Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway (HKWR) has secured a grant to build a Coach Shed to house and maintain the 1903 locomotive and other heritage rolling stock.
It has received £25,000 from the Heathrow Community Trust for the development. It is part of a major £1.8 million fundraising scheme to restore the original industrial railway that ran from the Thames at Hampton to Kempton Waterworks pumping stations that played such a vital part in supplying clean drinking water to London in the early 20th century.
Michael Hamilton, Chairman of HKWR, said: “We are delighted that Heathrow Community Trust (HCT) has granted this award which will make such a difference to our volunteers in maintaining and restoring our unique collection of heritage railway equipment. Being under cover will also enable more volunteers to be trained in heritage railway preservation and allow for future visits of the public and schools to see our restoration plans in action.”
Dr Rebecca Bowden, Director of HCT, said: “We delighted to support this project through our Communities Together grant programme and we very much hope it will enable many more people from our local area, and further afield, to visit and see this hidden gem, which exists thanks to the hard work of so many volunteers. We look forward to seeing the finished construction.”
Photo credit: Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway
