Heritage Shunters Trust
About Us
The Heritage Shunters Trust was originally set up in the 1970's and had a base on a main line connected siding at Meadowhall known as the South Yorkshire Railway. The railway built up an impressive collection of steam, diesel, shunting, industrial engines and restoration was carried out here. Unfortunately the Trust had nowhere to run the locomotives and an application for a running licence was turned down. Subsequent to this the Trust was given notice to quit the Meadowhall site but happily found a new home in 2002 in Rowsley at the Peak Railway in Derbyshire.
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Preservation and restoration of the engines continued and it is great credit to the small band of volunteers that some of the locomotives have been restored over the years from near derelict condition to running condition complete with a new coat of paint. An impressive new shed has just been built at Rowsley to house the locomotives of the Heritage Shunters Trust and this was funded by membership monies, donations and a grant from the Lottery Fund.
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The Trust also own other rail vehicles such as brake vans, cranes, wagons, coaches and these form part of the collection which will be restored as time and volunteers permit.
The Trust now has their own running line at Rowsley and normally run their restored shunting locomotives on occasions when Peak Rail has a diesel gala. Some shunting engines work on the main line hauling passenger coaches from Matlock to Rowsley South and some engines work brake van rides from a small platform on the Heritage Shunters Trust running line.
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These diesel galas are always very popular, especially if a newly restored engine is working, and valuable revenue is collected which goes towards further restoration of stock.
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If you are interested in the work and aims of the Heritage Shunters Trust and would like to join the group then please click the 'Membership' link on this website. Every single pound is valuable to the Trust and you would be made most welcome. You would also have the opportunity to get involved in restoration of the engines which is generally done at weekends.
