Last Thursday (1st June) marked a historic milestone for the Churnet Valley Railway and their extension to Leek.
The organisation took a locomotive through Birchall Tunnel for the first time in the history of the preserved Churnet Valley Railway.
The last train ran in 1970 and the track was removed shortly after.
In a social media post, the heritage railway said: “This project has been funded by the European Agricultural Regional Development Fund ‘EARDF’ along with donations and contributions from individuals and charitable trusts. We are amazed at the continued generosity from our supporters. Only yesterday we received a cheque from the estate of the Late Reginald & Doreen Austin for £40,000, as the saying goes every penny helps, and this cheque will most certainly go a long way in getting this project completed.”
Anyone who wishes to donate can do so online via their supporting charity the North Staffordshire Railway Company – 1978 Ltd by visiting: https://membership-form.nsrailway.co.uk/donations
