Porthcawl Miniature Railway Association in fundraising plea for ‘once in a generation opportunity’ to save piece of town’s history

The charity has been presented with a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to purchase the last surviving locomotive from the original miniature railway, Silver Jubilee. Built in 1935, the year of King George V’s Silver Jubilee, the charity is hoping to purchase the historic locomotive and bring it back to Porthcawl in the year following the Platinum Jubilee of his Grandaughter, her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The original Porthcawl Miniature Railway was built in 1935 and ran for a quarter-mile through Salt Lake from Coney Beach to Pier End. Two locomotives were built for the line, Silver Jubilee and her sister Coney Queen, built a year later in 1936. After the line’s closure, Silver Jubilee was saved and moved to the Severn Valley Railway and then onto Windmill Farm Railway. In 2000 she was moved from Windmill Farm to a secure site in Pontypridd, where she has been kept in a dry but dismantled state since.

The Porthcawl Miniature Railway Association has already reached an agreement with the current owner to purchase ‘Silver Jubilee’ as part of the charity’s plans to open a new miniature railway in Porthcawl and preserve the history of this and other miniature railways in Wales.

The £2,000 raised will secure Silver Jubilee and enable us to move her to a secure site in South Wales for assessment and restoration. Kind-hearted followers of the charity have already raised £755 and the charity are calling for donations to help raise the remainder.

A spokesperson for the charity said: “We know times are tough for everyone, but if you’re interested in preserving this iconic piece of Porthcawl’s heritage, and the potential of a brand new attraction for visitors and locals, please donate however much you can – even if it’s just the cost of a cup of tea!

“Anything raised over the £2,000 will contribute towards the work to restore Silver Jubilee and the construction of the miniature railway in Porthcawl.”

Donations can be made via the group’s Local Giving Appeal page.

(Lead image: Mike Goodall)