Following recent announcements from the UK Government, Rocks-by-Rails – the Living Ironstone Museum have announced they will be reopening from Sunday 4th July 2021.
Between now and July 4th, the Museum hopes most of their staff and volunteers receive their COVID-19 vaccines, providing them with the best protection against COVID-19. The time will also be used to carry out a couple more tasks, such as:
- Staff Training – with staff and volunteers not working in the museum for months on end, refresher training will be run to ensure everyone is ready for reopening.
- Infrastructure Projects – currently there are a few projects and improvements the Museum are in the process of completing. These should be all ready before reopening
The Stamford Loco Appeal
Always looking to expand and improve their Museum, a current appeal seeks to purchase No.24 “Stamford”.
Built by the Avonside Company of Bristol in 1927, “Stamford” was ordered to work on the Pilton Ironstone Quarry based in Rutland too.
The engine therefore is a key surviving item from the old quarries and helps to tell the stories and history of them. Cottesmore Parish Council, based in the local village of Cottesmore, have recently donated £500 towards the appeal.
Chair of the Museum’s Trustees David Atkinson commented: “We are very grateful to receive the support of the Parish Council to help us with this unique project. We are making good and steady progress with the Appeal but there is still some way to go before we can secure and commence conservation on the STAMFORD steam locomotive for the volunteer run museum, which is a registered educational charity. The museum would be pleased to receive any other donations, large or small, which would enable us to ensure that this historic 94-year-old steam locomotive can be conserved and stay on public display within Rutland .”
For more information or to support Rocks-by-Rails – the Living Ironstone Museum, please visit their website here.
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I must say, this is good news, especially for the Rutland Railway Centre, aka Rocks By Rail… of whom are so going to reopen back up and running soon, during 2021.