"LOVE YOUR RAILWAY" NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN

THE LYNTON & BARNSTAPLE RAILWAY GETS ON BOARD -‘LOVE YOUR RAILWAY’ NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN

THE LYNTON & BARNSTAPLE RAILWAY is joining organisations from as far apart as North Wales, North East Scotland, Northern Ireland Suffolk and Corwall in a new nationwide campaign to raise awareness of heritage railways.

Spearheaded by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), ‘Love Your Railway’ is a six-week summer campaign from July 26th to September 5th, which aims to shine a spotlight on not only the important work heritage railways do with regards to conservation, education and research, but highlight how they have all been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of reduced capacities and income.

THE LYNTON & BARNSTAPLE RAILWAY is collaborating with NYMR and over 35 other famous heritage railways, including several heritage lines in the south-west: such as the Bodmin & Wenford; East Somerset; Gloucestershire & Warwickshire; North Dorset; West Somerset and the South Devon.

The L&BR is pleased to support the ‘Love Your Railway’ campaign to highlight the work that all heritage railway lines do to conserve, protect, promote, entertain and educate people about  our railway history and culture

Heritage attractions everywhere have experienced very difficult times during the various lockdowns, so please do visit your local heritage attraction this Summer. They will all be pleased to see you.

The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust is pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the ‘Love Your Railway’ campaign. As the owner of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, the Trust is already taking a leading role in restoring, maintaining and managing its heritage train as well as activities and restoration work at the various railway locations including Chelfham Station and at Fridaywood Farm, Essex, where our heritage rolling stock is built.

Chris Price, General Manager at NYMR, said: We’re optimistic and excited about the summer ahead, but the last 12 months have been like no other year, with lockdowns, reduced capacities due to social distancing, and staff and volunteers falling victim to the virus.

There are more than 150 operational heritage railways, running trains over nearly 600 miles of track, which protect, conserve and bring to life part of the nation’s rich cultural heritage - giving enjoyment and learning to thousands of people every year.

We want to do all we can to raise awareness of every heritage railway across the country and the challenges we face; all the participating railways will be posting their own social content across the six themed weeks, but we also want to encourage the public to get involved by sharing their favourite memories and inspiring imagery from their visits, using the hashtag #LoveYourRailway.

The six themed weeks are: Heritage, Education, Volunteers, Family, Sustainability and Future.

For further information regarding the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway , please contact us by email  at enquiries@lynton-rail.co.uk or visit our websites www.lynton-rail.co.uk and www.lynton-rail.org.uk or our social media pages; https://twitter.com/woody_bay and www.facebook.com/Lynton.Barnstaple.

The full list of railways participating in #LoveYourRailway include the following:

● Apedale Valley Light Railway
● Bluebell Railway
● Bodmin & Wenford Railway
● Bure Valley Railway
● Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway
● Colne Valley Railway
● Crich Tramway Village
● East Somerset Railway
● Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways
● Foxfield Railway
● Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway
● Great Central Railway
● Head of Steam, Darlington
● Isle of Man Steam Railway
● Isle of Wight Steam Railway
● Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
● Keith & Dufftown Railway
● Lathalmond Railway Museum - Shed47
● Lincolnshire Wolds Railway
● Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
● Mid Suffolk Light Railway
● Northampton & Lamport Railway
● North Dorset Railway
● Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway
● Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
● Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway
● Severn Valley Railway
● Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway
● Snowdon Mountain Railway
● South Devon Railway
● South Tynedale Railway
● Spa Valley Railway
● Stephenson Railway Museum
● Vale of Rheidol Railway
● West Somerset Railway
● Whitehead Railway Museum
● Whitwell & Reepham Railway