A TRAIN company was chuffed to bits when it won two top awards.
Vintage Trains came was handed the HRA Manisty Award for Excellence at the Heritage Railway Association Awards, alongside a Silver award at the West Midlands Tourism Awards for The Shakespeare Express in the Experience of the Year category.
Vintage Trains received the Manisty Award in recognition of its operation of the replica Locomotion No.1, recreating the historic journey of the Stockton and Darlington Railway almost 200 years after the original run.
The Peter Manisty Award, named after the former chairman of the Association of Railway Preservation Societies, is awarded at the discretion of the Heritage Railway Association and is only presented to projects of exceptional significance. It is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious honours in railway preservation.
Alongside this national recognition, Vintage Trains was also celebrated closer to home at the West Midlands Tourism Awards, where The Shakespeare Express was awarded Silver in the Experience of the Year category.
The award recognises the strength of the onboard experience, combining heritage steam travel with a full day out to Stratford-upon-Avon.
Michael Whitehouse, chairman of Vintage Trains, said: “March has been a hugely proud moment for Vintage Trains. To receive the Manisty Award for Excellence is a real honour and reflects the extraordinary effort behind the Locomotion No.1 recreation.
“At the same time, to see The Shakespeare Express recognised as one of the region’s leading visitor experiences shows the strength of what we offer to our passengers today. Together, these awards capture both sides of what we do, preserving railway heritage and bringing it to life through memorable journeys.”
