HERITAGE railway volunteers are “gutted” after thieves cut down and stole three Victorian-style station lamp posts.

The raiders used an angle grinder to remove the heavy metal posts from their anchors at Blaenavon Heritage Railway’s High Level Halt, with fears that they’ll be sold on for scrap or as garden ornaments.

Head of stations Huw Morgan said: “Blaenavon’s Heritage Railway is a charity which is run solely by volunteers, so this comes as a deep blow.

“We try to make things better for our passengers and the community and then someone goes and does something like this - all just to make their own homes and gardens look nicer, or to make quick money off the back of our volunteers’ efforts.

“I’m absolutely gutted.”

With the railay due to reopen in April after its winter break, it posted that volunteers were “feeling angry” over the thefts. ·

A spokesperson wrote: “We are deeply disappointed to report that the lamp posts from Blaenavon High Level station have been stolen.

“The theft, which comes as a deep blow to our dedicated volunteers, took place between 4pm on Sunday, February 6, and 10am on Tuesday, February 8, with the thieves forcing entry to adjacent land to gain access.

“Installed in 2020 to improve the atmosphere for both our visitors and the local community, the theft has caused considerable upset to the team who work so hard to develop our little railway.

“We have reported the incident to the police and urge anyone with information to come forward.

“The posts will be difficult to sell, and all their theft has achieved is giving our dedicated volunteers the cost and task of replacing them.”

Given the weight of the lamp posts, it’s likely that several people and a van or flatbed lorry were involved in the theft.

A Gwent Police spokesperson said: “We received a report that three decorative lampposts were taken from Varteg Road in Varteg by an unknown person at some point between 4pm on Sunday, February 6 and 9am on Tuesday, February 8.”

“Anyone with information, including CCTV or dashcam footage, can call 101 or send us a direct message on social media, quoting log reference 2200044977.

“Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with details.”

Books on the Line, a book review blog on publications about the history of South East Wales’ railways, posted: “What an appalling thing to do!

“After all the setbacks the railway has had from Covid. The staff and volunteers work really hard to make the railway such a great experience - a real credit to the area.

“Hope the pondlife who did this get caught.”

An electrician who has installed similar lamp posts added: “Unfortunately architectural thefts are on the increase. Salvage programmes currently on TV are making people aware of the value of such items.

“Those cast iron lamp posts are extremely heavy and would have needed considerable time and effort to move them… at least four big adults to lift one onto most probably a flatbed truck, and three or four of those posts in a van would have seen it sit on its axle and probably poking out of the rear doors still with the post tops on.

“As an electrician… I’ve installed these type of lamp posts on another heritage railway, they are extremely heavy.”

Dating back to 1866, the railway was reopened as a visitor attraction between Furnace Sidings and Whistle Inn Halt in 1983, and extended southwards to the site of the former Blaenavon High Level station in 2010.

Now volunteers have launched an appeal to raise cash to replace the lamp posts. To donate, go to bhrailway.co.uk/product-page/make-a-donation.

The railway has also announced the return of its Transport Rally on July 16 to 17. Anyone with a classic, unique or generally interesting vehicle who would like to be involved can post a photo on its Facebook page or send photos/details to [email protected].