The Trust offers financial assistance to individuals or groups to carry through restoration or improvement projects to completion. The Trust also invites enquiries about sponsoring one or more Awards.
Alex Plews - the 2011 Award Winner!
Our Young Preservationist this year is once again a railwayman; many of them have been but we would like to hear about young men and women from other sectors too.
Alex Plews joined The Buckingham Railway Centre at Quainton Road in 1989 as a volunteer. It was clear from the start that he was an enthusiastic worker who was willing to learn, and he relates particularly well to the other volunteers, most of whom have a decade or two on him!
In his first few years at the Centre he has already developed a range of experience, on the Centre’s own steam units of course but also on the ex-Egyptian Sentinel Railcar, the Sentinel Locomotive, and a Diesel Multiple Unit. He is a Passed Cleaner, which means he is permitted to fire steam locomotives.
Alex has recently started an apprenticeship at the Mid Hants railway, a scheme partly funded by the Transport Trust, aiming to be a maintenance engineer, but also learning the management side of railway preservation.
The National Transport Trust makes loans to groups, associations and individuals at advantageous rates for the restoration of artefacts - whether mobile or part of the infrastructure. Applications must be supported by a simple business plan which demonstrates the financial viability of the project. A sample business plan is available on request from the Treasurer.
The Trust does occasionaly make Awards for schemes which further the preservation movement. Again if you wish further information please contact the Treasurer.