Oxfordshire heritage railway celebrates work of volunteers

The heritage railway, which has around 40 volunteers, joined hundreds of organisations and charities across the UK to mark Volunteers’ Week from Thursday, June 1, to tomorrow (Wednesday, June 7).

The annual event sees small grassroots organisations and larger, household-name charities run activities which showcase and celebrate volunteers and their contribution to their communities.

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The railway’s activities included improving the track work and station as well as maintenance on the train engines and carriages.

Chairman Michael Palfrey said: “Volunteers’ Week is a chance to celebrate and recognise the fantastic contribution our volunteers make.

“Thanks to them, the local community and businesses have benefited from the ever-improving railway and our volunteers have great plans to improve the Cholsey and Wallingford as a first class visitor attraction and bring even more visitors to the area.”

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The railway is a former Great Western Railway branch which operates heritage diesel and steam services along a two-and-a-half mile long standard gauge heritage railway from Cholsey Station to a station on the outskirts of Wallingford.

The railway opened in 1866 but closed to passengers in 1959.

It first ran train rides for the public in 1985 with regular advertised services over the whole line by 1997.

The 45-minute round-trip in 1950s coaches pulled by heritage diesels locomotives or steam engines passes St. Mary’s Church, where writer and Wallingford resident Agatha Christie is buried.

The railway is looking to recruit more volunteers, and anyone interested should email [email protected]