Potential Wensleydale Loco services 2022

As part of our planning for train services in 2022 we have identified the possibility to have a monthly service dedicated to using our home fleet of locos and recently refurbished MK2 Blue + Grey stock.

The plan is to dedicate one Sunday service a month to do 3, possibly 4 return trips from Leeming to Redmire with LHCS. We would advertise which loco will be working which Sunday well in advance allowing plans to be drawn up to visit.
The locos would be chosen from our current home fleet, including 37250, 20166, D9523 and 33035, and we would potentially have a keg of something local on the afternoon services along with a buffet.

Before we progress with the planning of this we wanted to know if the enthusiast community would consider this as a good idea and would they be prepared to use the service, with nearly 100 miles of classic traction up for grabs.

Thoughts, comments and suggestions are much appreciated.

 

While I am not close enough to make any promises about traveling on such services, I would suggest these will be far more attractive than the Pacer running over just part of the line that was the only service available in June 2021 (I appreciate that staffing etc may have been an issue, but Embsay and NYMR managed to run close to their usual services during the same period).

 

Wouldnt travel 2 miles for a tractor ride. But if in the area ( E.G. Castle Bolton)would give it a go.

 

We obviously would have liked to reopen completely as the covid rules relaxed, but we have 5 times the infrastructure as our friends at Embsay with a similar number of volunteers, and 5 miles more infrastructure than the NYMR with a fraction of their resources. So wthout extending ourselves financially the descision was taken to reopen what we could manage and carry out much needed infrastructure work on the remaining sections of the railway.

 

I understand and appreciate that, just saying that visitors would find your proposed new services much more attractive.

 

Sounds like a great idea and I'm sure if this is advertised in the areas where diesel enthusiasts are, it will pick up quite a bit of interest. For me personally, I really hope at some point the steam service with the likes of 65894 can return.

I would add that the approach you are taking by asking the enthusiast community and indicating advanced loco allocations is welcomed and should be applauded.

 

Update on these plans. We have agreed that it will be Heritage diesel and LHCS for the services on the first sunday in each month, starting around March. 3 return trips from Leeming to initially Leyburn then when the infrastructure work is complete Redmire (should be ready for Easter).

Timetables and tickets will be on the website in the new year along with proposed roster.

We will also be runing a number of services around christmas. On christmas eve we will have our annual run out with 37250 (Leeming to Constable Burton Loop), then between christmas and new year we are planning services between Leeming and Leyburn. 2 days will be steam hauled and 2 days diesel. More information, times and tickets will be on the website www.wensleydale-railway.co.uk shortly

 

Good luck! Hope it goes well for you.

 

Shameless plug, but timetables and tickets are now available for the Christmas Eve 37250 trains, follow the link below

https://wensleydale-railway.co.uk/christmas-eve-timetable/

 

The Wensleydale Railway has now published its list of Sunday Classic Traction days for 2022. On the first Sunday of each month we will run one of our home fleet of locomotives on three return trips between Leeming Bar and Leyburn. One of these trips will be extended to Scruton. As Scruton has no run round facilities the train engine will be used to get to Scruton with a mystery loco provided to drag the train back to Leeming Bar. Note that the trains on May 1st will be as part of the railways Model Railway Exhibition, so the trip to Scruton wont run, but you will get 37250 & 33035 top and tailing all day. We have arranged the timetable to allow access from Northallerton Mainline station by the 856 bus.

The planned roster will be

April 3rd – 33035

May 1st – 37250 & 33035 TnT

June 5th – D9523

July 3rd – 33035

August 7th – 37250

September 4th – D9523

October 2nd – 33035

For tickets and details please follow this link https://wensleydale-railway.co.uk/classic-traction-timetable/

 

I live just under 60 miles from Northallerton and am yet to visit the WR on a running day despite a strong desire to do so!

I think this is an excellent idea; despite being predominantly a steam fan, if I had a free day I would travel 60 miles to travel behind the 33 or 37 (Class 14s really don't do it for me!). I might travel 60 miles on a heritage DMU running day, purely on the basis of having the bonus of a forward view. I absolutely wouldn't bother for a pacer, but I do appreciate why you've got them.

 

What’s happened to Leyburn -Redmire please ?

 

Something of an explanation here - First steps back to Redmire - Wensleydale Railway (wensleydale-railway.co.uk) - infrastructure work required.

 

No sooner do I confirm the 33 for this weekends Classic Traction service than we get a notice that Aiskew crossing will be closed over the weekend for roadworks and maintenance. So unfortunately we are having to cancel the service on Sunday.
We are currently looking at the roster to see if we can re-schedule, with a tentative date of the 17th April, but nothing confirmed as of yet, just keep an eye on posts on here and else where.

For those of you holding pre-booked tickets a full refund will be arranged.

We can only apologise for any inconvenience this may cause if you had planned to visit.