Swindon And Cricklade Railway - Engine shed extension appeal

Hi all,

The Swindon and Cricklade Railway is currently seeking donations to cover the remaining £10,000 needed to fund our engine shed extension. Most of the wording has been pulled directly from the Railway’s website.

Why we need it.
In the early 1990s, the Swindon & Cricklade Railway’s three-road shed at Hayes Knoll was coming into use. Planned as a Restoration Centre, it has consistently fulfilled its purpose with locomotives and passenger vehicles being restored and refurbished. Over the years its engineering facilities have been extended to the point where many jobs that would previously been seen as impossible are now routine.
Now we have reached the point where the shed also has to house working locomotives as well as items in various stages of restoration. We have reached the point where a dedicated engine shed is a pressing need. We are appealing for £10,000 that will, with existing funds, allow this essential facility to be built.

How will the shed be built?

We will employ an outside contractor to deliver the engine shed as a complete package.

Couldn’t we build it ourselves?

Most probably, given time. But we are an all-volunteer organisation and our people are already committed to the many other jobs necessary to keeping the railway a well-maintained, safe and a pleasant place to visit. Plus the fact that we need the engine shed as soon as possible and not in a few years’ time.

More importantly

Building the new shed will not detract from or slow down our efforts to complete the railway between Swindon and Cricklade. Taw Valley Halt, adjacent to Mouldon Hill Country Park, will open in 2014 and we are already extending the line north again towards Cricklade.

Are we expecting donations to pay for it all?

No. We have already saved over two thirds of the overall cost.

What will the benefits be?

Completing the new shed for working locomotives will allow the original shed to once again concentrate on being a Restoration Centre. There will be more space, giving interested visitors better opportunities to view work in progress.

What would it look like?

The extended shed is planned to cover existing Roads 4 and 5 in Hayes Knoll yard with a secure building, which will be an extension of the existing three-road shed.



An appeal form can be found here -
http://swindon-cricklade-railway.org/shed_appeal_form.pdf

If you can spare a few pennies – or pounds – please help us achieve our goal.


Many thanks!

 

I'm delighted to see on the S&C website that the shed extension at Hayes Knoll has now been completed.
http://www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org/shed.php#top
Sorry I wasn't able to chip in on this one (too many other railway related money drainers!) but well done to those who did and the S&C now has another good infrastructure asset - well done folks!

 

What vehicles are stored in the new shed?