For one month only Caernarfon is hosting a unique fundraising event in its Town Square, where the Welsh Highland Society in association with Brunswick Ironworks will be using a steam locomotive as a centre piece attracting the public to donate towards a restoration project. Scrap to Steam will be opened by the Town Mayor, Councillor Hywel Roberts on August 3rd 2009, when he will make the first donation of this event towards the restoration of the narrow gauge NG 15 Locomotive.
The unique fundraising method chosen is based on a mathematical formulae "if you saved one penny on day one, doubled it on day two, doubled it again on day three and so on, how long would it take to save a million pounds? The answer is 27days! The aim is to test the theory and see how near to £1 million pounds the fundraisers can get in 27 days, with all proceeds going towards the restoration.
The event is being run by Cymdeithas Rheilffordd Eryri, the Welsh Highland Railway's supporting society and the organisation behind the restoration; however it is also being supported by Brunswick Ironworks Limited, Caernarfon. The NG15 restoration team are holding the month long fund-raising event at Y Maes (Castle Square), Caernarfon from the 3rd to the 29th August 2009. The event's primary aim is to raise funds for the restoration of Locomotive 134, but is being staged in Caernarfon to raise awareness of the Locomotive amongst the local population.
In addition to funds the Welsh Highland Society hopes to inspire more people to take an active interest in working on the restoration project, joining a growing band of local volunteers new to the Welsh Highland Railway, which now runs between Caernarfon and Porthmadog through spectacular Snowdonia Scenery.
The locomotive actually on display will be Number 133, sister to Number 134 (the subject of the restoration project but is currently dismantled while it is being worked on).
Whilst accepting that with the credit crunch and job insecurity, this is not a good time to ask for donations, the organisers feel that by getting the local community involved, and hopefully with many people giving a little, the appeal could yet cause a surprise.
Tim Davies of Copper Phoenix ( http://www.copperphoenix.co.uk/ )helping to promote the event said "This is a fascinating new way to raise money for appeal funds and many fundraisers will watch the event with interest. It will be great to see No 134 eventually getting from Caernarfon to Porthmadog under its own steam!"
You can follow daily progress of the appeal on Twitter, see http://twitter.com/NG15134
Any donations, however small, can be either brought in person to the Square during August, or they can be sent direct to the Brunswick Ironworks, Peblig Mill, Llanbeblig Road, Caernarfon Gwynedd LL55 2SE. Cheques to be made out to "NG 15 Appeal". See also the appeal site http://www.ng15-134.co.uk/ or http://www.brunswickironworks.co.uk/
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