The Churnet Valley Railway has opened an appeal to purchase and restore a former British Rail Sealion ballast wagon to enhance its last-handling capabilities during the push to extend the railway to Leek.

The loan of a BR Whale ballast wagon has been very useful during the restoration project and has been a vital asset in the work.

Although significant progress has been made in the railway’s mission to restore and rebuild the railway line to Leek, and with plans to reopen stations in the future, the railway is keen to improve its ballast handling capacity to ensure a smooth and efficient rebuilding process.

The Whale wagon is a unique survivor in preservation, and the railway has now offered the chance to purchase a Sealion wagon which is slightly smaller, with a 40-tonne capacity compared with the 51 tonnes of a Whale.

The cost to purchase and transport the Sealion wagon is £5000, for which the railway is appealing for help. It is looking for 20 individuals or groups willing to contribute £200 each. These contributions will play a crucial role in helping the railway acquire the Sealion wagon and significantly improve the capabilities of the railway’s engineering train.

As the Churnet Valley Railway is a charity, it will be able to claim Gift Aid on all donations, allowing it to quickly reach its fundraising goal swiftly. Every contribution regardless of size will make a tremendous difference to the mission to reach Leek.

Although work behind the scenes work does not always receive the glory it deserves, it is only through those efforts that the railway can thrive and move forward. With the public’s support, the railway can ensure it can become the best possible and create memorable experiences for passengers for years to come.

The Churnet Valley is grateful for all the support that it has received in the past and, hopes that the public will consider joining it once more as it embarks on this exciting phase of the railway’s development.

To make a contribution or find out further information, there is a dedicated fundraising page here