“This theft has not only put back this historic restoration but left the Trust, who manage the railway, devastated during an already difficult situation fraught with financial losses from visitor income.
Tanfield Railway Trust chairman, Derek Smith, said: “Our volunteers have put thousands of hours into the restoration of Horden, which was only weeks away from hauling trains for the first time since 1972. The theft will put that back months and cost more than £20,000; money that we can ill afford at a time when we have no income.
“Anyone being offered copper piping and brass as cut up scrap, or anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area, is asked to contact police via our ‘Report an incident’ page, quoting log 300 280420.”
Donations to support the restoration of Horden can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-support-tanfield-railway?fbclid=IwAR3T0bG-P1SFjY701Ft1Vmc6kPAbUSXsyikIAlcR7U9R302psM6ntUyibRI
The Tanfield Railway will celebrate it's 300th anniversary in 2025.
The Horden has very little left to be done for completion of it's restoration, the cab window spectacles, fitting handrails, installing the chimney, the pipework are awaiting the completion of the engine's painting, lining and varnishing before the fitters can clamber around to fit it.
https://www.facebook.com/northumbriapolice/posts/10157375998586309
Thanks to Steve for the news! Without readers letting me know about things they run across in local news, I'd never learn of these things, and wouldn't be able to help spread the word
Well that's friggin low.
ReplyDeleteRotten bastards! And I'm sure they're right that it was probably sold as scrap.
ReplyDelete