Alstom Charitable Train Pull at Didcot Railway Centre
Visitors to the Oxfordshire heritage site recently witnessed an unusual feat of endurance when a team of sixteen workers from Alstom successfully hauled a 25-tonne historic steam locomotive entirely by hand.
The team, based at the Reading depot for Great Western Railway, took on the challenge on Wednesday 1 July at the Didcot Railway Centre. Working together along a 250-metre stretch of track, the group moved No 1340 ‘Trojan’—an engine built in 1897—continuously for an hour, covering a total distance of 1,500 metres while spectators and supporters cheered them on.
Supporting Variety, the Children's Charity
Conceived by Alstom Project Supply Chain Leader Che McCarthy, the office idea evolved into a coordinated team-building exercise designed to raise funds for Variety, the Children's Charity. Having already surpassed their initial fundraising target, the participants hope the stunt will inspire additional contributions to support the charity's work transforming young lives.
Imogen Galsworthy, Corporate Partnerships Manager at the charity, expressed gratitude for the creative initiative, noting the positive social impact delivered through the collective effort. The event highlights the active community engagement fostered at the living museum, which regularly hosts unique experiences alongside its collection of historic locomotives, reconstructed stations, and operational railway exhibits.
To plan your own visit and check upcoming activities at the museum, you can explore the oxford/whats-on schedule. You can also browse more regional attractions using Musemap (musemap.art) or view the interactive oxford/map to navigate local transport heritage spots.
