'Great news' as border heritage railway secures £410,000 chunk from final instalment of government grants scheme
A heritage railway line in mid Wales is being given an 'in principle' £410,000 grant as a government funding scheme comes to a close.
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The Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway (W&LLR) is to receive the money under the Community Ownership Fund (COF), which is being cut by the government.
The railway owns three industrial units on its Llanfair Caereinion Station site, built by the local council in the 1970s.
Two of the units are in very poor condition, and the roof has failed.
The railway was contemplating having to demolish all three, which would have made two museums and their associated collections, the railway’s archives, and its engineering stores homeless.
The money makes the roof repair possible as well as improving the museums, and open space for increased community activities.
It also protects it for future plans to develop the Llanfair site including upgrading its current workshop facilities, where its historic vehicles are repaired and restored.
Iain McLean, appeals director and vice-chairman of the railway, said: “This is great news.
“Saving this building means that we can go ahead with our plans to become an accredited museum, can continue to host Cloverlands Model Car Museum and have a dry safe place for our engineering stores. We hope to expand our museum with a recently-donated model rail layout depicting our line, and to welcome local residents for community events.
