Train fan scales his own Everest

11:03am Friday 19th October 2007

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A SOCIETY founded by a Malvern man to save a famous Himalayan steam railway has signed a deal to help secure the line's future after a decade of trying.

David Barrie, of Leigh Sinton Road, first heard of the Darjeeling Himalaya Railway as a boy, when he saw pictures of it in the Eagle comic.

He said: "In 1997, whilst looking at a 1/2-scale replica Darj engine on the Fairbourne railway in Wales, a friend turned to me and said I've heard they are going to close the DHR - you ought to do something about it'."

As a result, he founded the Darjeel-ing Himalaya Railway Society.

The society has worked tirelessly to persuade the Indian rail authorities to keep the line as a tourist attraction and he has now signed a deal with Indian Railways to declare it a World Heritage Site.

The new agreement, called a memorandum of understanding, commits the society and Indian Railways to work together on the future of the railway. It covers issues such as communication, technical support and tourism.

"We now have over 800 members in 26 countries, excluding the many supporters in India," said Mr Barrie, who runs a health supplement firm in Hanley Swan. "We have been instrumental in not only saving the DHR for future generations, but now have this formal agreement with Indian Railways, with whom we have worked for the last ten years."

Among the supporters is Sir Mark Tully, the BBC's long-time India correspondent and one of the best-known men in the country.

Mr Barrie and his wife Moo have visited Darjeeling many times and have now founded the Darjeeling Railway Community Support Group, which supports a local orphanage and helps fund healthcare, education and employment in the region.

The group is hosting an event, A Journey on the Darjeeling Railway, on Sunday, November 11, at Hanley Swan Village Hall.

It will feature an Indian bazaar from 1-7pm and two different slide shows, one at 2pm accompanied by tea and tiffin, and the other at 7pm, with a curry supper. Tickets are £5 for the afternoon, £10 for the evening and should be pre-booked on 01684 311931 or 562571.