Young Fundraiser Honoured with “Joshua Junction” as Campaign Launches to Bring Steam Back to Crewe Heritage Centre Miniature Railway
A young railway enthusiast who raised just over £1,000 for Crewe Heritage Centre has been honoured with his very own place on the Centre’s railway map.
Joshua, who recently completed his Cheshire Railways Safari Challenge in support of the Heritage Centre, was delighted this weekend when volunteers unveiled "Joshua Junction" on the miniature railway. The newly named junction, located between Forge End and Spider Bridge station, recognises the incredible effort he put into raising funds for the charity.
During a special visit to the Centre, Joshua was invited aboard the miniature railway for a ride to see the new nameplate unveiled for the first time. Accompanied by members of the miniature railway team, he was able to watch as "Joshua Junction" officially became part of the railway before taking a closer look at the project his fundraising will help support.
The idea came from the miniature railway volunteers themselves, who were so impressed by Joshua's dedication that they wanted to create a lasting tribute to his achievement.
Crewe Heritage Centre Miniature Railway Team Lead said:
"We were absolutely delighted to welcome Joshua to the Centre and officially unveil Joshua Junction. Raising £1,000 is an incredible achievement for anyone, but what makes it even more special is the passion and enthusiasm Joshua has shown for the Heritage Centre and railways throughout his challenge. Seeing his reaction when we unveiled the new junction sign was really special, as a small independent charity, support like this means a huge amount to us. The whole team at Crewe Heritage Centre are incredibly proud of what Joshua has achieved and wanted to recognise his efforts in a way that would become a lasting part of the railway."
Joshua's love of railways has deep family roots, with his great grandfather having worked on the railways at Crewe. His support for the Heritage Centre will now help begin the preservation of a piece of that heritage for future generations to enjoy.
The presentation also marked the launch of a new campaign to bring steam back to the Centre's miniature railway.
For the past two seasons, the Heritage Centre's steam locomotive, Jenny, has been out of service while awaiting a major boiler overhaul. The charity is now seeking to raise £6,000 to complete the work and secure the future of steam operation on the miniature railway.
Thanks to Joshua's fundraising and generous donations received in memory of Peter Barnard, who helped establish Crewe Heritage Centre, some of the work has already begun on the project but there’s still a long way to go.
The appeal hopes to restore not only a much-loved locomotive but also the sights, sounds and smells that make steam railways so memorable.
Crewe Heritage Centre Manager said:
"Our steam locomotive, Jenny, has created wonderful memories for generations of visitors at Crewe Heritage Centre, getting her back into service isn't just about repairing an engine. It's about bringing steam back to the miniature railway. The sight of a working steam locomotive, the sound of the exhaust beat and the familiar smell of steam and oil are all part of the experience people remember from a visit to the Heritage Centre. We're incredibly grateful to Joshua and his family and Peter’s family for helping us start that journey."
Visitors wishing to support the appeal can make a donation through the Crewe Heritage Centre website, https://www.crewehc.co.uk/getsteamback with a dedicated JustGiving page to follow in the coming weeks.