Emergency winter funds for Bluebell Railway

The money is from The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Emergency Fund which was set up to give grants of up to £250,000 to help organisations affected by Covid-19.

Chris Hunford, chairman of Bluebell Railway, said: “We are very grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for approving our application and providing the financial support to keep the wheels turning.

“Our members, supporters and friends contributed sufficient money to enable us to reopen – this extra financial help will allow us to continue to operate over the next few months.”

The grant will help to cover costs from August to November including paying for heritage and technical staff, hire of machinery, track repairs personal protective equipment and advertising.

The railway’s own emergency appeal was launched in March and has raised nearly £400,000 so far from donations and a ‘virtual’ track walk.

The money was enough to partly make up for lost income and allowed the railway to reopen on its 60th birthday on Friday, August 7.

Visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/support-bluebell to donate to the emergency appeal.