Historic railway needs youth to keep it on track

A heritage railway said it could cease to exist if more young people are not inspired to join the industry.

The Nene Valley Railway (NVR) at Wansford near Peterborough hosted the "Invest Your Future" STEM event, where dozens of companies from engineering and rail were on hand to offer young people job opportunities and experience.

Russ Jenner, NVR volunteer liaison officer, said: "We have got to keep it going. That's one of the problems - getting youngsters involved for engineers or a guard or driving jobs."

Commercial manager Chris O'Regan added: "It is important that a piece of history remains well and alive and for people to see - rather than read about it in a book."

The NVR is home to Thomas, a 0-6-0T engine No 1800 built by Hudswell Clarke in 1947.

The little blue engine spent its entire working life at the British Sugar Corporation factory in Peterborough, and was bought by the Peterborough Railway Society in 1973 before he was moved to Wansford.

Mr O'Regan said the team of volunteers were "not getting any younger", and they needed the next generation to get involved in saving the site.

"We have a wonderful team of volunteers," he said.

"But they are of retirement age and you need to have the younger generations working its way through, otherwise places like this will cease.

"It is important that a piece of history remains well and alive and for people to see rather than read about it in a book.

"There is something about looking out of your window and seeing Thomas's smiling face. When you see hoards of toddlers followed by excited parents at the platform where Thomas is parked - the look on their face is one of a kind.

"Thomas shouldn't just be on the screen or in a book, It should be here for people to see and ride."

The STEM event was hosted by engineering firm Amey on behalf of the NVR.

The company is working with the heritage site to raise funds for the Octupussy project - which is restoring a 1960s wagon into a generator car to provide power for trains in the future.

Mr O'Regan called it a "very important project".

"The power generator would mean better lighting in the coaches and in future we could do dining cars that need a lot of power," he said.

The NVR is one of the UK's leading charity heritage railways.

Last year it launched an urgent appeal to raise £300,000 to keep it running in the face of financial challenges, and had since raised £120,000.

It has also featured in 150 commercials, TV programmes and films, including the Bond movie Octopussy.

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