Prestige for preserved lines at National Railway Heritage Awards
TWO PRESERVED railways won gongs at the 2023 National Railway Heritage Awards on December 6.
Held at the Merchant Taylors’
Hall in London and presented by Transport Scotland’s Director of Rail, Bill Reeve, the NRHA honours the re-use, restoration and continued upkeep of Britain’s railway infrastructure, both on the national network and heritage railways.
At this year’s ceremony, the Wensleydale Railway won the Hendy & Pendle Trust Volunteers Award for the replacement of the North Eastern Railway-style level crossing gates at Crakehall. The gates had been donated by long-standing WR volunteer Bob Coombs, who previously served as the Crakehall level crossing keeper. He said: “Having worked the old gates at Crakehall on a windy day, I know at first-hand the problems that crossing keepers faced. It was clear that new gates were needed. I unexpectedly came into an inheritance that not only enabled me to fund new gates but also to have ones that reflected the heritage nature of the Wensleydale Railway.”
He added: “The work was mainly carried out by volunteers and is of an excellent standard. Replacing worn-out metal gates with high-quality wooden heritage-style ones demonstrates the confidence that the Wensleydale Railway has going forward.”
In addition, the Leighton Buzzard Railway was given a Chairman’s Special Commendation for the way in which
The new North Eastern Railway‑style level crossing gates at Crakehall on the Wensleydale Railway.
it collaborated with a local housing development to protect its long-term future. The 2ft gauge line had been forced to divert part of its route alongside Vandyke Road owing to major road remodelling works being done as part of the construction of a new housing estate and link road (SR530). Elsewhere, MPower Kernow Community Interest Company won the BAM Nuttall Partnership Award for the renovation of the turntable at St Blazey, making it available for steam-hauled railtours to the south-west.
Although they did not win awards, Didcot Railway Centre and the Rother Valley Railway were both highly commended at the ceremony, the former for its restoration of its water tower, and the latter for the re-use and installation of the ex-Hither Green shed turntable at Robertsbridge.