MEIRIONNYDD’S latest heritage railway venture are looking to secure thousands of pounds in investment to continue with their venture.

The Blaenau Ffestiniog and Trawsfynydd Railway is on track to receive £2,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund - but only if they can raise £5,000 themselves first.

The BFT Railway Society is aiming to restore a seven-mile section of mothballed railway in north Wales.

The line has been left dormant since the last train ran in 1998 on decommissioning work, for the nuclear power plant in Trawsfynydd.

Society chairman David Herbert said: “We have started a crowd fund appeal.

“We want to buy a wood chipper to progress with clearing the railway lines quicker and we’ve also had some great news, we have been pledged £2,500 by the Heritage Lottery Fund. This is dependant upon reaching a set goal of half our desired target of £5,000. We’re well on our way - we have about £4,500 presently - but every donation is gratefully received.”

Mr Herbert also updated interested parties on the latest news.

“We are still in talks with Network Rail to continue restoring the line to an operational condition for use as a heritage railway,” he continued.

“We are still doing this section by section clearing and review current track conditions as we progress.

“So far we have complete clearance of section one to a high standard to show full capability of society.

“Clearance of our HQ site at Maentwrog Road yard was started on the in February and is 70 per cent done. We are now waiting for the permission from Network Rail to continue with the clearance to Trawsfynydd.”