Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway Seeks Community Support to Complete Vital Project Phase
The Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway (WNGR) is calling on local businesses and community members to help bring their ambitious restoration project to fruition. The heritage railway, which serves as both a historical preservation initiative and a community hub, has published a comprehensive wish list of items needed to complete their current phase of development.
Creating a Safe Community Space
The railway project aims to establish a safe learning and welfare facility that will benefit both their wellbeing group and external community organisations. This community-focused approach demonstrates the railway's commitment to serving the broader local area beyond just heritage rail enthusiasts.
Essential Equipment and Materials Needed
The WNGR has identified a range of essential items required for their current operations:
Grounds Maintenance Equipment:
- Stihl SH86 Petrol vacuum shredder
- Petrol brush cutter/strimmer
- Petrol lawnmower
- Pole saw
Construction and Safety Tools:
- 4 metre combination ladder
- 4 round head shovels
- 2 builders' wheelbarrows
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Building and Infrastructure Materials:
- 6 rolls of wire (pig) netting
- Nails, fencing staples, and roofing tacks
- 40 bags of cement
- 3 bags of builders' sand
- 3 rolls of roofing felt
- 2 x 20ft shipping containers with timber and ply lining
- Electrical consumer unit and 5 electrical junction boxes
Railway-Specific Requirements:
- 2000 dogspikes
- 200 tonnes of ballast
- Ubiquiti CCTV cameras and speaker system
Specialist Equipment Applications
The railway has current bids in for specialised equipment totalling £10,000, including:
- Magdrill trench foot wacker
- Arbiz rail drill and bits
- Imar A frame
These job-specific tools are essential for the technical aspects of railway restoration and maintenance.
Future Development Plans
Looking ahead, the WNGR has ambitious plans for a purpose-built facility adjacent to their platform. This building will provide welfare, educational, retail, and office spaces, along with essential toilet facilities. The project is estimated to cost between £30,000-£60,000, depending on materials and final size specifications.
Importantly, this development will only proceed once the railway line has been fully renovated and inspected by the Rail Regulator, ensuring all safety standards are met.
Beyond Material Donations
The railway's needs extend beyond physical items. They are actively seeking:
- Training courses for volunteers
- Planning permission support
- Donated use of plant and transportation from local companies
- Introductions to companies that could assist with the project
- Recruitment of additional volunteers
How to Help
The WNGR welcomes donations of both new and good-condition second-hand items from their wish list. They can provide individual costings for specific items to help potential sponsors understand the financial impact of their contribution.
For businesses and individuals interested in supporting this community-focused heritage project, the railway offers an opportunity to contribute to both historical preservation and ongoing community wellbeing initiatives.
Supporting Local Heritage and Community
This project represents more than just railway restoration – it's about creating a lasting community asset that will serve educational, welfare, and recreational purposes for years to come. The WNGR's emphasis on community groups and wellbeing activities demonstrates their commitment to making heritage accessible and relevant to modern community needs.
Local businesses and community members interested in supporting the Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway can contact the organisation directly to discuss how they might contribute to this vital community project.
For more information about supporting the WNGR or to discuss donations, please contact the Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway directly at wngr2023@gmail.com.
Railway Line in April 2023 prior to restoration work beginning.
Restoration works underway….
Renewed section of track
Same section of track before and after
Volunteers relaying the track
A younger member of the group learning track laying (P-Way)
“Beyond Youth” group who have created their own project at the railway
Northumberland College Students carrying out course work in the station
Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway
History:
In April 2023, A group of volunteers formed Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway (WNGR) as a wellbeing group, with the aim of addressing isolation of people in the deprived former mining town of Ashington. We provide an inclusive and supportive environment and give our members a sense of worth and self-belief by being part of the community project restoring the abandoned and derelict heritage railway that runs through the QE2 Country Park. This has benefitted the group, which is made up of ex HM Forces, ex workers from local industry, skilled trades people, as well as carers, unemployed, NHS workers. Some of volunteers upon leaving their careers felt that they had nothing to offer society and felt it hard to fit in and lacked the bond of comradeship that they had once had.
Present:
The activities range from dropping in for a chat and cuppa to getting involved in any of the projects for both mental and physical stimulation be it inside the engine sheds or outdoors within the Park. Intergenerational skills can be exchanged and confidence gained whilst having a worthwhile aim of restoring a piece of local history.
We are lucky to also have ‘Reverend Julia’, who not only attends and helps in the work but is available to offer counsel and support to anyone in need.
As well as restoring the Railway, the volunteers have formed strong links within the community working with Northumberland College to provide a learning environment for students to carry out practical coursework in bricklaying, welding and mechanical engineering. Links have also been made using the Railway as a community hub for projects involving local SEND schools, youth groups, care homes and charitable organisations.
To date the volunteers have spent in excess of 7000 hours on work, carrying out such tasks as Track restoration, Trenching in 1 mile of cable, installing a new security system and Wi-Fi network and maintenance of rolling stock, buildings and groundwork.
The halfway point of restoring the track was reached earlier than anticipated. This required removing 600metres of rail, digging out hundreds of tonnes of old ballast, replacing with new ballast, replacing 700 sleepers and hammering in 4600 dog spikes so far. WNGR are constantly seeking funding to complete the restoration, for the benefit of the community and the wellbeing group.
We are appreciative of the very kind donations from local companies, individuals and organisations who have supported the project in either time, materials, equipment or donation of tools. However, we always need more for the constantly evolving projects.
We have a Facebook page and website where you will see many positive and supportive comments and also the help we have received from many local businesses who realise how valuable this community asset will be once open again, to the communities of Northumberland.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556542684590
Future:
- To open the railway to the public operating at an affordable price.
- Create a multi-function main station building on the platform providing a welfare room, office, education facility and retail/refreshments with disabled access.
- Installation of a composting toilet with disabled access providing facilities for people using the railway and QEII Country Park.
- Installing 2 shipping containers fitted out as training and storage to facilitate the needs of the students and volunteers in all weathers and allow us to better facilitate further future collaborations.
- To provide further training opportunities for the local college and schools.
- To continue to provide provision and opportunities for the existing and future volunteers as part of the wellbeing group.
- To further develop as a community hub.
