VOLUNTEERS have been making improvements to Workington railway station to help show off its history.

Dave Wallace, Martin Tweddle, and Cameron Bragg of the Workington Railway Station and Transport Heritage Trust Fund have been hard at work this week.

Dave said: “Martin and a few others started by hanging baskets and setting up flower beds. It was originally just to add a bit of colour and improve the station.”

“But then we decided it’d be good to start painting the platforms and introducing different signs. Northern Rail gave us permission and we set about increasing the project.”

The project has already started to transform the station, going back to the old LMS colour scheme of maroon and cream, as well as installing a full irrigation system so they could hang more flower baskets.

Martin, a driver for Northern Rail, has used his spare time to replace the Northern signs with a more historical black and white signing.

“I handmake the signs and get them up when I get the chance. It takes up to several weeks while working full time, as they all have to be hand painted with lacquer, but it’s worth it when you see the final product.

“It’s a nice focal point for the town, it gives tourists and visitors something nice to arrive to. You want to see the effort being put in to the station. Being a driver, it also makes it a nicer place for the staff to work at too.”

Feedback to the renovations have been very positive, from people commenting in the station to praising it on social media.

Dave said: “I know it’s not our usual project that we work on at the Transport Heritage Trust, but the building is still a major part of our transport history in the area.

“It’s the only station between Dalston and Barrow that’s still in its original use.

The volunteering team may only be small, with five Workington Transport Heritage workers and three train drivers giving their time, but they have a wide range of ages between them.

The youngest is Cameron Bragg, who is only 20 years old.

He said: “I started helping out through the ‘Realising Our Potential’ project from Lakes College.

“They give people with learning difficulties an opportunity to earn work experience and gain the confidence to help them get a job in the future.

“Even then, I’ve come a long way from that, and I’m looking towards a career on the railways.”