We’re raising £100k to build a carriage shed at Dovebrook to protect our 100-year-old Victorian coaches from harsh weather. With no protection the Middy has to expend serious time and money to keep these unique vehicles in operation condition, a considerable strain on the railway’s finances.
Now we have a chance to double any donation made thanks to a generous supporter.
We need a carriage shed to protect our Victorian coaches, nos 12,13, 14 and 140 from the ravages of English weather now and into the future. We have an approved plan for a second siding at Dovebrook and to build a new shed over both sidings. The anticipated total cost is £100,000, £50,000 for the first stage, installing a second siding, which requires substantial earthworks, and then £50,000 for stage 2, building the actual shed.
We have received an incredibly generous offer from a Middy supporter to match-fund to a total of £25,000.00 to speed raising the funds for the first phase, groundwork and track laying, which literally means doubling and maybe more with Gift Aid, every donation we receive.
The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway’s four Victorian coaches, are all well over 100 years old and the oldest, no.140 at 163 years, is thought to be the oldest Great Eastern vehicle in regular use. Our new acquisition G.E.R. no.14 is the only existing vehicle known to have run on the old MSLR. All four are of mainly wooden construction and suffer constant damage from being stored in the open. Please help us raise the £100k we need to keep the Middy coaches in running order.
