Care home climbs aboard to support Leighton Buzzard Railway engine restoration appeal

The idea came about after Leighton Buzzard Railway’s team of volunteers visited Leighton Rose Care Home which has an on-site pub named the Narrow-Gauge Railway.

The team noticed a picture displayed on a wall at the care home of PC Allen, an engine that is currently decommissioned and explained a fundraising campaign had been set up to raise £30k needed to get the engine back on the tracks.

Spokesperson Kelly Cox said: “The care home has an on-site pub which is named after the railway that runs through the town. The team of volunteers at the railway were invited in for a tour of the home, when they highlighted a picture on one of the corridor walls of PC Allen, an engine that is currently decommissioned and in need of restoration. The team are fundraising to support with the restoration, but they need in excess of £30k to get her back on the tracks.

“When we were made aware of this, we set to work on a fundraising campaign of our own. We held lucky squares, pyjama days, sold sweets, and we held a charity bingo night in support of this cause.

“With the support of one of our residents' relatives, we managed to achieve a fundraising total of £500, and MACC Care Group, of which Leighton is a part fund matched to make a grand total of £1,000.”

"We went along on Tuesday to present the cheque, and we took some staff, residents and relatives with us.”

P C Allen was manufactured in 1912 by Orenstein & Koppel, in Berlin, Germany and built for the internal railway system in Spain, and imported to England in 1963.

It is named after the late industrialist Sir Peter Allen who arranged its rescue and subsequently donated it to the Leighton Buzzard Railway.

At its last overhaul, it was returned to the unusual black/green livery it sported when it first arrived.

You can donate to the appeal on the Leighton Buzzard Railway website.