Armley Mills & Sierra Leone NRM Event - this weekend

A last minute announcement of a narrow gauge event that's just got bigger!

This whole BH weekend at Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills - discover how narrow gauge locomotives built in Leeds are now set to help rebuild Sierra Leone as part of the Sierra Leone National Railway Museum. It's also the 100th anniversary of the Sierra Leone - based "Nellie", a Manning Wardle 0-4-0T of 1915, which is being "sistered" in a ceremony with Leeds-based Manning Wardle "Aldwyth" of 1898. The team from the SLNRM will be on hand with exhibits from Sierra Leone, talks by Steve Davies MBE, Anthony Coulls and Tim Dunn, plus African food and family activities around the museum, which covers a huge site near the city centre - for three days.

We have on display some original small artifacts from the railway.

It's hoped that Leeds-built 18" gauge industrial "Jack" will be in steam for the first time in years, giving demonstrations on the museum running line. Come along and hear the remarkable story of how all 8 British-built locos, Queen Elizabeth's Royal Train and more survived 30 years in secret hiding thanks to quick-thinking railwaymen and 10,000 refugees living in and around them during a bloody civil war - and what the ambitious plans from the UK team are in using narrow gauge locomotives to help kickstart the economy of Sierra Leone, a nation that has lost everything.

"WEST RIDING TO WEST AFRICA" is just the start of an incredible journey, and we'd love you, the narrow gauge railway enthusiasts of Britain on board.

If you can't come - please share this event with those who might!

Get all the details here Sierra Leone National Railway Museum

Thanks!


From the SLNRM team:

Tim Dunn, Helen Ashby, Anthony Coulls and Steve Davies
(If you'd like to read about our story, or join, or donate, please visit Sierra Leone National Railway Museum )