Trust’s £20k appeal is launched to help save trolleys and equipment

THE Rail Trolley Trust has launched an appeal to raise £20,000 to enable it to restore, transport and securely store several of its trolleys and equipment in 2022, at both its Chasewater and Tanat Valley railways bases.

The trust encompasses a broad selection of 32 personnel trollies and 21 trailers, along with auxiliary equipment, including trolley turntables, water pumps and steam cleaners also made by Wickham & Co. Ltd. Amid the various types of trolley the trust owns is Type 27 Mk.3 Works No.6857, which was used in the 1966 Braywild film The Great St Trinian’s Train Robbery, and this is one of the vehicles set to benefit from the appeal.

The latest additions to the collection arrived at Nant Mawr on the Tanat Valley on March 3 in the shape of Permaquip Mk.2 personnel carriers DX68805 Brian and DX68806 Ermintrude, both built 1986, being transferred from private ownership by Tom Spence at the Aln Valley Railway.

A full survey will be undertaken to assess their condition and allow a restoration plan to be drawn up, with the immediate shortterm plan being to make them watertight and secure.

They have also taken ownership of MOD target trolley No. RTT/767091 from the Orkney Museum in Kirkwall. This design of unmanned vehicle would carry large three-dimensional wooden representations of armoured vehicles intended as target practice for infantry troops being trained in anti-tank gunnery.

Lesmac (Fasteners) Ltd has also donated a quantity of Swift trolley and trailer parts for use on other vehicles in the trust’s asset list.

Donations can be made by bank transfer direct to the Rail Trolley Trust’s bank account (sort code 30-98-90, account no. 17492768). For more information, visit www. railtrolleytrust.co.uk