to traffic on July 11 following repairs, and D1013 Western Ranger, which is currently under overhaul.
The plantation scheme makes the WLA the first diesel locomotive owning group in the country to become carbon neutral.
In a similar move to help the environment, the Kent & East Sussex Railway is using biofuel in its diesel locomotives and multiple unit (see page 28), while the Talyllyn Railway is also planting trees to offset its carbon emissions, as reported in issue 283.
Paul Finch, the WLA's press officer, said: “One of our board members put it quite bluntly. He said our engines are ‘60-year-old gas-guzzling machines'. And so we decided to take action now, to offset the carbon emissions they produce.
“A Class 52 consumes one gallon of fuel per mile, and an average running day on the SVR is 64 miles.
“We plan to operate on 20 days per year. We know that each gallon of diesel fuel burnt produces 10.9kg of carbon dioxide, so if you crunch the numbers, we'll produce about 15 tonnes per annum.
“Trees for Life has advised that for every tonne of carbon produced, we need to plant 4.19 trees. So, by planting a minimum of 62 trees a year, we will offset our carbon emissions.”
The group has set up a direct debit mandate to purchase half the trees every year, and is seeking donations for the rest. Trees can be purchased for £6 each (plus Gift Aid) through the WLA's website at www.westernlocomotives.co.uk or directly from Trees for Life at https:// treesforlife.org.uk/groves/315992/
“We've already covered the first year, which shows how much support there is for this initiative,” said Paul.
“As well as planting trees, we will, wherever possible, select suppliers that also support carbon neutrality and use environmentally sustainable processes and materials, and have their own clear commitment built into their strategies and policies.”