Volk’s tops night of narrow gauge success
The Volk’s Electric Railway proved the big winner in the 2024 HRA Awards, on a night where a host of narrow-gauge projects and people were successful despite being ranged against very high-profile standard-gauge opposition.
Organised by the Heritage Railway Association and colloquially known as the heritage rail ‘Oscars’, this year’s event was held on 10th February in the Sussex seaside city of Brighton, home to the Volk’s line.
The 140-year old 2ft 81/2-inch gauge line took the Railway of the Year title, emerging from a remarkable all-narrow gauge shortlist which also included the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway and Seaton Tramway.
The award citation stated that the Volk’s line’s “friendly staff and impeccably preserved cars offer visitors a unique and unparalleled Victorian seaside experience.”
It also highlighted the line’s commitment to sustainability, extending to preserving its natural surroundings – “they are environmental pioneers,” the citation read.
The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway’s construction of new-build double-Fairlie locomotive ‘James Spooner’ won the Coiley Award for Steam Locomotive Engineering, beating the Richmond Light Railway’s restoration of Bagnall 0-4-0ST ‘Pixie’ and the overhaul of main-line A4 Pacific ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’.
The Seaton Tramway was triumphant in the Environmental Innovation Award for its ‘Natural Seaton’ Festival which highlights the natural and cultural heritage of the tramway’s surroundings.
Winning for its marketing and communications was the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway. And staying in marketing, the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway’s Osian Hughes was named the movement’s 2024 Rising Star for bringing a fresh but informed perspective to the way the Welsh line carries out its marketing.
Finally one of the most popular awards of the evening was taken by the Talyllyn Railway’s Tracksiders. This innovative programme, started on the Welsh line in 1997, has seen under-14s given the chance to carry out hands-on volunteering on the line, at the same time keeping their parents involved at a time when many railways lose volunteers for a period of several years while they bring up their families.
Over the years Tracksiders have carried out 4,200 days of volunteering and seven members who took part in the 1998 event are still on the line some 24 years later.