Heatherslaw Light Railway handed cash for new steam locomotive

Nov 5 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

IT’S full steam ahead for one of the North East’s most picturesque tourist railways after a cash boost.

Heatherslaw Light Railway on the Ford and Etal estate in north Northumberland, has been awarded £42,530 to complete work on a steam locomotive.

The grant has come from the Northumberland Uplands Local Action Group which delivers money from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) managed by One North East.

The visitor experience at the attraction will be improved as the increased capacity of the extra steam locomotive and two extra carriages to reduce waiting times.

It will also mean visitors will be guaranteed a trip on a steam-hauled train, rather than the substituted diesel engine at peak periods.

The news comes after One North East revealed that it has been a record summer for tourism in the region with occupancy rates at 85% from July to September 2009 for self-catering properties – the highest it has been since One North East took over responsibility for tourism in 2003. Figures also revealed that many of the region’s attractions also saw an increase in visitor numbers this year with major events like the Great North Run having an impact on occupancy levels.

The improvements will secure the existing six jobs at the railway and create a further full time and part time job.

It is also estimated that 10 jobs in the local economy will be secured and a further three will be created as a result of the trickle-down effect of an additional 40% boost to visitors to the railway by 2011.

Paul Smith, director of Heatherslaw Light Railway, said: “This funding will allow us to complete a steam locomotive that is currently 50% built and construct two new 16-passenger capacity carriages and consequently ensure that our visitors will be much more likely to get a steam trip. Inevitably, when there is a period to wait for such a ride, some people decide to go elsewhere so these improvements will increase our visitor numbers.