A Cornish heritage railway will be able to continue steaming into the future, despite not running trains during the COVID-19 crisis, thanks to the award of a Government recovery grant.

The Bodmin & Wenford Railway, which runs from Bodmin Parkway on the Cornwall mainline to the town’s Bodmin General station, and then has a branch to Boscarne Junction on the Camel Trail, has been announced as one of the successful recipients of funding in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s first wave of Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage grants.

The steam railway has received an award of £260,000, helping to secure the future of one of Cornwall’s most popular heritage attractions when its future seemed to be hanging in the balance.

The railway, which typically carries around 60,000 visitors a year on a journey back in time, closed the doors in early 2020 at the start of the pandemic crisis and has yet to fully reopen.

Whilst Bodmin General, the railway’s 1950s Cornish branch line terminus station, has recently reopened to the public on selected dates, the railway has not seen steam or heritage diesel engines carrying passengers along its branches to Boscarne and Parkway since February.

David Nelson-Brown, chairman of the Bodmin & Wenford Railway PLC, said, “This year has been hugely challenging for all here at the railway. We’re hugely grateful for this award, which is absolutely vital to the survival of the railway beyond this winter.

“The money received will cover our core costs, enable us to continue a small amount of essential restoration work and support us as an organisation to adapt for the future, including reopening costs, COVID-19 measures and digital ticketing.

“There are still many challenges ahead but we’re delighted that the railway has been recognised as an invaluable heritage location and a unique experience here in Cornwall.

“We can now continue with the hard work, supported by our dedicated and passionate team of volunteers who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes, to get ready to run trains again from spring 2021.”

Philip Andrews, chairman of the Bodmin & Wenford Railway Trust, said: “As a charitable Trust we’re committed to the preservation of our railway heritage for many years to come.

“Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis we have been working closely with the other groups within the railway to make sure that our industrial and social history is protected and remains available to be shared and enjoyed by future generations.

“This award enables us to drive these objectives forward.”

Whilst the award helps to get the railway back on track, continued support is still required.

Bodmin & Wenford will shortly be launching the next phase of their fundraising campaign for further vital restoration work required on locomotives and coaches over the coming months.

To find out more about fundraising to date, and how you can support the railway, visit www.bodminrailway.co.uk.

Alongside its museum-style open days at Bodmin General, taking place on selected dates between now and the end of the year, the railway will soon be publishing details of its Santa at the Station Christmas experience.

Steve Ackland, commercial manager at Bodmin & Wenford Railway, said: “For so many families a visit to the railway is an annual tradition, and whilst we aren’t able to offer our usual trip given the current restrictions, we’ve created a new, magical experience – so Christmas isn’t cancelled!

“We’ve got a special arrangement with Santa, and regardless of the circumstances we’ll be able to share some of our unique brand of festive cheer.”

Readers can be among the first to hear when tickets go on sale by signing up to the mailing list at www.bodminrailway.co.uk