Embsay Branchline Weekend 2 - 4 May 2015

Branchline Weekend
Saturday 2nd, Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th May 2015
The event will feature a variety of trains and locomotives in traffic.

Trains will depart from Embsay and Bolton Abbey stations every 30 minutes. Your tickets (which can be purchased in advance, online) allow unlimited travel on the day in question on all passenger services.

Adults: £15.00
Children: £5.00 (normal fare)
Platform Tickets: £5 (valid at both stations on the day of issue)

Details to follow

Passengers are reminded that there is no lineside access for photography. There are plenty of public footpaths available, and a lot of work has gone into clearing the lineside of vegetation.

http://www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk/speciale.html#mtwe

 

Anyone know what time the first train is on Saturday, and what steam does Embsay have at the moment?

 

If its a general question ' let your fingers do the walking' and checkout the stocklist on their website,
if you mean what is likely to be running steamwise at the weekend the following are very likely :-Moorbarrow, Norman and 5643 if it gets collected from Ribble tomorrow!

 

Thanks 3855, stocklist I can find still has 12322 on it still, even though it moved to ELR last year.

 

The event will feature a variety of trains and locomotives in traffic.

We have

GWR 0-6-2T 5643
RSH 0-6-0ST 47
RSH 0-6-0ST 7086
D.3941 in service for the gala

following the failure of Beatrice and NCB No.38.

Timetable details on here

http://www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk/speciale.html#mtwe

 

The emotional return of 12322 to Bury surprised quite a few including me!!!!!

 

Passenger trains depart;

Bolton Abbey: 0945, 1100, 1130, 1230, 1300, 1400, 1430, 1530, 1600, 1700

Depart Embsay: 1030, 1100, 1200, 1230, 1330, 1400, 1500, 1530, 1630, 1700

To Bow Bridge loop: 1030, 1125, 1155, 1255, 1325, 1425, 1455, 1555, 1625, 1725

Goods trains depart;

Bolton Abbey: 1030, 1200, 1330, 1500, 1630

Embsay: 0945, 1130, 1300, 1430, 1600

To Bow Bridge Loop: 1055, 1225, 1355, 1525

 

Are L1 TO 4 as you have set them out

 

All I know is that L4 is D3941 and L1-3 diagrams vary from day to day with the three steamers.

 

Excellent day yesterday. Had a lovely run behind the goods in the morning, shame about the weather, but first time I've properly been to Embsay (had been too a Thomas event when little) and very impressed. Pictures from me can be found here... http://preservedrailway.weebly.com/embsay--bolton-abbey
Out of interest yesterday morning at least the cost of a day rover was £12 not £15 advertised on the website.

 

I got charged £15? Got mine from Bolton Abbey

 

Wow! What an Effort!

The above is my first thought after returning home from this 'Branchline Weekend'. A gala that, according to the posters on the platform at Embsay, was supposed to feature 'up to 8 engines', finished with just three. What amount of bad luck must of happened to cause that much difference in numbers? Yet the volunteers at the 'Yorkshire Dales Railway' stuck together and ran as much as they could, resulting in many happy customers.

I've never seen a Class 08 shunter run so many trains. The crews on the two working steamers also put in a magnificent effort despite fighting a losing battle against the timetable.

Fact: If there isn't another engine watered and ready to go at Bolton Abbey, 15 minutes isn't nearly enough for a turn around. I don't know how much it affect them but the engines were being refilled with a diesel powered water pump. Does anyone know whats wrong with the water tower at Bolton Abbey?

With all the above I had a great day. Thankfully I also got a few shots of the GWR tank before its early failure.

Photos to come later in the week......

 

There have been issues with contaminated water at Bolton Abbey hence the need to use an alternative supply.

 

Footage from the final day of the Branchline Weekend yesterday. 5643 failed early on so the 3 remaining locos worked the same trains all day long-still well worth going though.

 

An enjoyable day yesterday. 5643 failed when on running round at Bolton Abbey, with No.47, the front drawbar broke. By putting it on the front of No.47 it was able to head the train back to Embsay.
This meant that the loco swops didn't happen but this was an advantage in a way as No.47 looked more authentic on a freight and the brakevan rides on the ex Harton brakevan were really enjoyable.
Norman as was looks great in its new NCB Durham area livery as 69, nice job and very smart. It stayed on the Mark 1s.
I think the mark 1 set would have looked more like a branchline train with a van or two added as was done a few years a ago with 68009 when it was visiting.

I was told No.47 is due for its boiler exam this week and 69 is due to be rostered this coming weekend.
Beatrice is waiting for a new trunk rod guide to be fabricated before being rostered for use again.
The Class 14 needs a new axlebox bearing which is why it wasn't out at the gala.

Well done to all concerned with the weekend there was plenty happening.

 

As promised here are my shots from a lovely sunny Monday

Branchline Weekend