Full steam ahead at the Peacock Railway

Plans to add a new steam engine to the Peacock Railway are full steam ahead, thanks to support from Mornflake during its 350th anniversary year.

The popular attraction, run by members of South Cheshire Model Engineering Society, has received funds towards the purchase of a small engine for budding engineers to run and maintain.

The Society, founded in 1968, is keen to promote interest in model engineering and the construction of models, tools and apparatus particularly among young people.

Mornflake’s £350 donation will help encourage young people to get on board with looking after a locomotive which is to be painted in the firm’s orange colours and unveiled in the summer.

It comes just as the Society launches a new season of train rides at its base behind the Peacock pub on Crewe Road, Willaston.

Rides take place on their 5-inch railway track which is almost a quarter of a mile in length.

A spokesman said: “We are a community asset who, since lockdown, have enjoyed unprecedented success with visitor numbers to our running days, but this has also brought issues with our facilities, such as toilets, clubhouse kitchen and access which we have plans to update.

“We exist on what we can raise through the gate and annual subscriptions of our 100 members, so the support of the community and of our visitors is key.

“Mornflake’s support is therefore greatly appreciated. We have agreed to put the funds towards a steam engine that we can let young people ‘have a go’ and already have our eyes on a suitable locomotive.”

The steam locos used to run from the former Horseshoe pub on Newcastle Road but an alternative location had to be found in 1990 when a new road was built.

The move was a mammoth feat for the society’s engineering enthusiasts who cast over five hundred concrete track support pillars.

Three quarters of a mile of steel rail was used plus thousands of bolts for securing fish plates.

The track was officially opened in 1993 by the Mayor of Crewe and Nantwich and has been hugely popular ever since.

Open days throughout the spring and summer attract more than 2000 visitors, many families with young children.

New this season is a table-top Gauge 1 railway that people can get close up to and be involved with, especially children.

The layout is one of the biggest in the North West with a scale running length of a couple of miles.

Mornflake managing director James Lea said: “Crewe’s history is built on engineering excellence and locomotive manufacturing.

“It’s great that the Society is keeping this heritage alive and we’re proud to play our part in inspiring young engineers of the future.

“We look forward to seeing the Mornflake orange loco make its debut in the summer.”

The family firm, based on Gresty Road in Crewe, is celebrating a remarkable 350 years of milling oats for breakfast cereals enjoyed worldwide.

The milestone has been marked with a series of donations to South Cheshire charities and organisations.

These have included scouts, war veterans and brothers organising a charity football match at Nantwich in May.

Her-Place Charitable Trust, Nantwich Museum and Acton Operatic Society have also been supported.

James added: “It’s been a pleasure to hear what a difference the money will make to these charities and organisations.

"While the application process is now closed, our 350th anniversary celebration is by no means over."

Mornflake has begun planting oak trees at agreed sites including at the Peacock Railway site and land off Gresty Road.

For more on the Mornflake story, products and recipes go to mornflake.com

For Peacock Railway public running days, and more on its new Gauge 1 railway, see Facebook.