For more than 40 years, Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway has been preserving an important piece of South Wales’ industrial heritage. Founded in 1983 by a passionate group of volunteers determined to protect the historic railway line for future generations, the organisation has grown from restoring a small section of track into a thriving heritage attraction welcoming thousands of passengers every year.
Today, the volunteer-led railway stretches for around three and a half miles through the hills above Blaenavon, carrying visitors on a journey through Wales’ industrial past.
It is here—among the locomotives, sidings and workshops—that another story is unfolding. One where preserving Wales’ industrial heritage goes hand in hand with protecting its future.
From industrial heritage to a greener future: a journey towards sustainability
For Project Development Lead Mark Langman, a retired Director at Network Rail, sustainability was never about changing what makes the railway special.
The unmistakable sound of steam engines, the smell of coal and the experience of travelling on a heritage railway are all part of its identity.
Instead, it was about finding new ways of thinking—stoking fresh ideas into a railway built on history, and proving that even organisations whose stories are rooted in the Industrial Revolution can play an active role in tackling climate change.
The team has always recognised that operating historic steam locomotives comes with an unavoidable carbon footprint. Rather than shying away from that reality, they chose to ask a different question:
How can we reduce our impact everywhere else?
As Mark explains:
“We’re telling the story of the Industrial Revolution and the age of steam in the South Wales Valleys, but it also gives us the chance to explain why sustainability matters today.”
That simple shift in thinking became the driving force behind the railway’s climate journey.
As part of a wider fundraising drive, they were encouraged to demonstrate how the organisation was engaging with climate action—something that led them to Egin.
Working alongside Honey, one of Egin’s Regional Support Officers, the railway began exploring practical opportunities to reduce its environmental impact. A free Energy Audit* helped identify where they could make the biggest difference, and one opportunity quickly came to the forefront: solar power.
With a large south-facing roof above the locomotive shed at Furnace Sidings, solar offered the greatest opportunity to make a lasting difference.
Egin’s Sustainable Steps Wales grant became the first piece of a much larger funding puzzle. Securing the £15,000 grant gave the organisation confidence and crucially the match funding—to unlock a further £30,000 from Torfaen County Borough Council, turning one climate project into a £45,000 investment in the railway’s future.
Sharing the climate journey
For the volunteers, the solar panels were never the end of the story. Just as important was sharing why they had chosen to take action.
Heritage railways naturally prompt conversations about the environmental impact of coal and steam, and the team wanted to embrace those conversations rather than avoid them. Through Egin, they worked with storytelling mentor Deb Winter, exploring how the railway’s history, its volunteers and its growing commitment to sustainability could be woven into stories that inspire visitors of all ages.
As Mark reflected on this process:
“It was very easy for us to write things about the railway from a railway perspective… but it needs to ring through with the public as well, so it’s something they can engage with.”
For many people, sustainability is something they care deeply about, and the railway hopes that by openly sharing its climate journey, it can inspire others to become part of it too.
For Blaenavon’s Heritage Railway, sustainability isn’t simply about reducing carbon emissions. It’s about safeguarding the railway itself, inspiring the thousands of people who visit each year, and creating meaningful opportunities for new volunteers who want to be part of something that protects both local heritage and the environment.
The team is now beginning their journey of weaving these stories into the visitor experience, making sustainability part of every trip along the line.
Building momentum
With funding secured, work began on installing 56 solar panels and battery storage at Furnace Sidings.
The impact has already exceeded expectations.
During June alone, the system generated enough solar energy to power their operations and, remarkably, the railway paid nothing for electricity through that supply point during the month.
Reflecting on the experience, Mark said:
“From hearing about Egin to having the solar panels installed took around a year.”
“Dealing with Egin was really easy… everyone understood we needed to move quickly and they really stepped up to help us do it.”
Full steam ahead
The project has already transformed day-to-day running costs, helping protect the railway from rising energy prices while taking meaningful steps to reduce its reliance on electricity from the grid.
But for the team, this is only the beginning.
They are already exploring opportunities to extend renewable energy across the rest of the site when future funding becomes available, while continuing to strengthen the way sustainability is embedded throughout the visitor experience.
As Mark puts it:
“We’re on an early journey… We’ve done most of the things we can around electricity, but we’re always asking, ‘What more can we do?'”
For Blaenavon’s Heritage Railway, protecting the past and investing in the future are no longer separate ambitions.
They now run side by side— two rails carrying the train forward!
Find out more
To learn more about Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway, plan a visit, become a volunteer or follow their sustainability journey, visit their website and follow them on social media. https://www.bhrailway.co.uk
If your organisation is ready to take its own first steps towards climate action, Egin can help. Whether you’re looking to reduce energy costs, improve sustainability or bring your community together around climate action, Egin offers practical support, mentoring and funding to help you get started. Find out more about Egin: https://egin.org.uk/
Comments are closed.