The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway has released an update on how COVID-19 is affecting their railway, with the line's two biggest projects currently halted due to the lockdown including the work on steam locomotive 1604.
The ‘Middy', as some members know the railway, was looking forward to a successful year with many events planned to take place, following a very popular New Year's Steam-up which saw the highest ever visitors to the event. Sadly these new events have been put on hold by COVID-19.
Although costs are kept low through volunteers meaning there is no wage bill, some maintenance work and security measures still need to be paid for while the railway is closed.
Therefore the line and its volunteers would greatly appreciate any donations to help the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway during this challenging period.
The railway has two major projects which they are undertaking, both now being set back due to COVID-19. Hudswell, Clarke 0-6-0ST No.1604 is undergoing restoration, with the Middy hoping the tank will be complete in time to take part in 70 years event since the closure of Haughley – Laxfield branch in 1952.
With good progress already made on restoring both the ‘bottom-end' and boiler, the timescale before the lockdown had estimated for 1604 to be in steam by the end of 2021. With support, this timescale could still be possible. For more information or to support 1604's restoration, please visit 1604 Restoration Appeal webpage here.
The second major project is the extension of track to the new Aspall Halt. On completion, the Middy will be twice as long, with work to date seeing the trackbed and ballast virtually complete and almost all rails and sleepers needed to be acquired. For more information or to support extension, please visit Track Extension Appeal webpage here.
For more information or to support the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway, please visit their website here.
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It is surprising that volunteers, usually but not exclusively older people, are not continuing to work on their various railways and in their workshops.
Whilst the railways may be closed…..and this effectively means a valuable part of the nations leisure, tourist and cultural business losing money……there should be nothing preventing volunteers going to railways and working.
Volunteers are sensible people and could easily travel and work without any major risks to themselves or others.
In fact, shopping at the supermarket is more problematic than working as a volunteer on the track or in a workshop at a preserved railway.
You could argue that more progress with work and schemes at preserved railways could be carried out at this time than is usually the case.
What is surprising is that the preservation movement has not simply advised government that their volunteers are ….and will be working on the numerous preserved railways across the country.
They should be further advising the government that this has nothing to do with them and that those men and women, girls and boys, choosing to volunteer are doing so of their own independent volition in a (supposedly), free, democratic and independent country.
Any interference with or obstruction of volunteers travelling to and from……or working at a preserved railway…….by the police should be regarded as the nonsense that it clearly is, and they should be disregarded.