The "Top Shed" project team would like to gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the following organisations. Without them, progress would not have been made.
Railway Heritage Trust
The Railway Heritage Trust is an independent registered company limited by guarantee. The Trust's role is to support with grants the conservation and restoration of historic railway buildings and structures. The Railway Heritage Trust has generously offered £100,000 towards the reconstruction of Workington Shed as the heritage centre piece of the “engineering centre of excellence”. This is the very first piece of grant aid and played a key part in establishing the overall credibility of the project.
Charnwood Borough Council
Charnwood Borough Council is the landlord for the Great Central Railway. It has offered a first refusal on the proposed site for the shed, for a period of up to five years. This will allow the railway time to configure a viable scheme.
Network Rail
Network Rail generously donated the former Workington Shed to the project, thus saving it for posterity rather than it being demolished. The donation was a key moment for the project. Network Rail controls the infrastructure of the national rail network.
Steam Railway
Steam Railway, the UKs largest selling steam magazine, published by EMAP, has given whole hearted support to the project and will be a media partner all through the next phases of the project.
The Railway Magazine
Railway Magazine is published by IPC Media. Like Steam Railway they have put their full weight behind the project. We’ll be working with them closely as a media partner to raise awareness of “Top Shed” across the rail industry
David Clarke Railway Trust
The David Clarke Railway Trust is the charitable organisation which supports the Great Central Railway via grants towards various projects. It is acting as banker for the Top Shed project. As a charity it can attract a 28% top up to donations from UK tax payers via the government.