The arrival of the first rolling stock to sit on the tracks of the new Bramley Line Heritage Railway Centre near Wisbech has been described as a “great landmark.”
A 1960s British Railways tank wagon arrived at the former Waldersea goods yard on Friday, just weeks after volunteers completed re-laying the sidings at the site, where Trust volunteers are busy creating a heritage centre and museum.
Bramley Line Trust vice-chairman and engineering co-ordinator David Bunting said: “This is a really exciting time, at last we really have something to show for our hard work. We have been working for a long time to get the wagon here, it is a great landmark in our development.”
The tank wagon that was delivered by Tears Recovery of Sutton Bridge belongs to one of the Trust’s members.
Mr Bunting said: “It’s owner will now start a programme of refurbishment, He was unable to get to it while it was stored at Weeting in Norfolk.”
A few weeks ago, Tears Recovery also delivered a Victorian railway coach body to Waldersea, and volunteers plan to restore it and put it back on the rails.
Antingham Parish Council in Norfolk has also offered a goods wagon body to the Trust. It will be used as a store initially, but will eventually be fully restored to run on the Bramley Line.
The Trust is also looking to acquire a suitable railway coach or parcels type van to house and display its growing collection of photographs, films, memorabilia and artefacts relating to the local railway heritage.
Mr Bunting said: “We would love to hear from anyone who can help us acquire a suitable coach, and from anyone who has photos or memorabilia about the Bramley Line between March and Wisbech.”
Mr Bunting added: “We are particularly grateful to the support Tears have given in transporting these historic railway vehicles for us. After all the work clearing and preparing the site it is good to have some rolling stock at the centre on which we can carry out restoration work. If everything goes to plan we hope later next year to be able to open the centre to the public”.
The recently re-vamped Bramley Line website provides details of the work being carried out at Waldersea.
Trust Chairman Simon King added; “You can help develop the heritage centre by joining the Trust, or making a donation, directly through our website www.bramleyline.org.uk, or by e-mail office@bramleyline.org.uk or phoning 0759 176 9180.
“As well as information on the latest developments, the website contains a wide range of photographs concerning the local railway heritage and the work being carried out by volunteers.”
Visitors to the National Festival of Railway Modelling will have the opportunity meet some of the volunteers at the Bramley Line stand. The exhibition, one of the country’s premier model railway exhibitions, is being held at Peterborough Showground on October 19 and 20.
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