Tynedalesman News

There are no Slaggyford Extension Fund articles published in Tynedalesman issues Nos. 143 to 145.
Therefore the article published in the previous issue of Tynedalesman issue No. 142, dated March 2005, appears below.

Extension Appeal as at 12th January 2005

The Extension Appeal has now raised �21,512. The actual balance as at 12th January 2005 was �15,236. The main item of expenditure has been the cost of the infrastructure survey of the line to Slaggyford (�4,465), next in importance have been the prizes paid to members of the 100 Club, and lastly the very minor administrative costs.

Articles published in the previous issues of Tynedalesman Nos. 130 to 135
published between March 2002 and June 2003 appear below:-

150th Anniversary Appeal Fund Committee formed
and Slaggyford Extension Appeal launched

An administrative committee has been formed for the Alston Branch 150th Anniversary Appeal Fund. The main role of the committee is to determine ways of raising money for the extension of the railway of a further two and a quarter miles from Kirkhaugh to Slaggyford; all funds raised will be placed in a separate bank account and will only be used to extend the railway to Slaggyford. The committee comprises the following people - Norman Cook as the Convenor, Mike Garbutt, Norman Johnson, Chris Shaw and John Walker.

The cost of the extension to Slaggyford which includes the purchase of materials for relaying the track, installation of a waterproof membrane on Lintley viaduct and renovation work to Slaggyford station building and platform for along this two and a half mile stretch of trackbed is estimated at �400,000, which is the amount of money which will need to be raised, by a target date of 2006. By 30th December 2002 the total raised stood at �9,359.01, the balance of the appeal fund is about �8,400 after raffle prizes, 100 Club prizes and other expenses have been deducted.

The appeal was launched on Tuesday 21st May 2002 as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations and a Slaggyford Extension Appeal brochure has now been produced, copies can be obtained from Alston Station, telephone 01434 381696 or write for a copy, please include a stamped addressed envelope to: South Tynedale Railway, The Railway Station, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3JB. All donations welcome and gratefully received.

To assist with the extension appeal, it is intended to apply for further lottery grants to the Heritage Lottery Fund, one will be for the Slaggyford station area and the second will be for work on the trackbed. A �Lottery Quality� estimate for work on the extension must be produced before any application can be made.

Stop Press: The Appeal Fund total now stands at about �12,000 out of which has to be paid money for the full survey and costing of the work required on the line and buildings between Kirkhaugh and Slaggyford. The Society needs to raise around �100,000 from its own endeavours to improve the chances of getting financial assistance from public funds. All donations will be gratefully received!

Slaggyford Extension Fund Appeal Progress
by John Walker

�� The Appeal Fund now stands at just about �12,000, it is still a long way off our target of �400,000. Out of which we still have to pay for the full survey and costing of the work required on the line and buildings mentioned in my last report - as this must be done before we can apply to organisations such as the Heritage Lottery Fund for financial assistance. This will absorb a large chunk of the Fund, so it is vital that we keep the donations rolling in!

�� If you have not already contributed to the Appeal please consider giving as much as you can now. Unless the Society can raise around �100,000 from its own endeavours our chances of getting financial assistance from public funds remain slim.

�� One way of helping is to have a piggy bank by your bedside or telephone and every day before you go to bed or use the phone, to put your small change into it. Even if it is only coppers, it soon mounts up and every so often you could empty it and send a cheque to the Treasurer. Every little helps, so please do what you can.

John Walker, Chairman, Extension Appeal Committee.

Slaggyford Extension Fund Appeal
by Ian Hughes

��In order to keep members abreast of developments, the following is an abridged version of the Minutes of the first meeting of the Extension Fund Appeal Committee. The Committee has been appointed to generate the revenue needed to complete this project and it needs all of the help it can get from both working and non-working members. This may be in the form of ideas, donations or assisting in a fundraising event. As well as money, more volunteers are needed and if each of our existing members could recruit another member or volunteer the travails would be far, far easier. Three years is not a long time so over to you, the members.

A bank account has been opened and named �STRPS 150 Extension Appeal�.
�512 has been deposited in the account from donation boxes or transferred from another STRPS account.
John Walker was elected as Chairman of the fund committee.
Norman Cook was elected as Secretary of the fund committee.
A quorum would be four members (two-thirds of the committee membership).
The term of office of the officials would be three years; similarly the appeal would run for three years.
The committee brief is �to raise money sufficient to construct the railway and establish revenue earning between Kirkhaugh and Slaggyford�.
Chris Shaw presented the estimated costs. On the basis of this, the appeal target was set at �400,000 over the next three years. The proposed date for the opening is summer 2006 with any surplus funds used on related projects on the extension.
It was agreed that an appeal �Target/Achievement� board would be placed on Alston station.
Ian Hughes agreed to provide some photographs of the current track bed and structures and to provide progress photographs.
For fundraising, Dave Hewitt has agreed to obtain signed photographs of West Bromwich Albion football players and run an internet auction for them; John Sutton agreed to run a �100 Club�, see article below.
The Society�s web site is to be modified to incorporate details of the appeal.
Consideration is to be given to replacing the Christmas raffle with a year long appeal raffle.
Tom Bell is currently preparing a report for the local council on the structures associated with the Railway. Any moneys remaining after the deduction of expenses will be donated to the Slaggyford Extension fund.
A brochure has been produced to publicise the appeal.

Ian Hughes

�100 Club� by John Sutton

�� As from 1st May 2002, we will be running a �100 Club� to help to raise funds for the Slaggyford Extension. Each number between one and a hundred will be available for �purchase� at �1 for each month and you can have as many numbers as you like each month for each month for a twelve month period.
�� Every month three numbers will be drawn:-

The first number wins 30% of the pot
The second number wins 15% of the pot
The third number wins 5% of the pot

�� The balance each month will go towards the Extension Fund and, if all 100 numbers are bought each month for the next year, the Extension Fund will receive �600 and �600 will be returned to members. You need to decide if you want one number for twelve months, i.e. �12, two numbers, i.e. �24, and so on. Once you have decided, send a cheque for the full amount (made out to �STRPS 150 Extension Appeal�) and Dave Hughes will do the rest.
��Send to Mr David Hughes, 2 Wellesley Road, WALLASEY, Wirral, CH44 5UR
��Don�t forget to give your name, address and membership number as, on receipt of your cheque, David will send your allocated numbers. He will announce the winners for each month in the Tynedalesman, but if you are a winner you will already have received your cheque.
�� This is an easy way to help us to get to Slaggyford and also to have a bit of fun in the process.

John Sutton

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SOUTH TYNEDALE RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY
Registered Office: The Railway Station, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3JB
Tel. 01434 381696.��Talking timetable tel. 01434 382828
Registered Charity No. 514939.

E-mail addresses - click on links below:-
South Tynedale Railway information - Send e-mail to South Tynedale Railway
STRPS membership information only - Send e-mail to Kathy Aveyard
Tynedalesman information only - Send e-mail to Tynedalesman compilers

Mission Statement for the South Tynedale Railway:-
�To provide satisfaction for our customers and volunteers
by operating a friendly, safe and efficient narrow-gauge railway.�

� South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society, June 2006.

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