The Heritage Railway Association Annual Awards 2027 are now open for entries, with a brand-new category that recognises life-long achievement in the sector.
Online entries for 13 categories in the long-established awards have opened. Railways, tramways, funiculars, museums and rolling stock owning groups have until Monday, 9 November to finalise their submissions for the awards – widely considered to be the most sought-after honours in the sector.
The awards recognise excellence or innovation in almost every aspect of heritage railway and tramway restoration, preservation and operation. Awards will include titles for restoration of steam locomotives, diesel or electric locomotives, and carriages or wagons. The hotly contested awards for young volunteers and rising stars also return, as do awards for infrastructure projects and the recently introduced ‘Event of the Year’ category.
For the first time, entries recognising a lifetime of achievement in the sector will also feature in the 2027 awards. The new category honours long-standing contributions to heritage rail from people who have made a significant and sustained impact upon their organisation or the sector as a whole. Entries are being encouraged for figures who have led from the front to people with a much lower profile who have made a difference that few outside their organisation would know about. The Lifetime Achievement award is open to both heritage rail staff and volunteers.
Heritage Railway Association Chairman, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, said: “Despite all of the challenges our sector faces, heritage rail continues to achieve so many great things each year.
“The HRA Annual Awards recognise the dedication and achievements of heritage rail people from all parts of this wonderful industry. These awards are for tramways, funiculars, 15in gauge railways, rolling stock groups, mainline operators and long-established steam railways to the seaside.”
“Every year we speak to winners who didn’t think their project would be picking up an award. Your project or volunteers genuinely could be winners – there’s nothing hidden or complicated. But the only way to win, is to enter.”
Recent winners include the Watercress Line’s nut-and-bolt restoration of Bulleid ‘Pacific’ No. 35005 Canadian Pacific and the Vale of Rheidol Railway’s ‘Collection X’ project.
Other winners last time around included the Cambrian Heritage Railways’ Oswestry station restoration, the Tanfield Railway in its 300th anniversary year, and the Middleton Railway for its innovative ‘Almoner’ volunteer role.
The 2027 HRA Awards Evening and Dinner for finalists will be held in Gateshead during March and will feature entertainment and networking opportunities alongside a three-course meal.
All Heritage Railway Association member organisations are eligible to enter the awards. The online process at www.hra.uk.com to enter is simple and normally takes only a couple of hours. A judging panel featuring some of the most experienced names in the sector, chaired by the National Railway Museum’s Anthony Coulls, will pore over all the entries later this year to produce a shortlist.
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