- What are we building? A new shed specifically for the maintenance and restoration of rolling stock, including wagons, coaches, locomotives and even our Pacer trains
- How big is it? the new shed will be 54m long and 11m wide. It will be large enough to accommodate four BR Mark 1 coaches on two parallel tracks, with sufficient circulation space to provide for storage, work benches and equipment. It will be accessed by roller shutter doors at either end of the shed, each 5m tall. Inside the shed we will have a maintenance pit and a shallower trench to will allow for easy access to the underside of vehicles. There will be reinforced jacking points at specific locations to allow, for example, a coach to be jacked up to remove the bogies. It is also intended to construct high level working platforms with safety restraints to allow access to vehicle roofs, although this will not be part of the initial build. Longer term, we also have planning permission to build a lean to structure to provide workshop space and volunteer facilities. The building will be a moder industrial building clad in grey cladding, similar to the running shed but twice as long. the design allows for roof mounted solar panels to be fitted.
- Where will it be? The building will be located in the area behind the current storage compound in space formerly taken up by storage sidings. Access to the shed will be from points leading off the loading road, which is the track laid at surface level that visitors cross on the way from the car park to the station area.
- Why do you need a maintenance shed? The existing running shed was the first permanent structure at the railway and in its early days was used for both locomotive maintenance and coach restoration. As our steam locomotive fleet has grown, all work on other rolling stock must be done outside. As a result, most work is wholly weather dependent. Even a simple job like painting our current passenger coaches stretches out over a number of years as the only time they aren’t in use is during the winter and the number of days where it’s dry and warm enough is very limited. Having a maintenance shed will mean that restoration work can be undertaken throughout the year. It will also mean that our steam locomotives can be stripped down properly for 10 yearly overhauls without taking up space in the running shed, which is also used for special events. Richboro will be the first locomotive in the shed to start work on its overhaul.
- Why are you spending money on a shed rather than focusing on getting to Alnmouth? It’s not really a question of either/or. If we are to operate services to Alnmouth, it will be a huge step forward for the railway, but we need not just the track, but the locomotives, coaches and people to be able to actually run a service. At our current pace of restoring coaches, we won’t be ready to operate a service by the time the track is in place, so the new shed is an essential element of our plan to reach Alnmouth.
- How much will it all cost and how much do you have already? Our estimate of the total cost of constructing the shed, including groundworks, trackwork, laying a concrete floor and installing electricity is £196,500. Thanks to very generous donations from two of our members, we have £131,250, including Gift Aid already in the bank, which has allowed work to start. We’re now seeking your support to raise the last £65,000 which will allow us to finish the job.
- What’s the deal? We’d be delighted to receive any donations towards the cost of finishing the shed, no matter how small. For larger donations, we’re offering you the opportunity to sponsor an area of the shed. £54 will allow you to sponsor 0.5 square metre of shed, or £108 to sponsor a square metre. All donors sponsoring an area of floor space will receive a certificate and will have their names recorded on a commemorative plaque within the shed. For anyone sponsoring at least 1 square metre, we will also offer a free tour of the facilities and the opportunity to view current projects underway at the time.
