Wensleydale Railway landslip

From their facebook page:
A landslip on an embankmant is causing disruption to services at the start of the new season. This means that services will not operate to Finghall, Leyburn and Redmire. We will however be operating from Leeming Bar to Bedale and also running on our new extension towards Northallerton, although it will not be possible to alight at the terminus until later in the year.

We hope that it will cost us between £30 to £40k to fix, but we have to raise the money to do it first.

Slip is between Newton-le-Willows and Finghall so around 5 miles from Bedale. About 45 feet long. The slip is just before Finghall. Trains will run to Newton Le Willows (There is no Station there). There is no rolling stock west of the slip.

 

This railway doesn't seem to get much attention here in spite of being one of the longest in preservation...
LAND SLIP APPEAL
Please help by donating to our appeal using the link below. Please put in the comment box Land Slip Appeal. This way we can be sure the money is used for the land slip repair work only.
Thank You.

https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/wensleydale-railway-trust-ltd/donate

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More details about new passenger extension coming in use (almost an extra FIVE MILES), copied from conversation on Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/wensleydalerailway

Ballasting at Ainderby Steeple on the Northallerton section of line in preparation for service trains next week.

So is Northallerton west opening soon? <answer> about july i think if everything goes to plan

How about Scruton opening? <answer> For now we are running trains to castle hills just so we can offer a ride to passengers whilst we fix the Landslip. Northallerton west will be ready for July all being well. No fixed date for Scruton as yet.

Will Northallerton West platform be at Springwell Lane, or further west at the underpass (The Green?) where you already have a loop that could be used for run-around? Looks like a 2/3 mile walk in either case to the Northallerton station, a big piece of progress. From Google Earth the walk from the underpass looks nicer. <answer> Likely the underpass but final placing will depend on planning permission. We're hoping to run Northallerton to Redmire but it will depend on how quickly we can raise the £30K that is required to repair the landslide at Akebar.

 

Their website suggests that they hope to be up and running again to Redmire for Easter. Has the weather put the mockers on that or will they make it in time ?

 

From their Facebook page a few hours ago:

Despite the best efforts of a very hard working group, the weather has intervened to make re-opening in time for Easter impossible. Trains will continue to operate to the emergency timetable based on Leeming Bar and Bedale, including the lunchtime diners.

If all goes to plan we will have the line fit for traffic to accept the HST charter on the 20th April.

 

Thanks for this and thanks to the volunteers for their efforts. I will probably pop-in on my way up the A1 for a look at the weekend. Its one of the few Heritage lines that I have not visited.

 

From the Wensleydale Railway facebook page today:

We are pleased to announce that VolkerRail have agreed to come and tamp and line the relaid track at Akebar with the Plasser and Theurer machine due to arrive next week.
We are of course very grateful to all of the team at VolkerRail who have made this possible.

 

Today's update:

Thanks to the efforts of a very small team we can now say we have a connected railway line again. Some more work is required before passengers trains can run but it is a significant step forward.

 

The line will reopen Saturday 13th April with services hauled by 69023 on the 10 and 12 service and D9516 on the 1500.

 

The opportunity to travel behind Joem the length of the railway sounds good, how long is she staying for?

thanks!

 

Will be away for some time in May as appearing at NYMR 40th gala, but back soon after I understand.

 

I very much enjoyed my visit over easter. Even with part of the track out of commision the Wensleydale still has a pretty long track particularly when they take us towards Northallerton. Everyone seemed so enthusiastic I will return next time I go up north or when the new platform is open to the East.

 

Is 69023 now on site and all set for Saturday...?

Thanks!

 

Yes, read somewhere earlier that it was unloaded at Leeming today I think.

 

Visited the railway on Saturday last and had a great day out. Joem performed well with Fred its usual driver in charge.

There has been a lot of work done since I went last September to the track such as resleepering, culverts cleared, cutting back vegetation and repairing the landslip. Great work! Its a nice run they have.

 

1) Planning permission has now been granted for our platform at Northallerton (west). The race is now on to get it built before our 10th Anniversary celebrations in July.

2) HST Charter from St. Pancras passed over the repaired landslip at Akebar on April 20th. HST on the Wensleydale Railway - YouTube

 

Best of luck with the platform - great news

What locos are running next weekend for the food festival?

Cheers