WSRA is very pleased to announce that our Trusts and Foundations Fundraiser, Kate Williams, has secured a much sought after charity place in the 2025 London Marathon and Joe Rogers will be running it for us.

Since 2018 Joe has been an active employee and then volunteer for the West Somerset Railway: England’s longest heritage railway. In that time, Joe says the railway and its Association have given him so much in purpose, passion and a chance to work with its wonderful people. It has meant an awful lot to him and has defined his career and  interests.

Joe said “6 years after being the first recorded person to have run the length of the railway (visiting all 10 stations along the way), I’m thrilled to be running the 2025 London Marathon on behalf of the WSRA.

The West Somerset Railway Association are seeking funding to help pay for a heritage restoration project to repair a BR Standard Class 4MT steam locomotive 80064, with the intention of running on the railway within approximately 4 years.  The Association was very grateful to have been gifted the locomotive last year and is determined to restore it to full running condition as soon as possible.  A team of volunteers has already started dismantling the loco and storing and documenting the parts.  It is anticipated that the boiler will be lifted off of the chassis before the end of 2024, when a full restoration plan can be devised and costed.

80064, built in June 1953, is one of only 15 locomotives of this type preserved, the rest being scrapped. It was initially allocated to the London Midland Region before transferring to Southern Region ownership in December 1959 and then transferred to Exmouth Junction. It was withdrawn for scrap in 1965 before being purchased for preservation.

Locomotives of this type have been used on the West Somerset Railway in the past and proved ideal for the challenging gradients and heavy loadings experienced on the 20-mile route.

To learn more and sponsor Joe on his epic run for the WSRA and Locomotive 80064 please visit: https://2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/joseph-rogers-wsra

https://2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/wsra/profile

 

For more information please contact:

Jacquie Green WSRA General Manager – jacquie.green@wsra.org.uk

 

 

 

4561 boiler at Williton
4561 boiler at Williton
4561 boiler at Williton