No Christmas in Weardale

Weardale Railway Announces Cancellation of Santa Express due to Locomotive Failures
Weardale Railway has today announced, with deep regret, the cancellation of its planned Santa Express services for the 2025 festive season, which were due to begin at the end of November. The decision follows serious and unforeseen mechanical problems affecting the railway’s two operational locomotives.
https://www.weardale-railway.org.uk...n-of-santa-express-due-to-locomotive-failures



Despite extensive efforts by the team to resolve the issues and secure suitable replacements - including outreach to more than 30 locomotive owners and organisations across the UK - the railway has been unable to source alternative engines in time to reliably deliver the much-loved Christmas experience.

 

Crikey, that's going to have a massive financial impact of have thought.

Don't they usually run with one of the Riley fleet?

 

That's Wensleydale. Weardale is top and tail 31s.

 

Absolutely, apologies was having a brain fart.

 

You would think, but most railways don’t have much of a surplus of the diesels, and will be wanting to protect their own services, I suppose.

 

It would appear not. Ignoring the multitude of 50s, ETS fitted diesels aren't exactly common. D9000 is the only operational Deltic at present (the DPS ones are having work done over the winter). Locally (well, NYMR), 31466 has knackered tyres, and 47077, don't think the ETS has been used since it finished with Virgin XC. Wrong voltage on 33s. A couple of Peaks maybe, but again, when was the last time it was used? 37/4s still being used on the mainline. Not many options.

 

The reality is that there are less operational passenger locos, both steam and diesel, around the heritage sector and a few more locations than say 30 years ago. Weardale's own ex Ashington 40 has been laid up long term, their 31 failed, again locally both the NYMR and NELPG are well down.