Fundraising is on track with £11k of £17k target
A FUNDRAISING appeal to purchase and restore three train coaches which will run on the new line into Leek has raised more than £11,000.
Churnet Valley Railway said they were delighted to announce that the line’s coach appeal has surpassed the £11,000 mark.
Seeking £17,000 to cover the purchase and transport cost of three railway coaches that are all eventually to be restored for the expansion of services to Leek, the railway acknowledges this is a difficult time for many making the achievement even more impressive.
The three coaches were bought before the global pandemic took hold, and while the railway is currently in shutdown the bills for these still need to be paid despite the line’s main income stream currently being shut off.
A spokesman for the railway said: “Having flown past the halfway mark, and raised over 65 per cent of the target, the appeal remains open to those wishing to help.
“Donations of all sizes are welcome, with some people donating the price of pint while others have donated the cost of a day out to the CVR.
“Donations have been received in memory of loved ones who have some form of association with Leek and/ or the railway, while others have just wanted to help “their” railway in one way or another.
“Whatever the support, whatever the reason, it is all welcomed and appreciated by the hard-working volunteers of the Churnet Valley Railway.
“The railway has long hoped to return trains to the Moorlands largest market town and, having received an 80 per cent grant from the European Agriculture Rural Development Fund, efforts are now concentrating on ensuring contracts and necessary legal paperwork is all in place so that a start can be made as soon as the current restrictions on movement are lifted.
“With many people asking how can they help, the coach appeal is one such way to do so for now; with further schemes and appeals to be announced later in the year that will allow supporters of the line to get as actively involved as they wish with Reconnecting Leek.
“Having checked up the coaches respective histories, one has had a bit of excitement in being used to carry Royalty. The 3809 was built at York in May 1953 but was introduced on the Western Region as part of the batch W3789-W3823. In a twist of fate, it was transferred to York in June 1975, joining the Eastern Region and becoming E3809.
“Due to a lack of electric heating, British Railways put the vehicle up for sale on a tender list in August 1982, and after being viewed by a pair of gentlemen from the Midland Railway Centre (MCR), the vehicle was purchased and transferred to Butterley alongside an RMB Coach that December.
“Originally used by the MRC for their dining train, E3809’s claim to fame arrived in March 1986 when the vehicle was used to convey HRH Princess Anne along the MRC running line during a visit on behalf of the government Manpower Services Commission scheme that was utilised at MRC. Not long after the vehicle was replaced in the dining train and became part of the general running fleet before being withdrawn for repairs in the 1990s that never materialised due to an evergrowing job list. Now being bought by the Churnet Valley, it will gain a new lease of life with restoration to begin as soon as the national shutdown restrictions are lifted.”
To donate to the coach appeal go to: www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/cvr_ coaches.