As we’ve reported on these pages over the past few weeks the big maintenance project at Crich this winter is the relaying of the track between Victoria Park and where the double track goes single on the way to Wakebridge and to help fund this work a new “Sponsor a Sleeper” campaign has been launched.
As part of the track relay 500 new hardwood sleepers are required and although Tramway Museum Society members have already pledged £6600 towards the work more is needed and the chance is now open to anyone to sponsor a sleeper! Each sleeper can be sponsored for £100 and in return any pledging this amount will receive a small section of 1st generation BS2 profile rail that will be removed from the tramway during this work. This rail was originally laid back in 1966 when the line was extended to Wakebridge so is a part of history on its own!
There will only be 500 sections of rail available and each will be stamped with an edition number. You will also get a certificate recording the location of your sleeper (the sleeper itself won’t be numbered). The individual who sponsors the most sleepers will also receive a unique chrome-plated slice of rail.
If £100 is out of your price range and you want to help Crich with this essential track relaying, you can still do so and anyone who donates £10 or more towards the project can opt in to be credited in the Tramway Museum Society Journal and on an online project blog.
The appeal will remain open until 14th March 2020 and you can donate by downloading this form and emailing to Laura.Bird@tramway.co.uk.
The track relaying continues to progress since our last update too with the northbound rails lifted and old sleepers and ballast removed. The delivery of the first set of new sleepers has also arrived on site.