Train mad, Alfie Hewish is eight years old and from Telford in Shropshire and is on a mission to help support the Severn Valley Railway‘s Survival Fund appeal by taking on a sponsored challenge in order to raise funding.

The young rail enthusiast is attempting to get his photograph taken on as many footplates and cabs as he can through the 2023 season and has so far achieved a massive 20!

Alfie’s mum, Louise said: “The SVR is Alfie’s favourite heritage railway, and we visit all the time as a family. He just wanted to do his bit to help after we heard about the railway needing extra support for its Survival Fund.”

April saw the popular Severn Valley Railway kick-start its Survival Fund appeal in order to raise £1.5 million, which has already seen £315,000 raised via donations.

Severn Valley Railway Managing Director Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster said: “It’s absolutely wonderful that Alfie is putting his enthusiasm to good use to help the railway, and I can’t think of a better way than this of both raising funds and raising awareness of heritage rail. When young people like Alfie get such joy out of the heart of what the SVR is all about, it makes you feel extremely proud and hopeful for the future.”

Alfie said: “I really love the SVR, and I want to do something to help them. I know that things are hard for them at the moment, so this is something I can do. The SVR is my happy place, and I love everything to do with it.”

Railway life is well established within the Hewish family as Alfie’s great-grandfather Gilbert Hewish worked for London, Midland and Scottish Railway based in Bristol in the 1940s.

On a visit with his mum, dad Richard and sister Autumn, to the Severn Valley Railways Spring Diesel Festival, Alfie grabbed the chance to get some photos for his challenge.

Alfie’s mum went on to say: “Alfie’s as much at home with heritage diesels as he is with steam locos,” explained Louise. “All the drivers were extremely kind in letting him hop up into the cabs alongside the platform for photo opportunities. Everyone was so welcoming and spent time answering his questions and explaining what was going on.”

To get behind Alfie’s fantastic footplate challenge, please visit the family’s just giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/alfie-hewish-footplatechallenge

To find out more about Severn Valley Railway’s Survival Fund appeal, please visit: http://svr.co.uk