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RTC Wensleydale & Durham Coast Saturday 21st March

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by alastair, Mar 13, 2015.

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  1. spicer21

    spicer21 Guest

    I didn't travel on this tour sadly, but was very interested in it as my brother has shares in the WR, and we both visited last summer. Trawling You Tube for some further video footage, I came across this one taken from the train. It's a long one, over an hour so I'd recommend judicious use of the FF facility, but is very interesting where the train transfers to and leaves the WR.

     
    spicer21, Mar 28, 2015
    #61
  2. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    The change over from NR to WR was actually quite slick. From starting off from the reversal line to arriving at Northallerton West was only 7 min and that included the hand over across the ground frame. On the return, the same manoeuvre was done in three and a half minutes. Impressive.
     
    Big Al, Mar 28, 2015
    #62
  3. spicer21

    spicer21 Guest

    Yes, it looked that way on the vid. Hope there's more through trains to the WR. It's a very impressive railway IMO, though clearly they've had to move on a bit from their original aim of being a community railway.
     
    spicer21, Mar 28, 2015
    #63
  4. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    It was surprisingly quick, and the transfer was the one point that could have made or broken the remaining tour itinerary. However, this was probably one of the reasons why the timings were generous once on the Wensleydale, even more immpressive was that we left Castle Hills Jn a few minutes early on the return. Also noticed 92219 at Leeming Bar.
     
    Bulleid Pacific, Mar 28, 2015
    #64
  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    This seems to be a railway with massive potential but if it is going to be a classic heritage line there are probably three things that might hinder its progress:
    - the sheer length of the line (even greater if you count their intentions re Garsdale)
    - the absence of an appropriate fleet of steam locomotives
    - the financial clout to do something grander than they have at present - good though that is.

    It must be top of the list of lines with a NR connection that has yet to deliver fully on this opportunity.
     
    Big Al, Mar 28, 2015
    #65
  6. Bulleid Pacific

    Bulleid Pacific Part of the furniture

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    I was thinking about the number of disused stations on the line, which got me wondering if there would be any mileage in the various communities adopting their stations. Some are definite no-hopers, but others appeared to be quite central in villages etc. That would leave the WR free to tackle track and infrastructure. The village of Askrigg would be a good terminus if Garsdale proves too ambitious, although Hawes would be even more ideal as a tourist trap.

    Not sure what the business case would be for opening through to Garsdale, but it would certainly open some interesting opportunities for through railtours, stopping at Leyburn for a leg stretch. Perhaps marathons such as Carnforth-Carlisle-Garsdale-Northallerton-York or even Carnforth-Carlisle-Garsdale-Northallerton-Low Fell-Penrith-Carnforth would be come possible. However, steam will probably cease on the mainline before this could happen...
     
    Bulleid Pacific, Mar 28, 2015
    #66
  7. John Stewart

    John Stewart Part of the furniture

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    Redmire is unfortunately the middle of nowhere and reaching at least Askrigg in the quite short term is essential. Every westward extension would increase the attraction, Aysgarth, Hawes and then Garsdale . As for power, I think that the base service on the whole line would have to be diesel on a line of this length with steam on special occasions. What might be the possibility of a Garsdale to Hawes shuttle as operated 1954-1959? With no signalling, no intermediate stations, DOO operated and used as a retirement home for elderly Pacers, operation would be cheap. However, any charter tour leaving NR at one end and re-joining NR at the other would be a unique selling point.
     
    John Stewart, Mar 28, 2015
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  8. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Can't agree more. It's just a shame that there is no mechanism for channelling all the money out there into something like the Wensleydale Railway extension for all the reasons given?

    A silly idea, I know, but what a tourism and travel opportunity.
     
    Big Al, Mar 28, 2015
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  9. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    Once the WR eventually reaches Hawes, I can see the Hawes-Leyburn section being worked more intensively than the eastern section - perhaps a 2-hourly DMU service Leyburn - Leaming Bar connecting with a much more frequent steam service Leyburn - Hawes. Mind you, Hawes is probably 10 years away, at least!
     
    Steamage, Mar 30, 2015
    #69
  10. class8mikado

    class8mikado Part of the furniture

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    But looking long term , when steam finally leaves the main line, long, scenic 'branch' lines with good Road and rail connections at ( at least) one end and an atractive tourist destination at the other - are the future for steam....
     
    class8mikado, Mar 30, 2015
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