We recently awarded Network Rail a grant to restore and repaint the facade shield on Grade II listed Lancaster Station. The coat of arms contains elements associated with the city and 'Luck to Loynee' is the city motto, a traditional blessing associated with the River Lune.

To Hebden Bridge this morning to discuss a possible project in the station building which we will support with a grant. Station looking lovely; also a chance to see work in progress to convert the signal box into a holiday let & heritage centre by @cvclt1.bsky.social

We're pleased the Gordon & Union St entrances to Glasgow Central will re-open on 13 July. But we think the Argyle St entrance is best - it has this wonderful new tiled artwork for which we gave a grant - a reproduction of a Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh advert for Drooko umbrellas.

We held our Board Meeting today in Bury St Edmunds combining it with a closer look at some of the finest stations in the country. We’d love to see more effort to get them occupied and with a more sustainable future. There’s good work being done elsewhere in the route area but more needed here.

A great pleasure to speak about the work of the RHT at the AGM of the Betjeman Society in Great Malvern today, in the former station hotel, known as the Imperial, and currently Malvern St James school. The spirit of JB runs through all our work. Had to pop into the station too.

A visit to the GWS at Didcot Railway Centre today to discuss a grant for their Grade II engine shed restoration project. It’s a unique structure still owned by Network Rail and follows on from our support for their coal stage restoration.

One of the pleasures of my job is talking about our work supporting railway heritage projects. Last Friday I was in N London talking to some of the residents of a care home - what a lovely group of people they were too! It also gave me the chance to arrive at Gants Hill Station.

With my National Railway Heritage Award Trustee hat on, I helped unveil National Highways' NRHA award plaque for their restoration of Bonnington overrbridge near Lanark, built by the Caledonian Railway in 1863. The judges commented on the high quality of the restoration work especially the welding.

The RHT is proud to support #CommunityRailWeek this week. It celebrates amazing work happening across community rail, often involving the restoration and re-use of railway heritage. To find out more and get involved: communityrail.org.uk

The @railwayheritage.bsky.social are doing superb work to conserve the gorgeosity of so many railway buildings. This morning's delight is the magnificent mid-C19th waiting rooms at Worcester Shrub Hill.

Our friends at Oxford Preservation Trust are organising a drop-in event & guided walks on Wed 20 May to celebrate the 175th anniversary of one of Oxford's most remarkable pieces of Victorian engineering which we are proud to have supported in its restoration over a number of years.

Next time I'm in the area I shall pay a visit to Norwood Junction just to see this. It's a wonderful tribute to Holmes and Conan Doyle.

The game is afoot, Watson! It’s the Case of the Norwood Builder, where Arriva Rail London and TFL have reinstated a facade similar to the historic original, but in GRP, at Norwood Junction. We gave a grant and we were pleased to visit today & see it finished. Moriarty was nowhere to be seen.

Pleased to attend the celebration of the completion of work at Beeston nr Nottingham with EMR MD Will Rogers, Network Rail EM Route Director Mark Budden & local MP Juliet Campbell plus the brilliant Friends of the Station. We gave 2 grants to support the recent work.

Always a pleasure to visit Edge Hill cutting with @lmrailway.bsky.social, Liverpool City Council & @networkrail.bsky.social to discuss de-vegetation - I learn something new every time, & notice something different - today it was a date carving from 1846. A very special & surprisingly tranquil place.

The tide's turned at Heighington on the route of the former S&DR. The 1st visible restoration works by the Friends of the S&DR have started - stabilising & rebuilding 3 chimneys. One's completed, one still to do & one in progress. Got up close to see the work earlier today.

At an NRHA winner’s plaque unveiling yesterday at the former Ebberston Station, N Yorks. Carol & Mark Benson have (re)created a period NER country station as a holiday let. They also have 3 MkII coaches where you can stay - attention to detail is impeccable.

A big thank you to Network Rail Eastern Region & Colt Construction for showing me the completed works to the clocktower at Scarborough this morning. Great to see the restored finial, clock faces, lighting & pigeon defences. A huge difference from when I first went up last October.

A view that’s not been seen for 85 years - the facade of York Station’s Porte Cochere without its 1940s canopy removed - significant restoration work needed for which we will be looking to support @networkrail.bsky.social Eastern Region and @cityofyorkcouncil.bsky.social

We are saddened to see that a fire has severely affected buildings on Union St in Glasgow and Glasgow Central Station itself. Our thoughts are with those fighting the fire and making the area safe.

Great to visit Grade II Listed Wareham Station in Dorset with SWR last week with a view to help restore original Victorian features for a new retail opportunity. It’s a beautiful building, but needs a new tenant, so interested parties should contact Amey, who manage SWR’s commercial retail estate.

11 new stations added to the Mainline Station Heritage Artefacts Collection and 5 updated thanks to 4 contributors. Highlights include some splendid floor tiling at Lancaster (© @railwayheritage.bsky.social). Inspired to submit a station artefact(s) yourself? Info on how to is in the link.

Great to see the scaffold deck removed from the Grade 1 listed Bristol Temple Meads this morning - I’m pleased this project is going to be entered in the National Railway Heritage Awards by Network Rail’s Western Route.

Attended the opening of The Scott and Brassey, Lancaster Brewery’s new bar at Avanti West Coast’s Carlisle Station on Wednesday. We supported Network Rail NW&C Region & the Brewerywith grants. Great addition to the station’s offer. Hope it is entered in this year’s National Railway Heritage Awards.

2/2 - Lots of fun stuff in the latest batch including Norbiton's unique(?) Stagecoach SWT panels in the subway, a rare "Speak Here" grille at Marston Green (© Hazel Nicholson), the adjustable loading gauge at Thetford (© @railwayheritage.bsky.social) and a train at Temple Meads (© Paul Webster)

Passing through Manchester Victoria this morning & very pleased to see contractors on site at Platform 3 to install the heritage style railings for which we awarded a grant in July 2020! It’s our oldest project still not completed but our friends at Northern are on the case!

Thank you to Network Rail Anglia Route for facilitating access to Grade II listed Thetford Signal Box for us and local stakeholders. We’d all like to see it restored but it does need a new use. Quirky relics of its past remain!

Thanks to the Settle & Carlisle Partnership for inviting us to join them at the launch of their 150th anniversary celebrations in Settle. We’ve supported them with many grants and have just approved a new grant to assist their planned work at Ribblehead Station.

Very fortunate to take a look from above into the extremely derelict Grade II Listed #NorwichTrowseStation. With thanks to @networkrail for allowing us on site and explaining the emergency works they are doing.

A huge thank you to the Port of Dover for showing Tim and Anna around the imposing Dover Marine Station - built in a beaux arts style at the start of the 20th century, it’s an imposing structure now used as part of the cruise terminal.

Visited Tynemouth Station on Saturday to see how well the market uses the old canopies of the station to make a thriving collection of stalls. Part of the Nexus network, 2 of the platforms are still in use. There are many other stations where this business model could be replicated.

Celebrating the completion of forecourt works at Grade II listed Beeston Station, Notts with @EastMidRailway. We supported their investment with a £20k grant . Good to meet so many of the station friends and adopters who help with planting & generally making it a special place.

On my way to Beeston today via Newark Castle - it’s going to be a day of Midland Railway architecture. The station (1846) and Station Master’s House (1860) are both listed. The station, one of the earliest the MR built, is in an Italianate style.

Congratulations to the Rhondda Tunnel Society for obtaining planning permission to excavate the Blaencwm Portal of the Tunnel (shown below - it’s a field). We have awarded a £100k grant to support this work. The current method of accessing the tunnel is not easy as I found out in 2023.

Many years ago we gave a grant to restore the last remaining part of the station building at Sowerby Bridge. It’s run as the Jubilee Refreshment Rooms. There is old signage and old photos. Along with the work of the Station Friends Group, it helps make a charmimg station.

As we come to the end of a very memorable 40th anniversary year, we'd like to thank all our supporters for their help & commitment to our wonderful railway heritage. We wish you a very Happy Christmas & best wishes for 2026! Photo: Hopetown Darlington, a project we supported in 2024.

A visit to Shrewsbury today with Network Rail Wales Route to look at disused space at the south end of Pl 3, one room of which used to be a ticket hall hence only half the floor is tiled. It’s a potential project to refurbish it for office space & we’ll give a grant to restore heritage.

The end of a long journey - a testament to the tenacity of Geoff & Sue Mitchell, the restoration of Mytholmroyd Station House - the Local Motive - is finished; a delight to see what’s been achieved inside by architect Jacquie Milham when the grand opening took place yesterday.

We always celebrate after our Nat Railway Heritage Awards Trustee Mtg in December with a drink. This year is especially important as Andy Savage stands down as Chairman next year as does Malcolm Wood as Trustee in charge of plaques. Thanks both for all you’ve done for the charity over many years.

Oh gawd, I suppose I'm obliged to have a take on the Great British Railways livery/branding unveiled today [image from the BBC news website]. Well then, here's a thread. First off, my hot take is that as usual I don't really have one. 1/9

A visit to Town Green Station yesterday with @merseyrail - formerly a BTP station it has potential to be a community hub. On edge of a Cons Area it’s not listed but was where the royal train stopped overnight in a loop line when the royal family visited Aintree or Knowsley Hall.

It’s National Railway Heritage Awards Day, our guest of honour was Lord Peter Hendy,and I’m pleased to say that 5 of the winning entries were also recipients of RHT grants.

Could anyone help identify why the canopy columns on the island platform at Ryde St John’s Road on the Isle of Wight are marked SVSR - all I think is that it stands for Shanklin, Ventnor, Sandown, Ryde. Or is there another explanation? #islandline #isleofwight #ryde

We unveiled a plaque today with Cllr Phil Jordan, Leader of Isle Wight Council at Ryde Esplanade Stn to celebrate all the improvements undertaken by them & @SW_Help, part of which we funded with a £93k grant. Great new cafe & waiting room, & good to see the pier tramway columns revealed & restored.

Great afternoon exploring the southern half of the Isle of Wight Railway. Highlight was listed Brading Station and its excellent restored footbridge, together with signal box accessible from the platform and framed by a nice picket fence.

Our 2nd new Case Study, launched today, is on the recent project at Henley-in-Arden Station undertaken by the Friends Group there. Also written by Harry Taylor while on secondment to us, part of his @networkrail grad programme, it's here on our website: railwayheritagetrust.co.uk/wp-content/upl…

We're publishing a new Case Study today on recent restoration work at Battle Station setting out the benefits of the project. Written by Harry Taylor while on secondment to us, as part of his Network Rail graduate programme, it's here on our website: www.railwayheritagetrust.co.uk/wp-content/u...

We've recently had a few problems with our email addresses. Everything is back working now so apologies if anyone has had any bouncebacks. The generic [email protected] email address is also back working. Thanks to all those who helped resolve the issue.

Wolverton Works' Ambulance trains in WW1 should be remembered for their life saving activities. Haig's train was also built there. And Dave Hilliard led a team fundraising for the WW1 Memorial to the 213 Wolverton Works men who died in WW1. @railwayheritage.bsky.social got us over the funding line.

A visit to Teeside yesterday afternoon to see two projects we have supported this year as part of the SDR200 Festival - & a chance to pop into newly refurbished Preston Hall Museum where they have 3 excellent William Frith paintings including his 1862 one of Paddington Station.