Rail200 celebration at Nantwich's "church with the train"

The Nantwich Methodist steam traingiving rides to 'children of all ages'! IMG_8071 - Copy (1) (1)

Two hundred years of railways in Great Britain was celebrated at Nantwich Methodist Church in Hospital Street.

Volunteers run a steam train every Saturday over the narrow-gauge tracks beside the church giving rides to youngsters and operate the model railway belonging to the children’s club “Drop ‘n Shop”.

But this was expanded last week to provide a display of half a dozen stands in the church hall, showing the activities of a number of local railway interest groups, including the South Cheshire Model Engineering Club, the U3A (Railway Section Crewe Branch) and the Railway Children charity.

And a celebratory church service took place thanking God for the contribution the railways have made to society in the past 200 years.

It was led by the Rev Rob Hilton, the Superintendent Minister of the Cheshire South Circuit of which the Nantwich church is a member.

Rob is also a railway enthusiast who spent part of a sabbatical learning to fire a standard gauge steam locomotive at the Churnet Valley heritage railway.

As well as relating anecdotes from his experience, he spoke of the connectedness that the railways had brought to society.

Contributions were made by Karen Schofield, a Railway Chaplain based in the North West, who spoke of her role in supporting the people in the industry and David Maidment, Founder of the Railway Children, who spoke of their work safeguarding vulnerable children on Britain’s stations as well as on the transport networks of India and East Africa.

Deputy Mayor of Nantwich Cllr Kim Jamson and Mayor of Crewe Cllr Sally Graham also attended and spoke at the service.

Kim Jamson, Deputy Mayor of Nantwich and Sally Graham, Mayor of Crewe with Paul Durant driver and owner of the Methodist Church steam train IMG_8077 - Copy (1) (1) — Kim Jamson, Deputy Mayor of Nantwich and Sally Graham, Mayor of Crewe with Paul Durant driver and owner of the Methodist Church steam train

Refreshments were on hand and donations from train rides were in aid of the Railway Children charity.

The train running, model train operation and catering were all undertaken by volunteers from the church, assisted by three young men Joe, Alex and Andrew, who are regular helpers.

The steam locomotive, owned by church volunteer Paul Durant, is a one-third scale replica of the 2ft gauge engines used by the British and French armies in the First World War to take food and ammunition from the supply depots to the soldiers in the trenches.

Many of the 90 used were constructed by the Stoke-on-Trent company, Kerr Stuart.