Press Enquiries

Contact: info@bellingham-heritage.org.uk

Some recent press reports about the Heritage Centre - not comprehensive

19 Mar 2012 Hexham Courant -New Carriages open

30 Nov 2011 Hexham Courant-CEREMONY HONOURS VOLUNTEERS AT HERITAGE CENTRE

03 Oct 2011 Hexham Courant-VISIT BY PILGRIMS FROM BELLINGHAM , THATS BELLINGHAM USA

09 Aug 2011The Journal (Newcastle)- BELLINGHAM FLOOD IN PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION

06 May 2011 Hexham Courant - A SHOCK TO SEE TWO RAILWAY CARRIAGES

18 Apr 2011 Hexham Courant - RAILWAY TRUNDLES INTO BELLINGHAM

15 Apr 2011The Journal (Newcastle) - HERITAGE CENTRE HOPES TRAIN WILL BOOST TOURISM

21 Mar 2011 Hexham Courant - HERITAGE CENTRE AIMS TO DRAW IN THE CROWDS

18 Mar 2011The Journal (Newcastle) - BOOST FOR HERITAGE CENTRE

07 Mar 2011 Hexham Courant - GROWING APPEAL OF CENTRE

31 Jan 2011 Hexham Courant - HERITAGE CENTRE GETS LOTTERY CASH

18 Jan 2011The Journal (Newcastle) - CASH BOOST TO HERITAGE CENTRE

17 Jan 2011 Hexham Courant - EXHIBITION DISCOVERS NEW HORIZONS

17 Jan 2011 Hexham Courant - STUDENTS DRAW UP 10-YEAR PLAN

Railway Coaches to return to Station Yard, Bellingham, this week
Posted on Tuesday, 12th April, 2011
Press & Media >> Press Releases

Download the press release (PDF, 151kb)

The Heritage Centre at Bellingham expects to take delivery of its two old Mark 1 railway coaches this week. The first coach is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday morning 12th April with the second arriving two days later. The coaches are being transported from Okehampton in Devon. The Heritage Centre commissioned an experienced company which has, if one dare risk a pun, a good track record in working with museums which need to move railway coaches and engines. The company is liaising with Northumbria police about the best route to Bellingham.

The Heritage Centre has already laid the track for the two railway coaches – this work was done by the Aln Valley Railway Trust in March. However, the transport company proposes to lay an additional temporary track alongside the permanent track, unload the first coach on to that and then „jack‟ the coach on to the permanent track.

Once the carriages are in place on the permanent track, work will begin almost straightaway to refurbish and refit them – one as an exhibition/education/lecture space, and the other as a tea-room. This work is expected to be completed by the end of October 2011.

Funding for the work has been obtained from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Northumberland Uplands LEADER Programme. These funds also cover the appointment of a part-time curator and a part-time educational officer – these appointments will be announced shortly.

Terry Bragg, the Heritage Centre Chairman, said: “This is a hugely exciting development for the Heritage Centre. The railway coaches will give us badly-needed space to work with children and young people, and enable us to hold talks and lectures and extra exhibitions in a comfortable environment. We are looking forward to working with the curator and the educational officer so that the museum continues to improve the services it offers visitors and local people.”

“This weekend‟s vintage vehicles display was a great success thanks to Wesley Turnbull and the other volunteers. Our Knitting People Together project is taking off and the exhibition from the Robert Stephenson Trust is a big attraction. This is a good time for new volunteers to join us – we can always do with an extra pair of hands. Volunteers will always be the life-blood of the Heritage Centre.”

NOTES TO EDITORS / PICTURE EDITORS

The arrival of these old railway coaches, similar to those used on the long-defunct Border Counties Railway, at the Heritage Centre in the old railway station yard will be a historic occasion and their unloading will provide terrific opportunities for dramatic photographs. We cannot give an exact time but we have been assured that the first coach will arrive on the morning of Tuesday 12 April. We do not have an arrival time yet for the second delivery on Thursday 14 April.

Further information:

Seán Mac Nialluis (01434) 609 320

info@bellingham-heritage.org.uk

Last changed: Tuesday, 12th April, 2011

Back