Didcot in £200k appeal for water tower and coaling stage
AN SOS appeal for £200,000 has been launched by the Great Western Society to overhaul the 90-year-old landmark water tower and coal stage at Didcot Railway Centre.
Society officials have been advised that without immediate repair and restoration there is a possibility that the iconic water tank could fail at any time, which would make running steam locomotives almost impossible in the short term and also bring about the loss of one of the venue’s most popular visitor attractions.
The overall cost of the remedial works is estimated to be about £300,000. A grant for up to £100,000 has been received from the Railway Heritage Trust, but the society must now find the remainder to complete the works.
Scaffolding has already been erected around the Grade II-listed structure to allow a start to be made on the water tank; this is prior to work beginning on the other parts of the building that are in need of restoration.
It was built in July 1932 to a standard GWR design for a nonmechanical facility, and closed by BR in June 1965.
The water tank holds 74,250 gallons and feeds two water columns at the front of the engine shed, as well as water hydrants around the shed.
It was built as one of the Government-funded improvements to the GWR in the 1930s under the Development (Loans, Guarantees and Grants) Act (1929), which was designed to provide employment in the Depression.
It has been little altered and is now the only example in England still in use for its original purpose of watering and coaling locomotives.
The coal stage embankment also provides a grandstand view of locomotives displayed at the front of the engine shed.
A letter to society members, sent out in January, read: “We cannot leave it to deteriorate further. We now need to restore it to a level where it can service our living collection for another 90 years.
“Whatever help you can give at this time to help us carry out and complete this work during 2022 will be much appreciated and is vital in our efforts to bring back to life or continue running our magnificent collection of locomotives and rolling stock.”
➜ Anyone wishing to contribute to the appeal is invited to send cheques payable to Great Western Society to: Richard Croucher at Didcot Railway Centre, Didcot OX11 7NJ, or by bank transfer to Lloyds Bank – a/c 00091965 – sort code 30-9393.