Cambrian Heritage Railways has been nominated for an award in this year’s Steam Railway magazine/Heritage Railway Association awards for its work in the re-opening of a section of the long-gone but not forgotten Cambrian Railways.

The award is for the work to reinstate a two-mile section of track from Oswestry to Weston Wharf. Each year, Steam Railway magazine and the Heritage Railway Association host an award where projects from within the heritage railways sector are nominated for readers to vote and select their favourite.

The line at Oswestry in North Shropshire fell victim to the 1960s Beeching cuts, but in 1972, local heritage enthusiasts came together to keep alive memories of Oswestry as a major railway hub and formed Cambrian Heritage Railways.

In 2016, plans were announced to extend the railway from Oswestry to Weston Wharf, since when Cambrian Heritage Railways volunteers have been hard at work laying two miles of new track and building a station platform. Following the restoration, the railway hopes that it will become the latest tourist attraction in the county.

Work is being partly funded by European grants and financial backing from local authorities. The redevelopment of the railway is part of an ambitious plan to further extend the line towards Gobowen and Llynclys.

Other contenders nominated for awards are:

• 6024 Preservation Society for rebuilding King Class 6024 King Edward I;
• Bodmin & Wenford Railway for its Clay Wagon Project;
• Corris Railway for construction of a new 0-4-0 saddle tank Falcon and installation of a transverser at Corris station;
• East Lancashire Railway for restoration of Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway 0-4-0 saddle tank‘Pug’ No. 19;
• Northampton & Lamport Railway for recreation of an ironstone wagon train;
• Richmond Light Railway for restoration of a ‘Quarry Hunslet’ locomotive Elin;
• Severn Valley Railway for restoration of Hall Class 4930 Hagley Hall and renovation of Bridgnorth motive power depot;
• Southwold Railway Trust/North Bay Railway Engineering Services for construction of a replica Southwold Railway locomotive and bringing steam back to the railway for the first time in over 90 years;
• Talyllyn Railway for the recreation of its Ty Dwr watering point.

Voting for the awards is through an online page at https://www.steamrailway.co.uk/read/hra-awards. That will bring up the Steam Railway awards page. Click on “Vote Now” to bring up a list of nominations and the chance to vote until 23:59 on February 2nd

Andy Green General Manager said: “Cambrian Heritage Railways are delighted to be considered amongst the best new steam railways attractions and this has been recognised by the Steam Railway magazine. However, we need your help by going online and vote for us to win this prestigious award.”