A project to return a piece of Burnham-On-Sea’s railway heritage to the town’s seafront took a big step forward this week.
Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported in August how John Strickland and Terry Temlett hope to restore an old railway buffer stop, identical to one that used to be located in Burnham’s Pier Street until the 1960s.
They want it located on an area of stones opposite The Reed’s Arms pub on The Esplanade as a reminder of the town’s rich railway history.
This week, the buffer stop was lifted from its location at the former Royal Ordnance Factory Site in Woolavington, as pictured, and moved to a temporary storage area.
John told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We are very grateful to BAE Sytems, who have donated the buffer stop; to Nick Bell of RK Bell Plant for so kindly donating use of the JCB and to Dave Parsons who gave up his Saturday morning to do a brilliant job of operating the JCB to remove the buffer stop.”
He added: “The next stage is to transport the buffer stop to a safe area where we can arrange renovation. Mike Lawrence has kindly offered to provide both the transport and a storage and work area for it, for which we are very grateful.”
“Thanks must also go to the many people who have contacted us and offered their help. We have taken your contact details and, when the time is right, we will get back to you.”
“What we need next is someone with the equipment to shot-blast the old paint away, before painting and reassembling can take place. We also need a new wooden Buffer Beam – if any company, or individual, would like to sponsor this, details of size will be provided.”
If you are able to help with the shot-blasting, or the new wood for the buffer beam, contact John on 01278 788680 or Terry Temlett on 01934 512943.
Financial donations are also being welcomed by the pair, who have opened a dedicated bank account as follows:- HSBC, The Buffer Stop Memorial Project, Account Number: 11301578, Sort Code: 40-13-32.
Pictured: The buffers being moved this week; John and Terry holding the plans at the location where the buffers will be sited; and, above, how the original buffers looked outside the Queen’s Hotel (now the Reed’s Arms) in Burnham’s Pier Street
