Beith to launch Bunty at Heatherslaw Railway

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 5th Jun 2009

Founded over 20 years ago by the late Neville Smith, the Heatherslaw Light Railway has carried over 600,000 passengers from Heatherslaw Corn Mill to Etal along its two and a half miles of gently winding riverside track on the Ford & Etal Estates (see www.ford-and-etal.co.uk). A new 2-6-0 Steam Locomotive to be named "Bunty" was begun by Neville before his untimely death early in 2009. This part-completed loco was sent to Alan Keef Ltd, an experienced steam locomotive building and restoration company, for completion (see www.alankeef.co.uk). In addition, HLR's own workshops have built two new carriages over the off season to complement the new locomotive. The project represents a total new investment of around £85,000 which has been funded by HLR (backed by Lombard Asset Finance) with 50% match funding from RDPE.

The official launch of the new locomotive and carriages is to be held at the Heatherslaw Station on Friday 2 July 2010. The inaugural train will be officially sent on her way by Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Beith MP and will leave at 10:00. Alan was one of the honoured guests at the original launch for the Railway back in 1989, when Lady Joicey first cut the ribbon on the new venture.

Sir Alan said:

"I am delighted to have been asked to launch the Bunty on her first trip and am looking forward to the event.

"The Heatherslaw Light Railway was badly hit by flooding in 2008 and I am glad that the business is now going from strength to strength."