Wensleydale Railway Matters

Having since looked at the satellite image of Leeming Bar, I suspect you are probably right about that (despite the WR website describing it as “the principal hub of the Railway where maintenance to rolling stock is carried out”)

 

BR destroyed the infrastructure when they ran it as a quarry and MOD branch so its an uphill task for a relatively poorly supported line, the new maintenance shed at Leeming is a fine achievement as is the rescued ex GER signalbox, it is the only hub as such on the line. There is secondhand book and model fundraiser carriage in the bay and a large antique and junk emporium close by. Bedale was fortunate to retain its classic NER box the town is a good 5 mins walk but the developing station is Leyburn which also has novelty teapot and chocolate factory shops in the estate to the east and good pubs, an excellent chippy and the shawl walk up the town. Do not miss the cheese tasting creamery in Hawes where the station waits for on of the 3 parties interested in the line to get there.

 

Errr...You do realise that there are no trains from Aysgarth itself despite there being a station there? (I expect you *probably* know this and were maybe just not mentioning driving from Aysgarth to Redmire to get the train, but I wanted to make sure!)

 

Thank you for your concern. yes I was aware of that. Debating whether the wife will be up for the 3 mile walk to Redmire or I will have to take the car anyway.

 

Travelled on the Polar Express last Saturday evening with the wife and 5 year old grandson .We all had a very enjoyable time, the organisation and people involved, both from the railway and Polar Express were top drawer. Looking at booking for 2020 and taking more of the clan.

 

The WR is now home to two retired northern class 142 pacers, but . . . "suffering from leaking windows and roof pods making seats and floors mouldy and will eventually cause damage to electrics. Whilst waiting for shed space these vehicles need to be kept dry to try to reduce overhaul costs.
We can buy tarpaulins and fixing ropes for all 4 vehicles for £650. This time of year operating funds wont stretch that far. Can you spare a few quid to help these drowning donkeys?"
https://wensleydale-railway.co.uk/pacer-donation/
@Victor

 

You should offer incentives for those who donate more, like not having to ride in them....

 

I should clarify that I was just quoting from their website, I have no connection with them.

 

Well . . . having visited Wensleydale last Sunday, it seems to have become Pacer city. I counted seven 2 car units, including the 4 car train we were bouncing along on. Noticed lots of puddles on the floor inside too.
They were only running from Bedale to Scruton (which was a shame as we were based at Aysgarth for the week, and originally hoping to catch train(s) from nearby Redmire). Nice stations at Scruton (with in-character guided tours by the locals) and Leeming Bar, but not much else to look at at either location. Shame the shed at Leeming Bar has no access <hint hint>

 

For those interested, the railway is appealing for £100,000 to purchase two recently overhauled Mk1 coaches to boost their steam-compatible running fleet.
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/fullsteamahead

 

The National Park Authority are considering turning the trackbed from Hawes to Garsdale into a bridleway. https://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2...-using-disused-wensleydale-track-as-bridleway

I can see the logic in the proposals, but would suggest that passive provision is made for the eventual railway reinstatement if possible. There's a survey linked into the article above.

 

I highly doubt the railway will ever get that far, certainly not as a preserved railway. It's already long enough as it is, Hawes is a good few miles from the railhead as is

 

True enough, but let's kindly not repeat the main problem of the immediate post-Beeching era. In the absence of a crystal ball, passive provision for reinstatement sounds an eminently sensible course of action. One needs look no further than the central phase of East-West Rail, or the reinstatement of Uckfield-Lewes to reinforce that view.

 

Pasted from Facebook last evening.

Unfortunately due to a delay in obtaining a road closure which would have allowed us to complete works at Aiskew crossing we will not be operating trains over the next two weekends. We will be reopening in mid April once the works are completed.

 

Sadly they introduced a blockage in the route at Aysgarth Station so unless the Upper Wensleydale Railway grows in strength in the near future I can't envisage much chance in the Hawes/Garsdale section. Shame because it would have been a lovely trip across into the Pennines! Let's wait to see what the people think.

 

Once a bridleway/cycleway or whatever you want to call it has been established you would be in the same situation as Peak Rail with the Monsal Trail, in that the local authority will not want a railway reinstated, despite the fact that the trail leads to an increase in car usage.

Dave

I should add that while the Monsal Trail was once a very enjoyable walk, once the tunnels had been opened it became a haven for speeding cyclists, so you have to be constantly on your guard. I rarely bother now.

 

If that happens as other than a planned wider development to account for rail reinstatement, yes .... and why it's critical to sort an understanding ahead of time.

Over in Ireland, there's a similar debate concerning plans to reopen the 'Western Rail Corridor', where even the Athenry-Tuam section is currently in a state of hiatus. Between Tuam and Collooney, it was always going to be a long term project, and a 'greenway' in the interim is the favoured option. The same applies on Mallorca to the Manacor-Artá section of the SfM, closed around 40 years ago.

 

Perhaps I have missed something but has the railway ceased running into Redmire? Services seem to be shorter in length and using the intermediate stations as termini.

EDIT> I have since noticed that it is closed whilst the track is relayed.

 

Looks that way. Web page for Redmire Station here:
https://wensleydale-railway.co.uk/stations-redmire/
FB page (no sign-in needed) has a fair bit re: current operations:
https://m.facebook.com/wensleydalerailway

 

Redmire's not in use at the moment whilst they relay the line to Leyburn. It's not being mothballed.

Btw, does anyone know much about the Model Railway weekend this week? I'm debating between going there (WR has been on my bucketlist for years), but it's about an hour's drive, or to Bradford, which is about 20 minutes away from me.

Hoping there are some decent second hand trader stalls as that's a highlight for me at shows!