The South Tynedale Railway has announced that it has become one of 445 organisations in the UK to receive a financial boost from the government thanks to the £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund.
The South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society has received a total grant of £84,300.
The railway is currently closed to the public, and the funding will allow vital costs to be paid.
It will also help the railway prepare for the running season in 2021, with maintenance and rebuilding of steam locomotives already ongoing.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “As a nation, it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past. This massive support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a cultural bounceback post-COVID.”
South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society, Chair of Trustees, David Granath said: “This funding gives us hope that we can once again welcome visitors back to the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to ride through the lovely South Tyne valley on our trains. We believe that our 90-minute return trip with cafes and car parking at each end of the line is the perfect package for a family day out and for the railway enthusiast.
“We have worked hard in recent years to extend the railway and create a really attractive visitor experience that helps to support the economy of Alston where we are based and its surrounding area.
“We also pay tribute to our dedicated volunteers who keep the railway going and without whom there would be no railway.
“Anyone who would like to join one of our volunteer teams carrying out track maintenance, engineering or running trains when we are open can contact us on volunteering@south-tynedale-railway.org.uk”
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I’d like to Wishfully Congratulate the South Tynedale Railway… on Being Awarded Such A Surprisingly Astonishing Amount… to Help Secure it’s Future, let alone fight back the Pesky Pandemic.
This Narrow-Gauge Heritage Railway (& Cumbrian/Northumbrian Transportation Destination), is one of the most interesting and Best Well-Kept of all fellow Railway Heritage Attractions through & through.
I’d certainly (most delightfully) look forward to hopefully visit & check out the Stunningly South Tynedale Railway ‘in-person’, Especially for A Narrow-Gauge Train Ride up and down the 5 Mile Stretch of this Award-Wnning Narrow-Gauge Railway, from Alston to Slaggyford en-route, ‘in-person’.
Well Done to the STR Once Again By the Way.