Crowle Peatland Railway have been shortlisted for a prestigious Heritage Railway Association (HRA) Award.
The railway museum has been recognised for its restoration of its Simplex Locomotive 40s302, now known as “Little Peat” in the Diesel and Electric Locomotion Award and will attend the HRA Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony held in Birmingham on Saturday, March 11. The Little Peat locomotive was reassembled and restored to its current condition on June 19, 2021 by volunteers at the museum. The recovery of Little Peat, which had been originally built by Motor Rail Limited and put to work on Fison’s Hatfield Peat Works, took place in 2015, after a group of local people came together to try and rejuvenate the relic, left in disrepair for many years at Bank Top. The small locomotive is celebrated as the inspiration behind the formation of the museum, which opened back in 2016 and now works under its own power, allowing visitors of the site to appreciate the local history. A representative from the museum said: “We are up against some prestigious Heritage Railways, such as the Great Central Railway for this particular award, but we hope Little Peat will take it home. “The Heritage Railway Association is the UK-wide trade body, representing heritage railways, cliff railways, museums and rolling stock owners. They have over 300 members ranging from lengthy heritage railways operating historic steam locomotives to short electric tramways and even miniature lines.” For further information about the museum and Little Peat, please visit www.peatland.co.uk.
The fully restored and functioning Little Peat has been shortlisted for an award at the HRA Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony. (23-02-221 SU)
