Volunteers at Lowestoft Station received a major helping hand thanks to nine members of the Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) who spent two days helping the group develop a new heritage quarter.
The Lowestoft Central Project and Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership (CRP) have been working to create a small heritage area to the south of the station, centred on former tracks which once conveyed fish and aggregates onto the railway.
Network Rail had previously donated a set of railway level crossing gates which form a sixty-foot backdrop to the area and, once complete, they will be complemented by semaphore and ground signals as well as interpretation panels telling how the railway once used this important link to the harbour.
Whilst in Lowestoft, the GBRTT team, who had travelled from across the country to put their volunteering hours to good use, helped to clear vegetation, re-lay railway sleepers, paint fencing and assist with restoration work on the gates.
Martin Halliday, Community Rail Norfolk development officer, said: “We were delighted to accept an offer of volunteer support from GBRTT. Together with assistance from Network Rail and Greater Anglia, their help has significantly advanced efforts to create our heritage quarter at Lowestoft Station.
“The team’s time in Lowestoft was also a great opportunity for us to learn more about how the railways will be changing over the coming years and to be able to share the work we have undertaken at Lowestoft through the community rail movement, as well as our aspirations for the future.”
Chris Mitchell, chair of the Wherry Lines CRP, said: “We are very grateful to the team from GBRTT for donating their time, experience and labour in assisting with the heritage quarter project at Lowestoft, adding to support from Greater Anglia and Network Rail. This has been a fantastic collaborative effort and a real boost to the volunteer team, bringing them much closer to completing their scheme.”
A GBRTT volunteer spokesperson said: “We were delighted to use our volunteering time to support this great initiative and grow our understanding and appreciation for community rail projects.”
Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from the Wherry Lines CRP via their website.
