A project has been launched to repair a section of the Nene Valley Railway which was damaged during the intense heat during the summer of 2022.

Work on the Fletton Branch Line Project, to reopen the branch link line to the main line, began on February 6 and is being headed up by Don Osborn, Nene Valley Railway's track manager

The exceptionally high temperatures experienced last summer had a detrimental effect on many of the wooden sleepers of the Fletton branch line, and as a result, the line has been closed to while repairs are carried out by the railway's civil engineering team.

The main line link provides a vital income source for the railway. This project is vital for the railway and its future.

Don works pretty much on his own in terms of being a paid member of staff but is fully supported by a small, yet very willing and eager team of volunteers.

The project requires a huge amount of manpower. In fact, to fully complete this project, the replacement of 450 sleepers is required.

The works have started off and are on track for the completion of what is required for

visiting locomotive Sir Nigel Gresley to visit over the Easter Break.

If you’re fit, able and willing to join Don and his team, email the admin team with dates

that you’re available and a member of the team will be in contact with full details

and confirmation of date/dates.

 If you’re not physically fit to get out on the track to replace sleepers, you can still support and help by manning the welfare hut, cutting back vegetation or just carrying out a general litter pick.

Email: adminassistant@nvr.org.uk if you can join the volunteer workforce or you want to make a donation.