Scrap to Steam - One Month of Fundraising in Caernarfon

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/

Scrap to Steam Fundraising Event

Copper Phoenix is assisting in the promotion of and fundraising for:

Scrap to Steam fund-raising event
Y Maes, Caernarfon
August 3rd to 29th 2009

The NG15 restoration team are holding a month long fund-raising event at Y Maes (Castle Square), Caernarfon from the 3rd to the 29th August 2009. 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 D J Williams & Son, Brunswick Ironworks Limited, Caernarfon.

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 Loco.

The event's aims are twofold with the primary exercise to raise funds for the restoration of the Loco. However as the event is being staged in Caernarfon it's also aimed at raising awareness of the Locomotive amongst the local population. We hope that this will inspire a few more people to take an active interest in working on the restoration. We are already seeing a number of local volunteers new to the railway attending the working parties and so we hope that the upward trend continues following Scrap to Steam.

The event will be manned from various sources including the society and those restoring the loco, however more help will be always be very welcome. If you can help during any of the period, even if it's only for one day, please contact Peter Randall (details on the Contacts page).

We are very thankful of Brunswick's involvement and help with this event. Brunswick's are already well known to the Welsh Highland Railway through their work during the re-building of the railway itself. They were the main contractor for all the steel based structures such as water towers and bridges. They are also already involved with the restoration of №134 as they are currently overhauling the rear stretcher from the frames.

Central to the event will be sister NG15 №133. This Loco is currently in store at Dinas station and will be moved to Caernarfon for the duration of the event. The Loco will be prepared for it's move during the working party weekend on the 18th & 19th July 2009. For ease and logistical reasons it is planned to detach the tender and only take the Loco unit. Again if anyone can help please contact Andie Shaw on this occasion (details on the Contacts page).

Please make the effort to attend Scrap to Steam and we look forward to meeting you.