Lucy Allan MP has visited the Telford Steam Railway as part of the national Love Your Railway campaign which runs from the 25th of July to the 4th of September 2022. The campaign aims to raise awareness for local heritage railways, highlighting the historical and economic impacts that these valuable organisations have on the local area.
The Telford Steam railway does crucial work in the community on conservation, education, and research. Heritage railways attract 13 million visitors a year, 30,000 of whom will board a Telford heritage locomotive.
During her visit, Lucy was given the opportunity to meet some of the amazing volunteers who work to keep Telford Steam Railway up and running. The organisation is 100% volunteer-based and is always looking for enthusiastic helpers. If you’d like to join the Steam Railway as a volunteer, you can register on their website here.
Tickets have just opened for the Steam Railway’s biggest event of the year – THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride. The event will see guests take a magical journey to the North Pole to meet Santa and his elves. Inspired by the iconic film, THE POLAR EXPRESS™ forms a vital part of the Telford Christmas calendar, attracting thousands of visitors to the community every year.
The Telford Steam Railway is under constant renovation. Volunteers showed Lucy one of the locomotives currently being restored, as engineers are working to improve the accessibility of each of its coaches. The Spring Village platform is also being extended ahead of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ event. The highlight of Lucy’s visit was the chance to drive a steam locomotive to Lawley village.
Lucy Allan MP said:
I was delighted to be invited by Telford Steam Railway to visit as part of the Love Your Railway campaign. The Telford Steam Railway is important heritage asset and a vital part of our community.
The railway brings visitors to the area and for every £1 spent at Telford Steam Railway, £2.80 is spent in the local economy. It was wonderful to meet volunteers ranging from young students doing their Duke of Edinburgh to Pensioners volunteering their time and expertise.
I am already looking forward to my next visit to see the progress on different projects that are underway.
Richard Owen, Commerical Manager at the Telford Steam Railway, commented:
On Thurs 25th Aug 2022, volunteers at the Telford Steam Railway welcomed the MP for Telford, Lucy Allan, to site to enable her to see and to learn about the progress and plans for the railway. She was given an in-depth tour of the site and was able to speak to many of our members and to see the work first hand that is involved with things like carriage and loco restoration and day to day maintenance.
Lucy was then given a ride in our resident DMU to Lawley to see the work being carried to improve the station and track before she had the chance to take the controls, under supervision, on the return trip to Horsehay & Dawley. She was then treated to a much-needed cup of tea whilst she listened to various Directors of the railway about plans going forward, particularly the renewal of the line to Doseley and the rebuilding of Horsehay & Dawley signal box.
The Directors of the TSR would like to extend on behalf of their members our thanks to Lucy for her attendance and her support and look forward to being in a position to update her soon on future progress.
