BREDGAR APPEAL

Railway needs £250,000

VOLUNTEERS AT the Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway in Kent have launched a £250,000 appeal to save it from closure.

Following the death of the 2ft gauge line’s founder Bill Best in April 2020, one of Bill’s five sons – also called Bill – stepped in to prevent the railway from being sold to a buyer who wanted to lift the track and have the locomotive collection removed. Items from the BWLR collection were sold to raise funds to secure the line, including Schwartzkopf 0-4-0WT Works No. 9124 Bronhilde, which was sold to the Richmond Light Railway in February. “That especially hurt as that was the first locomotive we had,” said Mr Best. “We’re under pressure to sell more, but we don’t want to do that.”

Volunteer Dave Parfitt added: “Covid-19 has [also] caused a very significant loss of income and, although a considerable number of volunteers have provided their time and support for free, it is possible that without financial help, the sale of the property and railway in its entirety would become unavoidable.”

The £250,000 appeal will not only cover the shortfall in funds required to secure the railway but enable its survival through the winter off-season. Mr Best said: “We need the money as soon as possible really. Ideally, we’d like to have the sum by the end of September, but that’s not going to happen, realistically.”

Money raised will be handed to a charitable trust, which is currently in the process of being established and should be launched early next year, to protect the BWLR’s long-term future and its rolling stock.

●● To contribute to the appeal, visit https://bit.ly/3kjdqGp