Appeals raise big amounts to support narrow-gauge lines

APPEALS launched to help narrow-gauge lines weather the Covid-19 crisis have received huge support.

Coronavirus hit at the worst possible time, just when railways need to start earning cash following the winter close-down.

Talyllyn Railway - the first preserved railway in the world - is celebrating its

155th year of operation and approaching 70th anniversary of the formation of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society in October.

It has fixed costs of £25,000 a month, and an appeal to see it through three months without income raised the initial £75,000 target at the beginning of May.

Similar stories can be told around the country.

New members

For example, not only had Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway's Tracks to Recovery appeal topped £31,000 at the end of April but several dozen new memberships had been signed up.

Ffestiniog Railway has confirmed its appeal has raised 'well in excess' of £100,000.

In April, Northumberland's 15in-gauge Heatherslaw Light Railway (HLR) feared imminent collapse.

Non-essential items were sold on eBay, an inventory of assets was prepared in case the railway would have to be put up for sale, and an on-line Crowdfunder campaign was launched aimed at raising £8,000 to keep the railway going.

The response was fantastic, and by the first week of May more than £12,600 had been raised, with the target then raised to £15,000.

Many railway's are inviting advance purchases of tickets to assist cash flow.

A variation on this theme is Kirklees Light Railway's Adopt an Engine scheme, which offers three levels of adoption, all including a day pass on the railway.

Virtual events

Forced to abandon running, many lines have held scheduled galas in digital form.

Isle of Man Railways April 10-13 Rush Hour event proceeded online with the collaboration of Manx Electric Railway Online, Manx Electric Railway Museum and Isle of Man Transport, achieving more than 250,000 views via Facebook pages.

Minimum-gauge lines adopted similar formats, Ravenglass & Eskdale

Railway holding an Armchair Steam & Diesel Gala via its Facebook page over May 8-10, followed by Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway's Virtual Steam and Diesel Gala on May 16.

Not only are heritage railways not operating, behind the scenes projects have halted, with staff furloughed and volunteers not travelling.

BARBARA FULLER The boiler ofTalyllyn Railway's Fletcher, Jennings 0-4-2ST No. 1 Talyllyn was pictured at Ropley boiler shop in last month's RM. This picture shows the frames of the loco in the Pendre Enterprise Park industrial unit, which was leased with the intention of progressing projects as rapidly as possible at the stage when work stopped until it is safe for restrictions to be lifted. Similar situations exist at workshops around the country.

BARBARA FULLER The basic frame of Talyllyn Railway's new four-wheel open carriage has been constructed, also in the leased unit, but plainly completion is going to be later than the originally envisaged date. Equally obvious is that when this picture was taken the actual wheelsets had yet to be fitted!