The Amerton Railway, based in Stowe-by-Chartley, Staffordshire, has announced that it has been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The award is the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The railway is run entirely by volunteers, who operate locomotives and rolling stock built, or worked in Staffordshire.

Originating from the restoration of Bagnall locomotive Isabel, built in 1897 in Staffordshire, and displayed in Victoria Park following the end of her working life, the Amerton Railway started the restoration in 1987 at a Council Depot in Stafford and construction of the Amerton Railway was started to allow Isabel to run, with the first passenger trains running in 1992.

Fast forward to today and the Amerton Railway runs for a mile through the countryside and even has its own workshop where maintenance and restoration work is completed.

A number of steam and diesel locomotives are resident of the railway.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee, with recipients being announced on the 2nd June every year.

Amerton Railway Representatives will receive the award crystal and certificate from Ian Dudson CBE KTsJ, Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire later this summer.

Two volunteers from the Amerton Railway will also attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2022 along with the other recipients of this year’s award.

Pete Gully, Chairman, said “It is amazing to see what our volunteers have accomplished here at Amerton Railway, and we are honoured to receive this award. Being able to engage with our local communities and visitors, and share our knowledge about the locomotives, rolling stock and other artefacts we have on site is a pleasure. We would like to say thank you to our volunteers, both past and present, and to the local community for their ongoing support.”

If you would like to volunteer at the Amerton Railway, please visit their website for more information.