By Dana Wiffen Publicity Officer, Colonel Stephens Society … The Colonel Stephens Society (CSS) is thrilled to announce a significant injection of funding into the heritage railway sector for 2026, with a special focus on the restoration of the historic Rother Valley Railway on the Kent and Sussex border.
A cornerstone grant of £1,000 has been awarded to the Rother Valley Railway’s buildings appeal, providing vital support to the infrastructure of this cherished line that sits at the heart of the Colonel’s original territory.
This local contribution is part of a wider £4,000 commitment from the Society this year, which also includes a £1,000 award to the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum at Tywyn to honour the landmark 75th anniversary of the Talyllyn Railway’s preservation.
Further afield, the Society is providing £1,000 to the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway Historic Vehicles Trust for the preservation of the historic Ashover Light Railway Coach No. 1, alongside a £1,000 grant to the Ffestiniog Railway to assist with the pioneering Kerr Stuart Diesel 4415 restoration project.
The CSS remains incredibly proud to champion the “Light Railway” legacy by supporting preserved lines, dedicated groups, and museums that reflect the idiosyncratic engineering style of Colonel Stephens.
These generous awards are only possible due to the remarkable spirit of members, who consistently add donations to their annual subscriptions to ensure our impact grows every year. Since the turn of the millennium, this collective generosity has allowed the Society to donate a grand total of £35,922.50 to railway preservation efforts across the country.