News

9th September 2017

Despite the wet morning a good crowd turned up to see the weighbridge in it`s present condition,      interested locals, members and even a few holiday makers. All had a good look at the site, heard the history (as far as we know it) and the plans for the future. Comments were very encouraging.

See Bishop’s Castle’s Hidden Heritage

The Bishop’s Castle Railway’s old weighbridge lies hidden away but, for one day only, you can come and explore the building and find out more about it. Learn too, about the plans we have to restore it to its former glory and the new uses it may be put to.             

Saturday 9th September 10.00am

Meet outside the Public Hall on Station Street, Bishop`s Castle, SY9 5AQ

This visit has been made possible by the kind permission of Charles Ransford & Son Ltd. Please do not attempt to enter the sawmill yard without a steward.                                                                                                   

For further details Contact John Rimmer 01588 638998

 

 Tuesday 29th August  The next working party day

Meeting at Ransford`s Reception at 10am. The aim this week is to finish clearing the small left hand room and to make a start on the right hand refrigeration room. Safety hats, safety glasses and dust masks will be provided, but it would be useful if you could bring the same as last week, shovels, brushes, wheelbarrows, rubble tubs, heavy duty loppers. Come for just an hour or two or bring some lunch and join the picnickers on the pallets.If you can make it you will be very welcome.

Thanks to everyone who turned up at the Weighbridge for the working party

Everyone worked very hard to clear almost 50 years worth of debris from the two left hand rooms, plus vegetation from the outside (& inside) walls. The skip was soon filled and another is being ordered. The clearing of the right hand room, which was used in the 1970`s as a refrigeration room, will no doubt fill another skip quite easily. The next working party date will be confirmed as soon as we have a date for the skip delivery.

 

Tuesday 22nd August – WORKING PARTY

To start the ball rolling we have booked a skip for 2 weeks from next Monday to start to clear the inside and outside of the building in readiness for the public visit on September 9th. There will be a working party on site next Tuesday 22nd August, we are meeting at Ransford`s reception in the main building, entrance from Love Lane, at 10 am. If you would like to join us, come for just an hour or two or stay longer, you would be made very welcome. It is an industrial site, sensible footwear and work gloves are essential. Some tools will be provided, but if you can bring secateurs, shovels, plastic rubble buckets, brooms etc. it will be a help. Dust masks will be provided. Details from Lin Dalton Tel: 01584 877852 email: mail@ludfordpark.plus.com

                     Weighbridge update

Tuesday 15th August

Over 60 people attended our drop in at Bishop’s Castle Town Hall where we were able to explain our proposals for the restoration of the weighbridge. There were a number of Society members but a good selection of local residents too. We had a lot of encouraging comments, ideas and information about the weighbridge. The next step is to prepare a preliminary enquiry to the Heritage Lottery Fund, take further advice and, if all goes well, put a proposal to the Railway Society’s committee for a full application for funding.

If you weren’t able to make the drop in, it would be good to hear your views and ideas (and offers of help perhaps!).

SAVING BISHOP`S CASTLE RAILWAY HERITAGE

The last original building on the site of the old Bishop`s Castle Railway Station. Hidden in a corner of an industrial site, the weighbridge, complete with machinery, needs some TLC.

Come and find out more about the exciting project to restore this building at our Drop-in at

   BISHOP`S CASTLE TOWN HALL

   TUESDAY 15th AUGUST 4pm-8pm

The project team will be there to tell you all about the renovation plans, possible uses for the building and how the town might be involved. We’d like to hear your views and perhaps find ways you could help us achieve our aim.

For further details, please contact John Rimmer on 01588 638998

Bishop’s Castle Railway Society

We are currently updating this website to reflect the changes that are happening within the Society.

A reminder that, although the museum closes at the end of this season, we still need stewards to open on advertised days during the summer and autumn. We get a number of calls from prospective visitors wondering if it will be open on such or such a weekend. If you can do a turn in the museum, Vic Roberts will be happy to take your call on 01694 723164.

Peter Mills and John Rimmer had a useful meeting with The House on Crutches trustees and it seems likely that the space available to us in the museum will be satisfactory. Formal approval should come after their trustee meeting on July 27th.            


The Museum will be moving from its present location in School Lane at the end of this season. It is hoped that our collection of Bishop’s Castle Railway items will be relocated to the House on Crutches Museum in Bishop’s Castle. If we have surplus Bishop’s Castle Railway items we will store them securely and rotate the displays from time-to-time.  It’s important to say that ownership of the items will remain with BCRS and that we will be responsible for curating them. Other items that we hold (non Bishop’s Castle Railway) will be stored securely and their long-term future assessed.
The museum will continue to open on Saturday and Sundays from 2-5 until the end of September.

(Occasionally, because of unavailability of stewards, the museum doesn’t open on these days. We apologise for this and suggest you contact us if you are travelling any distance).

As one door closes, another opens
There are several new projects being investigated at the moment which will mean exciting times ahead for future of the Society, one of which is introducing a section for railway modellers.
Please revisit this website in the coming weeks to discover future projects and the programme of Autumn meetings and talks.
In the meantime if you would like any further information please contact

Chairman: John Rimmer Tel 01588 638998
email: info@bcrailway.co.uk