Poulton and Wyre Railway Society PWRS

The Poulton and Wyre Railway Society (PWRS) was formed in 2006. The aim is to reopen the old disused rail line that runs from Poulton to Fleetwood.

The group has been working on the line and its infrastructure since 2006 under a clearance and maintenance licence from Network Rail. The society have established an operating company to eventually run the line when granted a lease.

https://www.facebook.com/pwrailway/posts/2966972146721067

Their current appeal is for help with the restoration of a 2 car 108 DMU – a train to you and me! Can you help them with a small donation?

Restoring Rolling Stock

PWRS will of course eventually require rolling stock to run a railway.

To this end a group of volunteers have been restoring a John Fowler Diesel Shunter at our base at NPL Hillhouse Business Park, this is now almost complete. The NPL management have kindly allowed us a plot of land at Hillhouse for a base.

We’ve also purchased a Geismar motorised maintenance trolley which when restored will be used to transport workers and their equipment up and down the line to wherever they are working.

Class 108 DMU

The Poulton & Wyre Railway Society owns a Class 108 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) and this is now located at our base at NPL Hillhouse, Thornton.

The Class 108 DMU, consists of two carriages: A Driving Motor Brake Second, along with Driving Trailer Composite. Both were built in 1960 by British Railways at their Derby works and remained in regular service until 1992 when they were bought by enthusiasts for use on preservation lines.

Over the years the unit has had several owners; it initially was based at Peak Rail, Buxton, Derbyshire, where it stayed several years. In 2008 it moved to the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley in Derbyshire. Some progress was made on its restoration but eventually all worked ceased. PWRS bought the unit early in 2016.

The Society purchase the unit using numerous donations from friends and members of the Society. But a generous grant from Walney Extension Community Fund enabled significant progress to take place with the restoration work at Butterley.  The Midland Railway Centre was able to carry out some heavy engineering work using its workshop facilities and skilled staff it had available. Such facilities were not available to the Society at the time.

108 Arrives in Thornton

The unit was delivered to our depot at NPL Hillhouse, Thornton in March 2020. The two carriages are now installed on temporary lengths of track.

Society volunteers have begun restoration work which includes further work on the engines, refurbishing the interiors, and a start on repainting the bodywork.

Once the restoration work is complete, the unit will  undergo an M Exam, which is the equivalent of cars passing a MOT. It will then be allowed to be used on a heritage railway line and carry passengers once more.

Our plans include the use of the train as an education facility where local school children can learn about topics such as the building of the railway to Fleetwood, its operation, its closure and hopefully its reopening. In addition, the Society is looking into how local apprentices can be involved in the restoration work.

The Society is currently taking part in a feasibility study to reopen the railway to Fleetwood which hopefully will include a heritage element where the diesel multiple unit could feature.

Can you help?

This is power car 51937. The unit was located at the Fleetwood engine shed 24F, in the early 60s. It’s quite fitting that the new destination board indicates the local destination of Fleetwood.

PWRS has started to assess the work required and associated costs. It’s going to be a big and expensive job. Can you help with a donation?

• For example a £20 donation buys a replacement wooden step board. 20 step boards are needed.
• A £15 donation will buy 100 seat base bolts, we need 400 bolts.
• £40 will buy a tin of etched primer for the roof, we need 4 tins.
• The list goes on, so if you can make a donation it’s going help with the restoration of the DMU.
• You could also support the PWRS by becoming a member, for £15.

How to donate:

PayPal – The safer, easier way to pay online.
Donate electronically to our bank account.

Bank: Santander
Account Name: Poulton & Wyre Railway Society
Account Number: 89012757
Sort Code: 09-01-28

They’ve provided us with this information to explain more about their group and how you can get involved:

Poulton and Wyre Railway Society

The fledgling group have encountered many difficulties and setbacks over the last eleven years but as the years roll by we are constantly moving towards our goal of once more seeing the line providing a service to the local and surrounding communities.

Thanks to Network Rail who granted the PWRS a licence that allowed us to clear the line and repair or replace the broken fences and what remains of the infrastructure. The PWRS took on the challenge and began the daunting task of clearing the line began.

Thanks to local organisations

Over the years we have made considerable progress.

• With the help of Lancashire County Council, who have provided grants for much needed tools and equipment, we have been able to make considerable progress in clearing the line and trackside and replacing damaged and missing fencing.
• Wyre Council have also helped us with grants and the loan of machinery when not in use by them.
• Fleetwood Town Council have also provided loans for our team at Jameson Road to purchase a shed and hire machinery to move the mounds of soil that was covering parts of the track due to many years of ditch maintenance.
• We were also fortunate to win a grant from the Aviva Community award scheme. We now have a member volunteer trained in using commercial weed control equipment and chemicals.

Our main income since we began eleven years ago has come from annual membership fees and the sale of logs from the many trees that had been blown over during the years the old line lay unused. We’ve reluctantly had to remove some trees to comply with railway regulations set out by Network Rail.

We also have been sponsored by local companies Alan J Hargreaves Engineering from Redmarsh, and AE Engineering from Fleetwood. Both these companies have provided us with heavy lifting and haulage of machinery and aggregates on various occasions. NPL Estates allowed the use of a plot of land as a base next to the line at Burn Naze.

Without their help and donations from other railway enthusiasts we would not be in the position we are today.

Restored Railway Stations

Over the years we have cleared and refurbished both Thornton and Burn Naze stations, both were buried under overgrown trees, shrubs and weeds. The platforms at both stations had been destroyed and all types of rubbish was strewn all over both stations.

No matter what the weather our teams of volunteers from each of the three sites where we are currently working have been working hard to clear the line and restore the stations back to a usable condition.

Both station platforms have been restored and planted up. Thornton station has been awarded certificates from the Britain in Bloom competition for the last four years running. Burn Naze has had the platform re flagged and the gardens and viewing area reinstated.

Holiday platform

Another team is working hard in all weathers at Jameson Road. A halt with a platform is planned, to service the Cala Gran caravan park. A small car park is also planned there to be used as park and ride. Passengers will be able to leave their vehicles there and take the train into Burn Naze, Thornton and Poulton.

The team are in the process of removing many tons of spoil from the track and have planted up the surrounding banking with shrubs and bulbs. There is a break in the track at that point which will have to be reinstated before we can run trains on that section of the line.

Yet another team is currently engaged in restoring the footpath crossing the track at footpath no.8 known as the Wyre way.

A Home for Wildlife

The PWRS is aware of the need to look after our wildlife and we have a member whose role is to look after the issues raised regarding wildlife. We put up many bird and bat boxes along the line to encourage wildlife to make their home alongside the railway. Each year we see more and more wildlife taking up residence in these boxes and in the hedges alongside the track.

Operating Company

We have recently set up an operating company that will eventually run the railway when we are finally given an operating lease. We’ve also applied to become a charity. Along with an operating licence we will then be able to apply for the larger grants that will be needed for the PWRS to replace the infrastructure that was demolished when the line closed.

Rail service from Poulton to Fleetwood

We can then put into place our business plan. It will enable us to once again operate a rail service between Poulton and Fleetwood. Of course the ultimate ambition is to run steam engines on weekends and bank holidays and other times of the year such as Christmas. But that is a long way off. First we will need to replace the essential facilities  that are missing and build the engine sheds and workshops needed to enable us to maintain and service our engines and other rolling stock.

We are always looking for new members. Interested in becoming a member and joining this task? Just come along to Thornton station on any Wednesday or Saturday morning. You’ll be very welcome.

Or Email our membership secretary at membershipsecretary@pwrs.org and please mention that you saw it on Visit Fylde Coast!

History of Poulton and Wyre Railway Society

Poulton and Wyre Railway Society PWRS, stems from the merger of two groups. The first being the Wyre Rail Cycle Partnership, formed by the Poulton Market Town Initiative in 2005. The second being a dedicated group of railway enthusiasts.

The WRCP wished to see the line from Poulton junction to Burn Naze re-opened and extended to Fleetwood. As a modern commuter railway (with a heritage feel at the station sites) and a joint cyclepath/ bridleway. The second group proposed a heritage railway. Offering tourists the chance of a trip behind a steam locomotive on the Fylde coast. But also looking into running a commuter service, using other heritage locomotives.

The Way Forward –

The two groups merged in April 2006 and held a well attended public meeting. By the end of the night it had been agreed that the PWRS would push forward with the heritage scheme. While still offering support to Network Rail if they decided to upgrade the line as a part of the national network.

Poulton & Wyre Railway Society has a clear mission:

‘The Poulton and Wyre Railway Society will work as a catalyst to facilitate the reopening of the line from Poulton to Fleetwood. It has formed the Poulton & Wyre Railway Trust to carry out negotiations with the relevant authorities on its behalf.’

The Priorities of Poulton and Wyre Railway Society are:

1) Look after and improve Thornton station
2) Support Wyre Council and Lancashire County Council with their commitment to secure the long term future of the railway.
3) Continue to restore a fine collection of historical railway artefacts.

Plans for the station and railway corridor through Thornton include:

• the reinstatement of boundaries using natural and picket fencing where possible,
• renovation of the former ticket office and
• the repair and replacement of damaged but still extant brick walls.

The Poulton Station Partnership includes PWRS, The Heritage Task Group and the Green Team. Working with Network Rail and Northern Rail the partnership will carry on with future improvements. For example CCTV and working towards a more authentic L&Y/LNWR look.

PWRS – How you can get involved

Poulton & Wyre Railway Society (known as PWRS) are on a mission to re-open the railway line between Poulton and Fleetwood. Everyone is welcome, here is more information about how you can get involved.

As with most groups such as this there never seem to be enough workers for the many tasks. Would you be interested in joining us?

Membership of community groups like this can mean lots of different things to different people. Do you have an interest in railways and trains, or the areas in which the group are working? You’re very welcome to get in touch and join in.

Current projects:

• Rebuild and refurbishment of the Wennington Signal Box
• The restoration of a 6 wheeled L&Y carriage
• The reclamation and de-vegetation of the former Thornton Station site
• The restoration of a John Fowler Locomotive
• Restoring to original condition the fencing and gates of Thornton Station

How can you get involved?

Membership of the PWRS can mean different things to different people:

• Friendship and socialising – you can meet with established working teams at Thornton Station, or be part of our promotions team
• Administration – offer guidance on planning and the preparation of tasks. Such as the restoration of the Wennington Signal Box and the L&Y carriage.
• Memories – access membership content on our website, such as reports and our well established photo archive
• Discussion – generally evangelise about our aims and objectives to your colleagues, family, friends and neighbours!
• Watching brief – support the Society from your armchair, keep abreast of what’s going on through meetings, the website and newsletters

Everyone is welcome, young and old. Please support the project – contact:

Membership Secretary Nick McCrudden

Email membershipsecretary@pwrs.org
Tel: 07521 834243.

Or write to:
Poulton and Wyre Railway Society
c/o The Print Room
Hillhouse Business Park
Thornton Cleveleys
FY5 4QD

You can also visit the website at www.pwrs.org

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