* David Hennigan, Tim Pulford and Neil Evans from Llangollen Railway with Graham Hughes, Head of Northwich Operations for Tata.
An extraordinary act of generosity by Tata Chemicals Europe is already making a difference to one of the UK's best-loved heritage railways, with the first 60-foot lengths of railway track now delivered to Llangollen and Corwen Railway in North Wales.
The arrival marks an exciting milestone in a remarkable donation of railway track from the company's Winnington site in Northwich, Cheshire.
The substantial quantity of track being gifted has the potential to support essential renewals along the 11-mile heritage railway through the Dee Valley for a generation.
The story began with a chance meeting between Pauline Yould, HR and Communications Manager at Tata Chemicals Europe, and Neil Evans, a long-serving Railway volunteer and former Board Member from Winsford.
With the industrial railway at Northwich no longer in use, Tata Chemicals Europe was keen to see the valuable railway materials given a meaningful new purpose rather than simply disposed of.
* Llangollen and Corwen Railway will be claiming miles of track.
Llangollen and Corwen Railway offered the perfect opportunity to give the track a second life, preserving railway heritage while supporting the volunteers who work tirelessly to keep the Railway running.
Pauline Yould said: "The Tata group's commitment to communities goes right back to our founder, Jamsetji Tata, more than 150 years ago. He believed that communities were at the very heart of business, and that philosophy continues to guide us today.
"When we considered the future of the railway track at our Northwich site, which is no longer in use, we wanted these valuable materials to benefit an organisation that could give them a meaningful new purpose. A chance meeting with Neil Evans opened up a wonderful opportunity, and it is fantastic to see the first rails already arriving at Llangollen and Corwen Railway.
"We are delighted that materials which once supported industry in Cheshire can now help preserve railway heritage in North Wales. It is a fantastic example of sustainability, community spirit and giving something back, and we hope this donation will make a lasting difference for generations to come."
For Llangollen and Corwen Railway, the donation represents an enormous boost. Maintaining eleven miles of heritage railway through the Dee Valley is a major undertaking, with track renewals among the most expensive challenges facing the organisation.
In recent years, the Railway has invested heavily in essential infrastructure improvements, including major track renewals through the 690-metre Berwyn Tunnel. This cost the heritage railway over £100,000.
The materials from Northwich will now provide an invaluable stock of railway track for future projects, helping reduce costs and allowing the Railway to plan ahead with greater confidence.
Tim Pulford, Heritage Engineering Manager at Llangollen and Corwen Railway, said: "This is absolutely fantastic news and an extraordinary act of generosity by Tata Chemicals Europe. To see the first 60-foot rails arriving at the Railway really brings home just how significant this donation is.
"Track is the very foundation of our Railway. Without it, we simply cannot run trains, and maintaining eleven miles of heritage railway is a constant and extremely expensive undertaking. To be offered such a substantial quantity of good-quality track is a remarkable opportunity.
"Subject to the necessary engineering inspections and assessments, these materials could help us undertake track renewals for a generation. That is a tremendous prospect for any heritage railway, and it gives us the opportunity to plan for the future with greater confidence.
"What makes this donation even more special is that Tata Chemicals Europe actively wanted these materials to benefit an organisation like ours. Rather than simply disposing of the track, the company recognised that it could have a valuable future preserving railway heritage. It really is a gift that will keep on giving."
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