The Foxfield Railway Society

Vandalism Recovery Appeal 22

Following the devastating news that many Foxfield artefacts were damaged by a reckless act of vandalism, we need your help to bring our trains back to life.
£3,495
raised of £10,000 target
by 138 supporters
RCN 1127378

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Story

Following the devastating news that many Foxfield artefacts were damaged by a reckless act of vandalism, we need your help to bring our trains back to life. The damage caused will run into the tens of thousands of pounds which is a devastating blow to the volunteers that work so hard to preserve the railway that is at the heart of the local community.

This comes at an even more difficult time as we are currently undertaking heavy engineering works on the railway, which has prevented us from operating the railway to generate income for the charity. We are due to start running trains again in July, but naturally we will now need to assess the damage and understand how this will impact on our operating plans.

We appreciate it is such a difficult time for many with the ever-increasing cost of living, but any donation will be greatly appreciated and will assist in re-opening the railway as planned in July.

About the charity

The Foxfield Railway was built in 1892-1893 to provide a link to the North Staffordshire Railway for the Foxfield Colliery. The railway was built by local labour provided by North Staffordshire Railway employees at weekends and supervised by the North Staffordshire Railway foreman plate layer Noah Stanier, using second hand material, again obtained from the North Staffordshire Railway. When the colliery closed in August 1965, local volunteers formed the Foxfield Light Railway Society to preserve the line. At first, passengers were taken in converted trucks up the formidable 1:19 to 1:26 gradient out of the colliery site at Dilhorne, accompanied by a tank engine. Eventually, new coaches were purchased and a station was built at Caverswall Road, Blythe Bridge, half a mile from Blythe Bridge station. The service runs for 2 1⁄4 miles (3.6 km) from there to the top of Foxfield Bank. The last half mile into the colliery is currently being relaid to suitable standards for passenger trains to be re-introduced. Today's facilities at Caverswall Road Station include a station buffet serving hot and cold refreshments, A gift shop, a museum area holding locomotives and artefacts currently out of use and 'The Foxfield Arms' our real ale bar serving a range of beers, wines and spirits. We now need to raise funds to ensure the survival or the railway and give it the best possible chances to thrive for future generations.

Donation summary

Total raised
£3,494.66
+ £605.25 Gift Aid
Online donations
£3,494.66
Offline donations
£0.00
Direct donations
£3,494.66
Donations via fundraisers
£0.00

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