Last year, marked 200 years since the start of modern railways.  Throughout 2025, resources were added to the Railway 200 website and now it’s joining Shakespeare and the Domesday Book in the National Archives!

On 27 September (during Goosfest, our annual village Arts and Music Festival), Friends of Goostrey Station (FoGS) celebrated the anniversary of the journey of Locomotion 1 on the Stockton to Darlington Railway. We planted an apple tree and buried a time capsule in the grounds of Goostrey station.  We also designed eight boards about the history of our station. As well as buildings, we included trains, signal boxes, sidings, railway cottages and former employees like Christopher Ashmore and Joseph Harrop (who both worked as porters and signalmen on the Crewe-Manchester line), and engineers like George Buck and William Baker (who masterminded the Birmingham to Manchester railway).

Our photo above shows Joseph Harrop (left) sitting on a bench at Goostrey station

A few weeks later we were delighted to be invited to contribute to the Railway 200 website. Great Rail Tales covers all aspects of railway life – past, present and future. Our tale remembers Joseph Harrop who worked at Goostrey Station for over half a century.

You can listen here : www.railway200.co.uk/stories/great-rail-tales/

FoGS are immensely proud that a story from our multi-award winning village station is being preserved for future generations in the UK’s official archive.

Woodsmoor Station have started their work towards the Cheshire Best Kept Station Awards 2026 by celebrating St Patrick’s Day.

The Woodsmoor Owls now decorated for St Patrick’s Day!

Complete with leprechauns at the Fairy Doors

 

 

The winners of Cheshire Best Kept Stations 2025 were announced
at the Annual Awards Evening at Crewe Alexandra Football Club
on Thursday 5th February 2026
by Tony Miles
Cheshire based Transport Journalist and Rail Industry Commentator.

Romiley Railway Station was named Cheshire’s Best Kept Station 2025

View all our 2025 winners

Watch
The Friends of Romiley Station celebrate

Good news!

The Friends of Goostrey Station has been shortlisted for another Community Rail Award. This national accolade celebrates the inspiring work of station volunteer groups and community rail partnerships across Britain.

The category named It’s Your Station covers work in 4 areas – gardening, community, art & heritage and environment & sustainability. For the third year running, FoGS was awarded enough points to be in the platinum group.

FoGS is also a finalist in the Railway 200 Legacy category.

On 27th September 2025, over 100 local people joined FoGS volunteers at Goostrey Station to mark 200 years since the opening of the Stockton and Darlington railway. On that date in 1825, George Stephenson’s Locomotion number 1 hauled the world’s first steam powered passenger train, an event which is regarded as the start of the modern railway. FoGS aimed to honour rail heritage, enrich the present and create a legacy.

Local MP Sarah Russell unveiled 8 new weather-resistant boards which record the 135 year history of Goostrey Station in text and images. Inside the restored station building, visitors enjoyed a exhibition about FoGS’ achievements and delicious refreshments (including locally made cupcakes decorated with a railway 200 logo).

At noon, Goostrey’s Rose Queen buried a time-capsule. A plaque and a newly planted apple tree mark the spot so the contents can be retrieved in 2075.

Craig Sidebotham, chair of FoGS, said:
“We’re thrilled that our work at Goostrey Station has again been recognised.”

Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said:
“Huge congratulations to Friends of Goostrey Station for being shortlisted. We’re looking forward to them joining our community rail colleagues and industry partners to celebrate their hard work, positivity, and dedication at our awards evening in Derby on 19 March.”