A Mid Wales railway claimed a major accolade and at the Heritage Railway Association (HRA) Annual Awards in Birmingham earlier this month. To mark 70 years of preservation, Talyllyn Railway was presented with the Manisty Award for Excellence. The most prestigious award given by the HRA, the accolade was presented to honour the enormous contribution that the Tywyn-based narrow gauge line has made to the whole heritage railway sector and the inspiration it has provided to others for seven decades.
His experiences on the Talyllyn inspired him to create the fictitious Skarloey Railway which became the subject of an additional series of children’s books within his ‘Railway Series’.
General manager, Stuart Williams, said the railway was delighted to win the prestigious Peter Manisty Award, celebrating its first 70 years of preservation. “The award is testament both to the original volunteers who had the vision to rescue the railway from certain closure and to the countless volunteers who have worked over the years to develop and preserve it,” he added. “Tom Rolt and his protagonists surely would be delighted to know that the preservation movement that they began would blossom into the Heritage Railway movement we all enjoy today.” Steve Oates, HRA chief executive, said: “This awards event means a huge amount to the heritage rail sector. It’s our chance to celebrate the railways and individuals who have gone above and beyond to deliver the quality, experience, ingenuity and passion that heritage railways depend upon. “It has also been a great opportunity to look back to the birth of heritage rail and take new inspiration from the massive success that the Talyllyn spearheaded all those years ago. “After another really tough 12-months, not just for heritage railways but for the whole country, it’s been immensely satisfying to see and hear what a fantastic job volunteers and staff across the industry have been doing. It fills me with pride and with optimism that we will overcome whatever challenges face us next.” The evening was hosted by Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways general manager Paul Lewin with guest speaker Tim Dunn, of railway documentary fame. The awards saw a record-breaking number of entries, with more than 75 submissions covering almost every element of railway preservation in the UK. Picture caption: Heritage Railway Association chairman Brian Simpson presents the Manisty Award for Excellence to Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society chairman Jon Mann watched by (from left) guest speaker Tim Dunn, Talyllyn Railway board member Lis Mann, engineering manager Chris Smith, media creator Luke Ryan, general manager Stuart Williams and Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society member John Robinson. The Manisty Award for Excellence.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
April 2020
March 2020
November 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
January 2018
December 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
Categories |