This year, Nene Valley Railway has partnered with Amey to mark Railway 200—celebrating 200 years of UK railways.
Amey is a leading provider of full life-cycle engineering, operations, and decarbonisation solutions for transport infrastructure and complex facilities.
Wanting to do something big and bold to mark this milestone year, Amey approached the heritage railway to identify a major project that could be the focus of the partnership throughout 2025.
Nene Valley Railway proposed restoring an old carriage to house a larger generator, enabling the railway to host bigger and better events (such as Christmas at the Railway), keep the site running efficiently, and ultimately raise more funds to support the restoration and conservation of railway heritage.
The project was named “Project Octopussy”—a nod to the James Bond film Octopussy, which was partly filmed at Nene Valley in 1982. Volunteers from Amey and their supply chain have been regularly attending the site to assist with the project, with support, materials, and resources being contributed by over 30 rail companies. To date, 70 volunteers have signed up to help. The restored carriage is due to be unveiled at an event hosted by Speedy Hire this November.
While Railway 200 is a chance to look back at the rich history of the railways, it’s also an opportunity to look ahead. The industry is facing a growing skills gap as a large portion of the workforce approaches retirement. With rail becoming increasingly digitised, new roles requiring modern skills are emerging.
The partnership is focused on the future—aiming to inspire the next generation to consider careers in rail. To support this, we are hosting two “Invent Your Future” events over the summer. These events bring together key employers from the rail industry to showcase the wide variety of career paths available, and to engage young people through hands-on activities and interaction with industry professionals.
📅 7th August – Invent Your Future: Careers Event
📅 28th August – Invent Your Future: STEM Event
Both events will feature major rail employers and exhibitors, all within a fun summer fair atmosphere—perfect for families and local residents. Come along to have fun, learn something new, and be inspired!
Many companies are donating their time and equipment to this project. If you would like to come along and volunteer please contact volunteers@nvr.org.uk.
As well as time and equipment, we also need funds to keep the project on track. If you would like to make a financial donation, you can do so here.
If you are able to, please gift aid your donation. Donating through Gift Aid means we can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give. You can find out more on the government website here.