August Bank Holiday - Some don’t like it hot! 

It’s August Bank Holiday on the railway and with sun, sun, sun predicted it’s set to be a busy and lucrative few days. But as the temperatures soar it proves too hot to handle for the staff and volunteers. In the old carriage kitchen Sammie’s sweltering with 100 meals to prepare and serve. If it’s hot there that’s nothing compared to what it is on the loco footplates. The boiler is kicking out 1000 degrees of heat, but no coal means no steam and the show must go on. Rookie Phil struggles but at least he’s got wife Jackie to console him. She’s just as mad about steam as Phil and is training to be a platform foreman. She’s got a bit to go though. When Phil’s loco comes in she gets the platform wrong so the reunion turns into a very brief encounter.  

Elsewhere a trackside wall collapse threatens to stop the railway in its tracks but a curious group of volunteers called the Wombles come to the rescue, working through the night to get it fixed. And not forgetting Piglet, who this week has come up with a money-spinner, sending one of their locos, little engine No. 29, to another railway. The only problem is the loco isn’t quite ready! The paint is literally drying as it heads off. 

With a combination of donations and grants the Charity has raised over 90% of the funds to deliver its YMJ project. The heritage railway still needs to raise an additional £800k over the next three years and is appealing for further support to achieve that target. 

The National Lottery Heritage Fund: Using money raised by the National Lottery, we inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. heritagefund.org.uk.

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund

   

 

Donate  Catch Up