Following on from the recent press release issued by the Department of Infrastructure which recognises the role played by volunteers across the Island's three Government-owned heritage railways. The Isle of Man Steam Railway Steam Railway Supporters' Association (IOMSRSA) has released the following comment welcoming this recognition.
"The Isle of Man Steam Railway Steam Railway Supporters' Association has a long-history of supporting the railway with both volunteer labour and fund raising. The Association welcomes the recognition, by the railway management, of the important role that volunteers play across the Island's government-owned heritage railway network
In recent years the Association has provided volunteer assistance at railway events, up to and including earlier this year. Since then the Railway Management has taken the organisation of these volunteers in-house under the banner of Heritage Railway Volunteers.
The Association remains ready to provide assistance if requested to do so by management, and is also working on a number of projects that will benefit the Island's railway heritage. Further details of these projects are planned to be released in early 2016 - the 50th anniversary year of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Steam Railway Supporters' Association."
About the IOMSRSA
We are the leading independent group dedicated to the future preservation of the Isle of Man Railway,having been in existence since 1966 (the one year in which the railway was closed). Since then we have established ourselves as the leading charity in railway preservation on the Island. In addition to many projects on the railway itself, including volunteer labour until nationalisation in 1978, we are also the group behind the restoration of the Groudle Glen Railway, as well as major fundraising for both railways over a period now approaching fifty years. Details of the many projects undertaken on the Steam Railway can be found on our official website at www.iomsrsa.com/projects. In the last 20 years the value of our input to the Steam Railway has been in excess of £100,000, in both materials and volunteer labour