The Mid Cheshire Line Baton Relay Walk for Railway 200 has been a resounding success. Starting at Manchester Picadilly on Monday 22nd September and concluding at Chester Station on Saturday 27th September this station to station walking event involved passing a special knitted baton on from walk leader to walk leader as they made their way from station to station on routes closely following the Mid Cheshire Line.
The event was planned and lead by station volunteers with the support of the rail partnership to mark Railway 200 -the 200th year of the birth of the modern railway.
It was amazing to see so many people from communities along the line turn out in their walking boots to join in and support the event. We also thank the invited dignitaries for turning up at station to wave off and greet walkers as they made their way along the line and to Northern trains who supported the event and led Day 1s walk. But it was our station volunteers, who care for their local train station on a daily basis who really made this event happen by planning and leading the walks and in particular thank you to Northwich volunteer Peter Holland who played a big part in the organisation of event and baton.
Overall, there were 292 participants over the 6 days and Jane Farnworth was the only walker to do all 6 days and covered a whopping 59.3 miles. Jane was awarded a special gift of customised mug and plaque for her incredible achievement which was presented to her by famous rail enthusiast Pete Waterman at Chester Station.
We would also like to say a special thank you to community knitting group Toppers of Northwich for making the fabulous, customised baton.
