The South Devon Railway has announced that they have received over £23,000 in donations following the launch of their ‘SOS' Appeal.
On Sunday 5th of April, the South Devon Railway launched an appeal, in order to raise funds vital in ensuring the heritage railway can survive during these difficult times caused by COVID-19. You can see the video appeal here.
As of Thursday 9th of April, £23,012.50 had been donated to the SDR, which the line is very appreciative of and will increase their survival chances.
Donations have been made in a number of ways, which can be found below:
- £10,512.50 – Virgin Giving Money appeal (Including £1,000 from the Buckfastleigh Garden Railway Group) (£8,764 in direct donations, plus £1,748.50 in Gift Aid)
- £7,500 – Staverton Preservation Group
- £3,000 – Buckfastleigh Garden Railway Group
- £2,000+ – Facebook appeal
What did the officials say?
Jon Morton, Chairman of the South Devon Railway Trust, said
“We can't begin to thank all of those kind people who have donated money to our ‘SOS' appeal so far who are helping us in our hour of need. You certainly find out who your real friends are when you're in trouble with your back against the wall!
“And a further big thank you too for our local tourism promotion agencies who pushed the story out on social media and their websites, plus those media organisations who have yet to publish stories.
“All of the money raised will go towards safeguarding the SDR and helping us get through the Covid-19 crisis, but we will still need more cash because the railway simply has no income at present and our insurances do not cover for this type of loss. So, please keep the donations coming if you can no matter how small, it all helps!”
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The South Devon Railway is special to me. As an Passed Cleaner at Newton Abbot Depot, I got to work a freight service to Ashburton in the early 1960’s just before the line was closed. Then in the 1970’s I got a job on the line as fireman/Pway worker. This was prior to my leaving to become a guard/driver on London Transport. Now retired I get see.the line from my home in Totnes.
The South Devon Railway (at Beautiful Buckfastleigh) is one of the most stunning, well-preserved and ”Eagerly-Must-Visit” Branch Line Heritage Railways and Transportation Attractions that I have ever come across/discovered.
I (myself) even wishfully hope to travel down to this part of the Devonshire Countryside of the West Country ‘in-person’ to check it out and ride aboard up and down this Well-Restored Branch Line Railway some day.
Furthermore, I once again like to congratulate the SDR on how well its so far doing so successfully well on it’s emergency appeal.
Keep it up you lot.
I’d like t congratulate this ”Eagerly-Must-Visit West Country Branch Line Heritage Railway on how well they’re successfully doing so far on the fundraising appeal (or two) to help secure their future.
This pleasantly well-preserved Branch Line Heritage Railway is one of the most interesting and Tip-Top ”Eagerly-Must-Visit Destinations (which I hope to hopefully visit one day ‘in-person’ to check it out).