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Suggest a Railway Preservation project to receive £500

Which project should receive our donation?

  • Swanage Water Tower

    Votes: 11 8.8%
  • EM2 Locomotive Society's Olive appeal

    Votes: 4 3.2%
  • Brighton Belle

    Votes: 23 18.4%
  • Yorkshire Wolds Railway's Treble the Track

    Votes: 13 10.4%
  • Friends of the 502 Group

    Votes: 5 4.0%
  • The Knotty Coach Trust

    Votes: 1 0.8%
  • NYMR's Dame Vera Lynn

    Votes: 3 2.4%
  • Northampton & Lamport Railway's Shed Appeal

    Votes: 5 4.0%
  • The LMS-Patriot Project (The Unknown Warrior)

    Votes: 7 5.6%
  • Talyllyn Railway's Open Carriages

    Votes: 6 4.8%
  • East Lancashire Railway's A Home for Wells

    Votes: 5 4.0%
  • Severn Valley Railway's Helping hands for Falling Sands

    Votes: 12 9.6%
  • Vale of Berkeley Railway's Signal Box Appeal

    Votes: 4 3.2%
  • Leighton Buzzard Railway's Double Arches

    Votes: 6 4.8%
  • Corris Railway's Falcon Locomotive

    Votes: 2 1.6%
  • East Lancashire Diesel Group's Co-Bo

    Votes: 8 6.4%
  • Ivatt Diesel Recreation Society's Bogie

    Votes: 3 2.4%
  • South Tyneside EPB

    Votes: 7 5.6%

  • Total voters
    125
  • Poll closed .
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IanXC

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As I suspect many of you will realise we've had an expensive year with our Forum upgrade, however I'm pleased to be able to say we have generated an operating surplus of £500.00 which we shall once again be giving to a railway preservation project of your choice.

We're looking for specific appeals, whether that be for instance an infrastructure or rolling stock project, rather than the ongoing operation of a railway or locomotive. Please post your suggestions (including a link to the project appeal where possible) and reasons why the forum should support the project below and if anyone wishes to discuss any suggestion or any other part of this opportunity please create a discussion thread.

As a slight change from previous occasions, projects and railways which have previously received our donations are not eligible on this occasion, as a reminder in the past you've chosen to make the following:
  • 2014 - Great Central Railway's Bridging the Gap £500.00
  • 2015 - Swindon Panel Society £1000.00
  • 2015 - Great Central Railway's Bridging the Gap £500.00
  • 2017 - Southern Electric Traction Group's 4VEP appeal £2000.00
  • 2017 - Great Central Railway's Bridge to the Future £1000.00
  • 2017 - Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway's Broadway - the last mile £500.00
Timescales:
  • Suggestions must be posted below by the end of Sunday 29 April
  • Voting will be opened on Monday 30 April and will close at the end of Sunday 6 May

Please note that you must have more than 5 posts at the time of this post to be eligible to vote.
 
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RailUK Forums

The Ham

Established Member
Joined
6 Jul 2012
Messages
10,284
My suggestion would be Swanage Water Tower, the following is from their website:

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/appeals

The Railway recently recovered a redundant stone built LSWR water tower from near Salisbury station. A project has been drawn up to rebuild this historic structure at Swanage and install a spring water extraction system.

In the long term this will save the Railway a large amount of money as we will no longer be dependent on using treated water from the mains for our steam engines. The groundwork is underway but we still need funds to complete this work.

Given that it will save them money going forwards, which they could then use on other preservation projects and/or improving the number of services to Wareham.
 

EM2

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Location
The home of the concrete cow
I'm a bit biased, but the EM2 Locomotive Society need to raise £9000 after the Drewry railcar 'Olive' was almost destroyed by arsonists in 2016.
https://www.em2ls.org.uk/operation-phoenix/
In February 2016 OLIVE the railbus was extensively damaged in an arson attack at the Middleton Railway by 3 youths who set fire to her in broad daylight, totally gutting the vehicle. Luckily the alarm was raised in time for the Fire Brigade to put out the fire before it caused irreparable damage - although the interior was completely gutted and significant damage caused to the upper bodywork.

Olive’s owners, the EM2 Locomotive Society
(UK Charity 294207), are now working with the Vintage Carriages Trust and have agreed a plan to restore her to working order. For that to happen we need your help.

While insured the overall cost of repairs will exceed the insured value by around £9,000 and we need to raise at least this amount to enable repairs to go ahead.
 

RichJF

Member
Joined
2 Nov 2012
Messages
1,099
Location
Sussex
I'm a Southern Electric fan so I would suggest the Brighton Belle. It would be great to see one of the early Pullman electrics back & running on the mainline. I can't wait for the day when the Belle rolls into Victoria.

They are closing in on the goal of bringing the unit back onto National Rail metals.

http://brightonbelle.com/
 

duffield

Established Member
Joined
31 Jul 2013
Messages
1,309
Location
East Midlands
Mid Norfolk Railway, towards building a platform at North Elmham (now they've run the first train to there, I believe this is their next objective)?
 

ainsworth74

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Redcar
Just a reminder that we'd like members to pick a specific project and explain why the Forum's membership should vote to support them.
 

backontrack

Established Member
Joined
2 Feb 2014
Messages
6,383
Location
The UK
I would like to nominate the Yorkshire Wolds Railway (YWR), and their 'Treble the Track' campaign.

It is a fledgling project to reopen part of an old line from Malton to Driffield. Fimber Halt was opened on 14 May 2015, and the YWR are looking to extend the stretch of track that they currently have so that they can reach Wetwang (and then Driffield). There is now less than a mile's length of track to go before the line can reach the site of the old Wetwang station.

We now have 320 feet of track at Fimber Halt but we don’t want to stop at that…
Our aim is to extend the length of our running line towards Wetwang from 300’ to 900’, for which we need to raise around £30,000.
Can you help us Treble The Track by ‘sponsoring’ a sleeper?
To sponsor one sleeper (without fixings) costs £30. To sponsor one sleeper (with fixings) costs £50.
Perhaps you and a group of colleagues could ‘sponsor’ a rail, or even a whole track panel? To sponsor one 60’ rail costs £300. To sponsor one 30’ panel (rails, sleepers, fixings) costs £1000
Every sponsor will receive a certificate and have their name on our sponsors' board.
To 'Treble the Track' we will need approximately: 250 sleepers (and fixings); 20 rails (and fish plates); 400 tonnes of ballast.

It is also possible to simply donate to the campaign without sponsoring anything.

Many of the people involved with the Yorkshire Wold Railway not specifically in it for the traditional 'railway aspects'. There is a wide range of people involved behind the scenes, with a similarly wide range of skills. Many are particularly interested in using the line to help boost local visitor economy. The range of skills is also being reflected in the project streams, and the rate with which grant funding is being obtained. This is a real community rail project, and a donation from RailUKForums could really help to get it going; it is enough money for the forum to sponsor a tenth of the new line.

About Us
The Yorkshire Wolds Railway was inaugurated at a meeting held at the Old Lodge Hotel on Old Maltongate, Malton, North Yorkshire on Friday 10th October 2008 with the aim of restoring at least a part of the former Malton & Driffield Junction Railway as a heritage railway attraction.

After completing a feasibility study, submitting the relevant plans, and speaking with landowners, access to the site was finally granted in October 2012. Since then, the members of the YWR have worked very hard to bring to life a section of this former line as a heritage railway attraction. There have been many notable and exciting dates since then, with the highlights being the arrival of our first piece of rolling stock in January 2013, and then the locomotive “Sir Tatton Sykes” arriving soon after in April 2013. We first opened to the public in May 2015 and welcomed over 600 visitors over the weekend.

The YWR has a broad cross section of talents within its growing membership including people who work or have worked in the heritage rail industry, the national rail industry, IT, media and financial professions to name but a few.

The YWR’s desire is, and always will be to create a tourist heritage railway attraction in the Yorkshire Wolds. This is in order to increase visitor numbers in the area and so help boost the economies of inland market towns such as Malton, Norton, Driffield and the rural areas in between. These are areas that have seen decline due to the hardship that the farming industry has seen in recent years and because of sizable employers in market towns closing down or moving production of manufactured goods abroad.

The Yorkshire Wolds is a highly scenic area and whilst up until now has not always been widely seen as a tourist hotspot, nevertheless is seen by the YWR as offering the potential to create a first class tourist heritage railway attraction which could draw in greater visitor numbers and spending power.

In time a revived railway could link up with other local attractions such as Sledmere House, the Driffield Navigation, Fimber picnic site and the medieval village at Wharram Percy, to name but a few examples. This would then enable the Yorkshire Wolds to exploit its scenic qualities and charm in order to improve local employment and business opportunities and demonstrate to visitors what a beautiful, historical and heritage rich area the Yorkshire Wolds, its villages and market towns really are.

This may seem like a small project at first, but it has the potential to blossom and grow into a meaningful and successful railway that could also be a real asset for the Yorkshire Wolds.

WEBSITES:
Yorkshire Wolds Railway: http://www.yorkshirewoldsrailway.org.uk/
Yorkshire Wolds Railway - 'Treble the Track': http://www.yorkshirewoldsrailway.org.uk/support/treble-the-track/
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1R57q06
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malton_and_Driffield_Junction_Railway#Yorkshire_Wolds_Railway_society
A BBC article on the official opening of the YWR: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-32863984
 
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507021

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Messages
4,673
Location
Chester
I'd like to suggest the Friends of the 502 Group.

They're currently working on the cosmetic restoration of the last surviving Class 502 unit, with the group's eventual aim to have the unit running under its own power. I think it would be fantastic to see this unit fully restored and running on home metals once again.
 

matt

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Just another reminder that we are looking for a specific appeal.
 

StoneRoad

Member
Joined
6 Jan 2010
Messages
247
Location
Haltwhistle
I would nominate the Knotty Coach Trust.

They are currently having a passenger brake carriage rebuilt, from a very derelict condition, that will incorporate wheelchair access. Rapid progress is being made on NSR23.
They intend to restore a three compartment First Class next, fundraising for this as well.
The Knotty Heritage Train - of two coaches - operates with a Shark goods brake at present.
website - http://www.knottycoachtrust.org.uk/
they also have faceb00k presence - https://www.facebook.com/KnottyCoachTrust
 

bearhugger

Member
Joined
17 Mar 2015
Messages
575
Location
Middlesbrough
I would like to suggest a donation towards the restoration of “Dame Vera Lynn” locomotive at NYMR.
https://www.nymr.co.uk/appeal/3672-dame-vera-lynn
She turned 100 this March, and there’s still never been a dame quite like Vera Lynn!
Help us return back to traffic 3672 Dame Vera Lynn so visitors can enjoy the sight and sound of a genuine wartime locomotive!

No 3672 “Dame Vera Lynn” was built in 1944 by the North British Locomotive Works in Glasgow where there was 150 of these extremely powerful freight locomotives ordered for the war effort. Once completed “Dame Vera Lynn” was shipped to Egypt and worked there following D-Day. This Austerity class of locomotive were not built to last more than a few years in traffic, they were of a cheap and simple design due to material shortages during the war. We count ourselves lucky to still have her with us today, so we can tell her story to future generations.

“Dame Vera Lynn” entered traffic on the railway in 1989 and over the next 10 years worked very hard. Aside from the exceptional feat of accumulating in excess of 100,000 miles during her ten years in traffic, she also delighted the staff and tens of thousands of passengers along the way. “Dame Vera Lynn” proved on countless occasions, what a strong, reliable and popular performer she was, a real stalwart of the 1990's. As is the case with all steam locomotives, boiler tickets come to an end and overhauls are due. This came around in “Dame Vera Lynn's” case in 1998.

The aim of getting the railways very own Wartime steam locomotive back in traffic, so the railway and its passengers can enjoy the sight and sound of a genuine wartime locomotive hard at work again.
 

centraltrains

Member
Joined
3 Jan 2015
Messages
480
Location
West Midlands
I am suggesting the Sprinter Preservation Society. They are trying to publicise themselves. They are new and have no funds.
Their end goal is get at least one of every type of sprinter to preserve for use on railtours later on.
This would help them be able to start up properly and get the support
h
https://sprinterps.wixsite.com/home-1

Their website doesn't exist/isn't working... 150s being my favorite train, I looked at their site before and got the impression someone with no thorough plans had set it up...

Aren't Tyseley Loco Works/Vintage Trains looking for funding to register to become a TOC? Can't find a page with info...
 

alexl92

Established Member
Joined
12 Oct 2014
Messages
2,268
I would suggest that the Wensleydale Railway (https://www.wensleydalerail.com/) could probably do with all the help it can get, currently.

I want this line to do well but on recent evidence I doubt that would be money well spent.

I would like to nominate the Yorkshire Wolds Railway (YWR), and their 'Treble the Track' campaign.

It is a fledgling project to reopen part of an old line from Malton to Driffield. Fimber Halt was opened on 14 May 2015, and the YWR are looking to extend the stretch of track that they currently have so that they can reach Wetwang (and then Driffield). There is now less than a mile's length of track to go before the line can reach the site of the old Wetwang station.



It is also possible to simply donate to the campaign without sponsoring anything.

Many of the people involved with the Yorkshire Wold Railway not specifically in it for the traditional 'railway aspects'. There is a wide range of people involved behind the scenes, with a similarly wide range of skills. Many are particularly interested in using the line to help boost local visitor economy. The range of skills is also being reflected in the project streams, and the rate with which grant funding is being obtained. This is a real community rail project, and a donation from RailUKForums could really help to get it going; it is enough money for the forum to sponsor a tenth of the new line.



This may seem like a small project at first, but it has the potential to blossom and grow into a meaningful and successful railway that could also be a real asset for the Yorkshire Wolds.

WEBSITES:
Yorkshire Wolds Railway: http://www.yorkshirewoldsrailway.org.uk/
Yorkshire Wolds Railway - 'Treble the Track': http://www.yorkshirewoldsrailway.org.uk/support/treble-the-track/
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1R57q06
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malton_and_Driffield_Junction_Railway#Yorkshire_Wolds_Railway_society
A BBC article on the official opening of the YWR: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-32863984

Seconding this ^
 

nat67

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23 Apr 2014
Messages
1,477
Location
Warwickshire
I would say Northampton and Lamport railway to go to construction of there Loco shed so they can keep 47205 safe and from rusting.
 

furlong

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28 Mar 2013
Messages
3,480
Location
Reading
I would like to nominate the Yorkshire Wolds Railway (YWR), and their 'Treble the Track' campaign.
This may seem like a small project at first, but it has the potential to blossom and grow into a meaningful and successful railway that could also be a real asset for the Yorkshire Wolds.
Yorkshire Wolds Railway - 'Treble the Track': http://www.yorkshirewoldsrailway.org.uk/support/treble-the-track/

The Mayor of Wetwang can inspect the scarecrows in style! Do you know how much of their target they have raised so far? (According to their website they display a 'thermometer' in the visitor centre showing this.)
 

backontrack

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2 Feb 2014
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Location
The UK
The Mayor of Wetwang can inspect the scarecrows in style! Do you know how much of their target they have raised so far? (According to their website they display a 'thermometer' in the visitor centre showing this.)
I don't know, but a RailUKforums donation could sponsor a tenth of the new line....

We all love Wetwang :D
 

Simon11

Established Member
Joined
7 Nov 2010
Messages
1,335
I would like to put forward the Talyllyn Railway Open Carriages appeal.

Our open Carriages were built in the 1950's as a quick and easy way to cater for the increasing numbers of passengers flocking to the Talyllyn Railway.We are now re-building our four open carriages with fully refurbished chassis, comprising new wheels, axles and roller bearing axle boxes. On top of which will be added completely new bodies, with a traditional appearance, but with an improved design and materials to reduce the level of maintenance required to maintain them. The new design will make the Open Carriages Wheelchair Accessible for the first time and ensure our Open Carriages are fit for the future to view the amazing Welsh Countryside!

Details of the appeal is at: https://www.talyllyn.co.uk/support-us/special-appeals
Our leaflet with pictures of our open carriages can be found at: http://talyllyn.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Open-Carriages-Appeal-leaflet-A5.pdf
 

Trainfan344

Established Member
Joined
13 Oct 2012
Messages
2,306
I'm nominating the Severn Valley Railway's Helping Hands for Falling Sands viaduct appeal to repair the Falling Sands viaduct and prevent Kidderminster from being cut off.

Severn Valley Railway - "Helping Hands for Falling Sands"
https://www.svrtrust.org.uk/shopping.php

Falling Sands Viaduct is a crucial part of the Severn Valley Railway, but this 141-year-old structure urgently needs extensive repairs. Water has seeped into the structure, causing it to crack and erode.

If we don't act now, we may be forced to reduce the length of trains, or even face temporary or permanent closure of the line. Already there's a speed restriction in place across the viaduct.

More than 250,000 people experience the joy of heritage rail travel at the SVR every year, and we want to make sure this continues long into the future.

Kidderminster is an important rail hub where 88% of visitors start their journey and without the repairs the SVR face being cut off from the Mainline, the diesel and carriage depots.
 

itznonbine

Member
Joined
28 Oct 2017
Messages
39
Their website doesn't exist/isn't working... 150s being my favorite train, I looked at their site before and got the impression someone with no thorough plans had set it up...

Aren't Tyseley Loco Works/Vintage Trains looking for funding to register to become a TOC? Can't find a page with info...
The website does exists. I checked it and it should be working....
 

Trainfan344

Established Member
Joined
13 Oct 2012
Messages
2,306
I haven't got a link for a project but the East Anglia Transport Museum is currently raising funds to replace their small toilet block with a larger, more modern interior, however to do this there is a need to raise a lot of money! The current aim is to start work in January with a view to being complete by the summer. If the money is donated to the museum, there is an appeal which has already raised more than £8,000! Money is being collected on site for this and all donations will be welcomed.
 
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