SINGLE LINES

■ HAYLING Light Railway was operated by new management from July 27. The mile-long 2ft gauge line which opened on Hayling Island seafront in 2003 was put up for sale two years ago when its owner, Bob Haddock, decided to retire (RM, September 2019).

When this RM went to press details of the new ownership arrangements had yet to be announced.

■ LAUNCESTON Steam Railway has delayed reopening. Although July 12 saw many Covid-19 restrictions in England lifted, the railway felt that with coronavirus cases predicted to rise and the requirement for self-isolation remaining in place, one positive test among its small team would force closure at very short notice. The situation will be reviewed in September.

■ THE Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway (W&LLR) hosted a visit by members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Heritage Rail (APPGHR) on July 17. During the visit Lord Faulkner of Worcester, who is also President of the Heritage Railway Association (HRA), presented the 2020 HRA Young Volunteer of the Year Award to W&LLR volunteer and trustee Oliver Edwards.

■ ALFORD Valley

Community Railway has secured an £80,000 grant from Aberdeenshire Council to bring the station at Alford back into community use, the first phase of reviving the 2ft gauge railway which last ran in 2017.

■ SURVIVING components of Bagnall 0-4-0ST Dorothy (1568/1899) which worked at Llechwedd slate quarry, Blaenau Ffestiniog, until withdrawal have been delivered to the Bala Lake Railway with the intention of returning the loco to operation.