| The
Magic Mile
is an
opportunity
to obtain
over a half
a mile of
track for an
undisclosed
fee. This
will allow
us to
complete the
running line
through both
platforms to
the full
extent of
the current
site and
provide
demonstration
trains in
the near
future. Our
appeal for
track is
hardly new;
the ‘Sponsor
a Sleeper’
appeal has
been running
for some
years now
and has
raised a
healthy
sum. However,
the ‘Magic
Mile’ appeal
is quite
different
and with a
clear aim:
to raise the
£60,000
necessary to
obtain the
vast
quantity of
track that
we have been
offered,
transport it
to the site,
and obtain
ballast and
some
replacement
sleepers. This
will
transform
our Station
into a
leading
asset of
national
interest
much quicker
than we
previously
dreamed
possible. |
| |
|
WHY IS
THIS
OPPORTUNITY
SO
IMPORTANT? |
| When the
bulk of our
heritage
railways
established
themselves
in the
sixties,
seventies
and even
into the
eighties
they were
able to draw
upon
substantial
quantities
of freely
available
track and
equipment
for either
no cost or
else a
minimal
fee. Those
days have
long
gone. We
have
explored
every
possible
source of
track but
the current
profit-driven
environment
has closed
every door
leading to
‘cheap’
rails and
sleepers. A
mile of
track could
ordinarily
be expected
to cost
around
£300,000 on
the open
market. We
already have
our buffet
coach and
two more
items of
rolling
stock are on
their way to
Shillingstone
in the near
future; a
brake van
and a steam
locomotive. More
rolling
stock will
follow in
the future
as we begin
to look more
like a
‘real’
railway. The
need for
track has
never been
more
critical;
not just to
give us
somewhere to
store our
new rolling
stock, but
to propel us
forwards
into swiftly
becoming a
tourist
attraction
that will
bring in
more
visitors,
more repeat
custom, more
revenue
activities,
more
volunteers,
more
funding, and
a more
exciting
future. |
| |
|
HOW CAN
WE AFFORD
IT? |
| The deal
we have been
offered is a
once in a
lifetime
opportunity
and with
over £15,000
already
donated, the
Trust has
been able to
secure
around 1,000
metres of
redundant
track from
private
sidings near
Southampton.
Although the
£60,000
total
project cost
sounds
impossible
to raise, it
is something
we must try
to do; it is
a golden
opportunity
that will
never come
our way
again. But
purchasing
the track
panels is
only the
start - we
need to find
the cost of
transporting
it to our
site and
acquiring
ballast,
spare
sleepers and
other
fittings
before we
have a
working
railway. |
| |
|
HOW CAN I
HELP? |
As you
might
expect, by
way of
donations.
We will
gladly take
donations of
any size,
these are
difficult
times after
all, and
entry on the
‘roll of
honour’ will
be made for
sponsorship
of every
unit of £250
or more,
which can
either be
made as a
one-off
payment or
by
instalments
using the
form that
you can
download by
clicking on
the button
below.
There are
three main
levels of
sponsorship,
each with
its own
level of
benefit to
you :
• Silver
Membership:
For £250,
your name
will be
entered on
the ‘Magic
Mile’ roll
of honour
board in the
Station,
next year’s
membership
of the NDRT
will be
free, and
you will
receive a
limited
edition
print of
Shillingstone
Station.
• Gold
Membership:
For £500,
your name
will be
entered on
the ‘Magic
Mile’ roll
of honour
board as a
Gold Member,
the limited
edition
print of the
Station will
be yours,
and you will
receive 10
years
membership
of the Trust
for you and
your family.
•
Platinum
Membership:
For £1000,
your name
will be
entered on
the board in
the Platinum
section, you
will receive
lifetime
membership
of the
Trust, the
limited
edition
print, and
the special
‘Magic Mile’
commemorative
mug. |
|
Click here
to view the
'Magic Mile,
Roll of
Honour'
board |
| |
|
HOW CAN I
PAY? |
| The
‘Magic Mile’
sponsorship
and donor
forms can be
downloaded
by clicking
the button
below,
collected
from the
Station or
by
contacting
the Station
as follows: |
| |
The North Dorset Railway Trust
Shillingstone Station
St Patrick’s Industrial Estate
Station Road, Shillingstone
Blandford Forum
Dorset DT11 0SATel: 01258 860696 |
|
|
Don’t have Adobe PDF
Reader? |
|
Click below to
download it for free. |
|
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Please
remember:
When
completing
the forms,
please
complete the
Gift Aid
section if
you are a UK
taxpayer.
Without
costing you
any more,
this will
give us a
further 25p
in every
pound of
your
donation
that we will
be able to
use to
purchase
points and
other
track-laying
essentials. |
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