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There have been many memorable charity fundraisers during the shutdown, but a steam rail lover is taking it to a whole new level.
Ellis Morey is going to make 77 laps (26 miles or 41 km) around a miniature railroad on a crank train.
Their challenge is to raise funds for the heritage steam railways, as some fear the closure due to the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis.
The 25-year-old player’s “awkward but unique” challenge will take nine hours.
Ellis, a 6-foot-3-inch (1.9 m) youth charity worker who also volunteers on three steam railways, will hold onto the crank of the old American boy on the miniature railroad in Anglesey.
The seven-inch-and-quarter-inch track sits in a two-acre backyard by a fellow railroad enthusiast, and is where Ellis, whose father and grandfather worked on the railroads, is spending lockdown.
While others have been eating on television, trying to educate children at home, or doing DIY, Ellis has been removing steam locomotives, updating signaling systems, and doing track maintenance on Friend’s private track. the John Davies family.
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Ellis Morey
Ellis, 25, will spend nine hours on the crank around a two-acre private garden
Now he will tackle the crank for his charity mission and raise awareness of struggling steam railways, noting their importance in local economies.
“Heritage railways are an important part of British culture and are also part of the DNA of Wales,” he said.
“They provide so many benefits for their local areas and in 2014 it was estimated that they would generate £ 250 million for the UK leisure economy, as well as being a great source of employment and skills development.
Ellis is raising money for the Keighley and Worth Valley Railroad, used in the movie The Railway Children
The Vale of Rheidol line at Ceredigion was the last steam railway owned by British Rail
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Llangollen railway
The Llangollen railway between Llangollen and Corwen was completed last year.
“Unfortunately, due to the blockade, the railways are beginning to struggle as they spend a lot of money in the winter on maintenance and expect to have a return in the summer with passengers and events.”
In addition to raising awareness about the steam heritage railways affected by the coronavirus crisis, Ellis of Caernarfon wants to raise funds for three lines where she has “happy memories.”
The Llangollen railway in Denbighshire has already warned that it cannot reopen without financial support, while the Vale of Rheidol line between Aberystwyth and Devil’s Bridge at Ceredigion was once the only steam-powered line on the British Rail network.
Ellis also wants to support the historic Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in West Yorkshire, which served as the backdrop for the movie classic The Railway Children.
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Ellis Morey
Ellis has adapted the child’s crank to make it softer.
The 26-mile challenge is the length of Ellis’s three combined favorite lines, and he hopes to raise at least £ 3,000.
“Dad and my grandfather worked on the railroads and I have had trains in my blood for as long as I can remember,” Ellis said.
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Ellis Morey
The American boy’s crank has been adapted with a seat to help Ellis complete the challenge.
“I’m doing the challenge where I started learning about railroad maintenance. The track is in John Davies’ backyard and we’ve been friends since he was 11 years old when he started teaching me about engineering behind everything.
“We have been doing essential maintenance work on his miniature railroad during the shutdown, but he also wanted something for the railroads that I love, and that are so important to the economy and history of this country.”
“John had a crank in the shed and I thought ‘that’s it.’ It will be difficult and awkward, but I thought it is quirky and quirky enough for people to support me.”
