Swindon Archive News
Next stop Moulden Hill. Railway Society celebrates anniversary in style
The Mayor of Swindon coun Derek Benfield waved the green flag which sent a steam engine on tracks laid across a newly restored bridge as the Swindon and Cricklade Railway Society staged a weekend of events to celebrate its 25th anniversary on 20 and 21 September. The society is planning more significant developments over the next few years as it lays track towards Moulden Hill country park, at the southern end of Thamesdown Drive, where a station is proposed, opposite Taw Hill.
The engine set in motion by the mayor's flag on the Saturday was Great Western Railway's number 7903, Foremarke Hall, restored over 18 years of hard work by society volunteers, a remarkable achievement, given that it was literally a pile of scrap in an engine graveyard in South Wales.
It was a special occasion for member Dennis Kelly who drove the engine during his and its working life, on the GWR and for British Rail. He was assisted on the footplate by John Croxton as Chief Engineer and Pete Martin, fireman.
The bridge across the River Ray was restored by the society at a cost of £35,000. The engine, whose sister, 'Hagley Hall' can be seen at the Great Western Designer Outlet Centre on former railway land in Rodbourne Road, was the first to make the crossing since 1963 when the Swindon and Cricklade railway ended its commercial life. Passenger trains had stopped running two years earlier.
In all, three engines were in steam during the weekend, the first time the society has been able to present more than two.
Saturday's activities took place before a gathering of invited guests and on Sunday George Martin of Beatles fame led the honours.
The Mayor said he was delighted to be present for the occasion as his grandfather had worked in the GWR works, as had his two brothers, and himself for a short time. His father had been a driver on the GWR. He paid tribute to the volunteers who had sustained the vision of restoring a steam railway close to Swindon. "I congratulate all the people from all walks of life who have come together who commit so much time to making the railway a reality. You are building history from the past into the future. The Swindon and Cricklade railway enhances Swindon as a tourist attraction and provides an important educational resource."
At the end of his speech the Mayor presented life membership to Jean Gibbs who, in 1978, wrote a letter to the Swindon Evening Advertiser, calling for a group of people to come together to set up a railway society to restore steam rail to the town.
Jeff Austin, chairman and chief engineer, regarded the occasion as marking major achievements by the society. "We believe this weekend is a monumental event commemorating 25 years of success. It represents a lot of hard work put in by members not only on the physical side but also in raising the necessary funds. We are now looking forward to progressing towards Mouldon Hill."
Planning permission for this next stage of development has already been received and the society will be laying track later in the year. They have the rails and the sleepers, but they are desperate for £20,000 to purchase the ballast stone so that they can get on with the job. Residents of Taw Hill should see steam rising to the west on the other side of Thamesdown Drive by the middle of 2004.
The society is always looking for additional assistance via voluntary effort or through donations. Anyone able to help should contact Jeff Austen on 01793 726807 or Russell Wear on 01793 692588.
Society members getting ready for the Mayor's visit, from left, Dale Young, Marc Bye, Alec Brown, Ian Matthews by laying the first sleepers on the bridge close to Blunsdon Station, for nearly forty years
The Mayor and Mayoress Derek and Pam Benfield cutting a cake celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Swindon & Cricklade Railway with Jeff Austen and Jim Larkin, chairman.
The Mayor and Mayoress unveiled a plaque next to the bridge over the River Ray in the prescence of three of the Society's founder members, Maurice Webb, left, Jean Webb, centre, Adrian Crafur, far right, with Jim Larkin and Jeff Austen
Enjoying a visit to the railway Bethan Lawrence, Mair Lawrence, Alice Telling, Joshua Telling, Chris Matthews
www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org
The Mayor of Swindon coun Derek Benfield waved the green flag which sent a steam engine on tracks laid across a newly restored bridge as the Swindon and Cricklade Railway Society staged a weekend of events to celebrate its 25th anniversary on 20 and 21 September. The society is planning more significant developments over the next few years as it lays track towards Moulden Hill country park, at the southern end of Thamesdown Drive, where a station is proposed, opposite Taw Hill.
The engine set in motion by the mayor's flag on the Saturday was Great Western Railway's number 7903, Foremarke Hall, restored over 18 years of hard work by society volunteers, a remarkable achievement, given that it was literally a pile of scrap in an engine graveyard in South Wales.
It was a special occasion for member Dennis Kelly who drove the engine during his and its working life, on the GWR and for British Rail. He was assisted on the footplate by John Croxton as Chief Engineer and Pete Martin, fireman.
The bridge across the River Ray was restored by the society at a cost of £35,000. The engine, whose sister, 'Hagley Hall' can be seen at the Great Western Designer Outlet Centre on former railway land in Rodbourne Road, was the first to make the crossing since 1963 when the Swindon and Cricklade railway ended its commercial life. Passenger trains had stopped running two years earlier.
In all, three engines were in steam during the weekend, the first time the society has been able to present more than two.
Saturday's activities took place before a gathering of invited guests and on Sunday George Martin of Beatles fame led the honours.
The Mayor said he was delighted to be present for the occasion as his grandfather had worked in the GWR works, as had his two brothers, and himself for a short time. His father had been a driver on the GWR. He paid tribute to the volunteers who had sustained the vision of restoring a steam railway close to Swindon. "I congratulate all the people from all walks of life who have come together who commit so much time to making the railway a reality. You are building history from the past into the future. The Swindon and Cricklade railway enhances Swindon as a tourist attraction and provides an important educational resource."
At the end of his speech the Mayor presented life membership to Jean Gibbs who, in 1978, wrote a letter to the Swindon Evening Advertiser, calling for a group of people to come together to set up a railway society to restore steam rail to the town.
Jeff Austin, chairman and chief engineer, regarded the occasion as marking major achievements by the society. "We believe this weekend is a monumental event commemorating 25 years of success. It represents a lot of hard work put in by members not only on the physical side but also in raising the necessary funds. We are now looking forward to progressing towards Mouldon Hill."
Planning permission for this next stage of development has already been received and the society will be laying track later in the year. They have the rails and the sleepers, but they are desperate for £20,000 to purchase the ballast stone so that they can get on with the job. Residents of Taw Hill should see steam rising to the west on the other side of Thamesdown Drive by the middle of 2004.
The society is always looking for additional assistance via voluntary effort or through donations. Anyone able to help should contact Jeff Austen on 01793 726807 or Russell Wear on 01793 692588.
Society members getting ready for the Mayor's visit, from left, Dale Young, Marc Bye, Alec Brown, Ian Matthews by laying the first sleepers on the bridge close to Blunsdon Station, for nearly forty years
The Mayor and Mayoress Derek and Pam Benfield cutting a cake celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Swindon & Cricklade Railway with Jeff Austen and Jim Larkin, chairman.
The Mayor and Mayoress unveiled a plaque next to the bridge over the River Ray in the prescence of three of the Society's founder members, Maurice Webb, left, Jean Webb, centre, Adrian Crafur, far right, with Jim Larkin and Jeff Austen
Enjoying a visit to the railway Bethan Lawrence, Mair Lawrence, Alice Telling, Joshua Telling, Chris Matthews
www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org
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