Further Covid recovery awards made for English narrow gauge lines

A SECOND round of awards from the UK Government’s Culture Recovery Fund have been announced.

The extensive listing of successful applicants covering cultural and heritage organisations in England includes awards to: Bure Valley Railway (£188,000); Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway Museum (£37,832); Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway (£210,400); South Tynedale Railway (£33,100); and West Lancashire Light Railway (£18,900). Threlkeld Quarry Museum, which includes a 2ft gauge railway at the site, received an award of £9,200.

The awards are primarily aimed at helping railways prepare to open for the

2021 season amid continued restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, and assist their continued operation.

At the time of publication, no information had been received concerning the second round of awards to Welsh, Scottish or Northern Irish lines by their respective governments.

Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway has received additional help through a £5,000 grant from Lincolnshire County Council’s Business Recovery Fund.