The restoration of a small diesel locomotive at the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway, which has taken nearly 30 years, has been shortlisted for two national awards at the Heritage Railway Association Awards.

It is the third year in a row that the railway, in Skegness Water Leisure Park, has been shortlisted for an award in the HRA Awards.

It was joint winners with the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway for its reopening in 2009.

Barbara Barnes, Board Director of the Heritage Railway Association, told the LCLR that they had been shortlisted for their Skeggy Simplex – Iconic Simplex Success.

However, winners will not be known until 2021 when the awards ceremony is held.

The locomotive in question is an 0-4-0 Simplex built in 1947 and is No. 8 in the LCLR fleet.

Restoration started more than 25 years ago by the LCLR Historic Vehicles Trust and is now an operational locomotive at the LCLR.

Railway spokesman John Chappell said: “We’re honoured to be short-listed alongside the great achievements of the giants of railway preservation, such as the Ffestiniog Railway and the Severn Valley Railway. Without any of their resources. Our volunteers’ skill and dedication has brought back to life a small locomotive which has played a very large part in making the Lincolnshire Coast one of the most popular destinations in the country for families on holiday  – helping to protect the towns and villages and literally providing the motive power to build much of them in its everyday work”.

Richard Shepherd said: “It is wonderful to see and hear the ‘Skeggy Simplex’ running again after all the years of work, using only the most basic of tools. It’s not been an easy task, but persistence in solving problems and sourcing or making spare parts has paid off. I don’t think it occurred to us that one day, our efforts would be judged alongside those of the Severn Valley Railway, the Ffestiniog, the Tanfield or Mid-Suffolk – all lines whose achievements over the years we respect and admire”.

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