Weardale Railway General Discussion

Hello,

in similar vien to the NYMR General discussion thread, this new one is designed for the development and events surrounding the Weardale Railway, owned by parent company British American Railway services. Chat and discuss further, issues relating to the Weardale Railway here as Id welcome other insights.

Today marked a historic event for the line, one worthy of being used to start this thread, with the return of frieght to the line.

Pictures have been uploaded to the website tonight after work showing 66842 returning freight traffic to the Bishop Auckland line and onwards up Weardale to Wolsingham. Not since 1993 when cement traffic was withdrawn has freight been through and this marked a well come return.

Pictures can be seen here, http://www.blackhatrailwaypictures.co.uk/p1042516225 with another gallery on the home page in the recent section, showing pictures of the class 47 route learning that was needed prior to this trial.

The caption for the gallery is here:

A HISTORIC GALLERY:
Freight returned to Weardale, the first time since early 1993 with 66842 having the role of making a small amount of history by being the first freight engine to haul a train back onto the Bishop Auckland branch and the Weardale Railway. Colas rail have the contract to bring out locally opencast coal from the Weardale Railway depot at Wolsingham, and provided a class 66 with former Freightliner Heavy Haul wagons for the flow. The engine and train ran today as a trial but it marks the first freight train to return, with a regular service to commence when pathing requirements and logistics of the operation are tested and adjusted.
The train ran from Tees Yard, where the wagons had been deposited, to Wolsingham in the very early hours and was seen at Heighington, Bishop Auckland, Witton Park, Witton-le-Wear and Wolsingham.
Further updates to this gallery will show other trials as they happen.....

Enjoy

David

aka The Black Hat

 

That's good news indeed.

As an ex-resident of Etherley Lane I still reckon it can't hold a candle to a Thornaby 31 or 37 making the house shake with a rake of PCAs or PCVs several times a day though!

 

North of Witton Park which is west of Witton-lee- weir -found from google street view. The green bridge is a road

 

Just to the west of Witton Park, about four miles by road from Bishop Auckland railway station. Ignore reference to Witton-le-Wear (note spelling), which is a further 2.5 miles to the west.

 

Hello all,

You need to go down stream from the river to get the photograph. The area can be quite good but you need to go about 200 yards down steam to where some rocks have been placed to slow the water course down and prevent errosion. Standing on these gives you a view from the river but to get to it is easist by using the north bank. Going from the south is possible, but it means a walk from Paradise (irronically named if you ask me) car park near Witton Park station and then walking down to the south bank. If your chasing this rules out further photographs near Witton-le-Wear.

Any other help, just ask....