FOUR heritage railway attractions in England have secured a total of £2,243,255 as part of the latest round of the Government’s Cultural Investment Fund.
Delivered by the Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the funding aims to improve people’s access to arts, support local economic growth through culture and safeguard vital local collections for future generations.
The largest rail-related award – £1,071,616 – has gone to The Long Shop Museum at Leiston, Suffolk. It will be used to carry out much needed repair and restoration work on the venue’s historic buildings. Home to Aveling & Porter 0-4-0WT Sirapite (6159/1906), which operates on a demonstration basis, the independent accredited museum is housed in the surviving original 19th century works site of Richard Garrett and Sons.
Infrastructure
Three key infrastructure projects at the Nene Valley Railway are to benefit from a grant of £669,873. They comprise the re-laying of worn-out track through Wansford tunnel, including new drainage; the re-laying of track and roadway at Wansford level crossing; and the re-laying of track in Wansford yard, where old track has been buried in ash for over 40 years.
Approximately £80,000 needs to be raised by the railway towards the total cost.
