The Friends of the Far North Line
Cairdean Na Loine Tuath
the campaign group for rail north of
Inverness - lobbying for improved services for the local user, tourist and freight
operator
The community project which restored the listed Helmsdale station building in 2013/14 has had its first full trading year in 2015 which has been successful. There was a worry that there would be insufficient bookings for the project to pay its way but this has been unfounded. The summary for the year is as follows:
The ACoRP award came with a £250 cheque which we propose putting towards a replica Highland Railway station clock. It was through his article 'Restoring Station Clocks' in the January 2015 of Far North Express that we made contact with antiquarian horologist and clockmaker Chris Edwards who is assisting in drawing up design plans and we hope, in the year ahead, will make the clock.
The trading surplus of the Community Interest Company (CIC) for the past year has been around £1,000. This will be split equally between supporting local community causes (£500 already donated to four community funds) and planned station improvements.
In consequence of the restoration of the main station building, Network Rail has generously redecorated in matching finish their store alongside. Historically this is an interesting building, built we think in the early 1900s as a pair of railway workers' cottages. Part of our station improvement plan is to commission an artist to paint trompe l'oeil scenes in the blanked windows recalling the original residential use of the building. We hope this might be along similar lines to the artwork at Invergordon station.
Helmsdale Station CIC seeks readers' support in three ways: