A CARRIAGE shed that was going to help get Carlisle Hammond's Pond Railway line back on the tracks has been vandalised a mere week away ahead of its return. 

The shed, which has been funded through grants from Carlisle City Council, was discovered to have profanity spray painted on it on Monday morning (May 24). 

Chairperson of Carlisle's Model Engineering Society, Stephanie Saville, said it was "absolutely heartbreaking" to discover the damage but was extremely grateful of the response from the local community in wanting to help. 

"It was horrendous to see, we've been closed all through Covid and we've had a lot of help from Carlisle City Council to get the carriage shed built so we can get up and running again. 

News and Star: Outer exterior also damaged. Outer exterior also damaged.

"To have the new carriage shed that isn't even finished yet and it's already been vandalised, it's absolutely heartbreaking but, the response from Facebook was really heart-warming, lots of people giving advice how to remove the paint, people wanting to come and help us remove it, they all want us to open as soon as we can again. 

"The community is desperate to have the railway up and running again for summer," she said. 

Stephanie said they were extremely thankful to receive a donated tin of paint remover from Lesley Kelly over at Paintwell. 

"The club has been there since 1936, everyone remembers being on that train growing up, they want to pass that memory on to their grandchildren - Hammond's Pond is a beautiful place and something we need to preserve," she said. 

Councillor and Carlisle's Deputy Mayor, Colin Glover, said it was "hugely disappointing" to see the vandalism. 

"The model engineering society are a really important part of the park and they've worked incredibly hard to improve the facilities, raise funds for shed extensions which is really important to support the work of volunteers. 

"It's been part of the park for decades and I know people have been looking forward to the railway getting running again. 

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"The railway generally is a really important part of Carlisle's history and to have the model engineer volunteers there who have been part of the community have made it fantastic addition to the park. 

"Next year is the centenary year of the park and it would be fantastic to be able to celebrate that anniversary with all aspects of the park and the railway is a really important part of that," he said. 

A spokesperson from Cumbria Constabulary said: "Vandalism can negatively impact on a whole community. Children, families and adults alike all enjoy this local attraction - we hope that those who committed this act rightly feel ashamed of their actions.

"If anyone has information about this incident we would encourage them to report it to police," they said. 

Anyone with information can contact police via www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it. You can also call 101.

The reference number to quote is log 69 of May 24.

Carlisle Hammond's Pond Railway aims to be back peddling steam by the Sunday of the Jubilee weekend, but check Facebook for more updates as the track can't run until the carriage shed is completed. 

The club will be running up until October and you can pop down any Thursday for a chat with hobbyists or on Sunday afternoon for a ride on the line.

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