- RECORD MONTH FOR WEARDALE RAILWAY FREIGHT TRAFFIC : March
2012 saw the railway set a new record for the number of freight trains
operated over the line in a calendar month. A total of 27 trains,
usually loading to 19 wagons, were operated running to either Scunthorpe
steelworks or to the power station at Ratcliffe near Nottingham. The
trains normally depart from Wolsingham at 10.30hrs, Mondays to Saturdays
and the empties usually return between 22.00 and 23.00hrs after
completing their roundtrip. Since the inauguration of this traffic in
June last year only one scheduled train has not run and this was due to
pathing issues on the Network.
- WR APPRENTICE SCHEME COMMENCES : April 1 saw two new
apprentices commence their placements in the Wolsingham Depot. They are
Luke Blackett and Ben Riley, both living in Weardale and both of whom
are already familiar with the operational side of the Railway as they
are also members of the WR Youth Team and as such are regular
volunteers. They will work on Heritage projects under a scheme operated
by the Heritage Skills Initiative, an organisation hosted by the North
East Civic Trust. Is hoped that this scheme can be further extended in
coming years as the scope of activities on the Heritage side of the
Railway grows. Acknowledgements to Arthur Temple for his work in
initially setting up this project.
 |
 |
En route from Shildon
to Wolsingham Depot the
Class 122 ‘Bubble Car’ owned by Trust Director
Dr Wood. (see news item). 7 April 2012.
Photo : John Lewins, taken near Toft Hill. |
Class 66 No. 66849
heads an outward bound coal train
passes the heritage train in the platform spur at
Bishop Auckland. Note the ballast alongside the line
for use to complete the run around loop. Photo: John Lewins. |
- CLASS 122 ‘BUBBLE CAR’ ARRIVES ON WEARDALE LINE : The
single car diesel unit No. 55012 was one of 20 such units which were
built by Gloucester RC & W in 1958 and used on lightly travelled
branch lines. The last BR operational service was in 1995 on the
Stourbridge Town branch. 55012 passed via Loadhaul into EWS ownership
and was seriously vandalised while stored at Thornaby. It has since been
acquired by Trust Director Dr Mike Wood and has been virtually rebuilt
inside and out by Rail Restorations NE at Shildon. The units are popular
on heritage railways and at least six others are to be found on other
railways from South Devon to East Lancashire. They have a passenger
capacity of 95 and were rated for speeds up to 70mph. If you want to see
55012 operating for the first time in many years visit : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9Yku4vwsEs
. We will try to keep you advised of any planned running days on the
WR.
 |
 |
No.40 back in action
on the 2012 heritage service
passing Witton le Wear crossing on 22nd April
(Photo : David
Scott) |
Until the Bishop
Auckland loop is completed Class 31 will be used
in top and tail mode along with No 40. 31601 seen here near
McNeils crossing on 15
April.
(Photo : J Lewins) |
- No 40 BOILER INSPECTION DUE IN MAY : As can be seen in several
photographs on this issue, No 40 is back in full operational service
thanks to the squad of hard working Trust volunteers The current boiler
certificate for No. 40 expires in October this year. Additionally its
Annual Inspection is due in May and after this we should have a clearer
idea of when we will have to withdraw No.40 from service. A provisional
slot has been booked in a boiler shop to expedite any repairs or renewal
which may be deemed necessary. The Trust’s No 40 loco fund currently
stands at over £34,000.
- WRCIC STAFF CHANGES : Jo Brown took over as Marketing Manager
in January of this year. As well as having qualified in Travel and
Tourism studies, Jo is a ‘Weardalian’ and has extensive local
knowledge and contacts. Also joining the BARS management team in April
is Alan Lee, who takes over from Chris Exley as Safety Advisor for the
companies in the Group. Alan has previous railway experience in the
railway traction and rolling stock, he is also a signalling and
telegraph enthusiast. He has already visited the Weardale operations and
will be a regular attender at the Company Management meetings.
 |
 |
April 6th, Good Friday
and the first day of the 2012
operating season, the
resident DCR Class 31 hauls
the Mk1 stock on its 16 mile run to Bishop Auckland .
( Photo : Chris Simpson
) |
Graham Isom WR General
Manager (L) with
John Hargreaves a regular
volunteer in many areas,
now on the footplate of the Class 08 shunter.
Photo : David
Scott. |
-
‘BISHOP TRAINS’ AT BISHOP AUCKLAND STATION : In
January this year David Million and Michael Wilkinson, both of whom have
had a long association with theWeardale Railway, opened a shop which
will sell items associated with trains and railways in the former DVLA
Test Centre offices in the Bishop Auckland station building. Their focus
will be on selling model railways, railway themed gifts and railway
collectibles and they are also developing plans to set up a Travel
Centre for rail and coach transport. They have set up a website : (http://www.bishoptrains.com/ ) to facilitate online ordering of sales
items and are starting to build up sales on a national and international
basis.
 |
 |
Bishop Trains shop at the eastern end of the main Bishop Auckland
station building, the entrance area includes
toilet facilities and a ticket booking window.
Photos: David Million. |
-
WR TRUST DIESEL LOCO ACQUISITION
FUND : As
mentioned in the last Trust magazine the Trust Board is looking at the
acquisition of a heritage locomotive – ideally a Bo-Bo loco with steam
heat, such as a Class 25. A fund has already been started and after the
sale of one of the former Lafarge Sentinel shunters it currently stands
at over £6,000. A formal appeal will be started shortly.
-
SPEED RESTRICTION TO BE LIFTED : The
5 mph speed restriction near Witton le Wear has been an operational
inconvenience since the line was reopened in 2010. While the railway was
inactive in the 90’s a lineside fence had been repositioned closer to
the line giving a very restricted clearance. Long running negotiations
have now been resolved in a mediation process which has resulted in an
agreement to move the fence back to a position which gives adequate
clearance. As there is also significant vegetation clearance to be
undertaken at this site the work to move the fence will be delayed until
after the end of the bird breeding season. After this passenger trains
will be able to pass this location at the normal line speed, which is
25mph.
-
EASTER WEEKEND SEES RESUMPTION OF
WR SERVICES : On
Good Friday, April 6th regular
services recommenced on the Weardale Railway. The railway will operate
two return services between Bishop Auckland and Stanhope, using heritage
coaches and usually steam hauled every Saturday and Sunday until the end
of October. The same timetable will operate on Bank Holidays and
additionally on Fridays and some Thursdays during the summer holidays.
The Easter services were well patronised with passenger numbers well up
on the previous year. Passengers on the Easter services travelled with
Bertie Bunny and Company and also had the opportunity to purchase
refreshments from the Buffet car where the Youth Team helped out with
the service. Patronage of the Buffet car on the longer run over the full
line gave some very impressive financial results. Meanwhile at Stanhope
station there were other activities such as a Treasure Hunt and an
Easter Bonnet competition.
 |
 |
31601, 56091 and 56311 cross Etherley viaduct on 27 March
near the
end of its journey from Washwood Heath (near
Birmingham) to Wolsingham.
Photo : Johm Lewins. |
No.40 pulls across Witton le Wear crossing on 22 April,
behind it
is the former LMS brake coach owned by Mike
Wood standing in for his Mk 1 brake now under repair.
Photo : John
Scott. |
- BISHOP AUCKLAND STATION IMPROVEMENTS (1: TRACKWORK ) : Since
the start of operations this year the Weardale Railway trains have been
operating into a new and longer platform on a separate spur line at
Bishop Auckland (West). Previously the WR platform was located on the
main running line. The new arrangement means that through trains to or
from the Network can pass trains held in the spur line. The next step in
remodelling the lay out is to install a new set of points on the main
running line at the Network (eastern) end of the WR owned land which
will convert the spur into a loop – thus enabling engines to run round
and obviate the need to ‘top and tail’ trains as at present. As a
picture in this issue shows the ballast is on site and it is planned to
complete the installation of the new layout in the next few days and
commission the loop early in May.
- NEW 2012 TIMETABLE LEAFLET ISSUED
AND DISTRIBUTED : Jo
Brown and the Marketing Team have developed and produced the 2012
timetable leaflet. An initial print of 40,000 copies was made.
Distribution has been organised to over 650 outlets in Co. Durham,
Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Cleveland, North Yorkshire and Cumbria.
Emphasis is given to the opportunity to see 15 miles of superb scenery
on a heritage railway with buffet car facilities on the trains.
Attention is drawn also to (the now renamed) Whistlestop Buffet and the
shop at Stanhope Station.
 |
 |
Tables laid ready in the First class coach for the
Mothers Day special- see news item. Photo: Jo
Brown |
Trevor Horner
supervises the Tree planting near
to Stanhope station.
Photo Jo Brown. |
- STANHOPE STATION IMPROVEMENTS : Work
has been completed on a complete revamp of the station forecourt area in
front of the main station building at Stanhope. The work included paving
and kerbs plus a tarmac parking area and also new signage and lighting.
The final part of the work will be a complete repaint of the station
frontage which should be completed shortly. Also in a joint exercise
with the AONB authorities and Groundwork North East one hundred trees
were planted in the vicinity of Stanhope station on Mothers’ Day to
enhance the appearance of the embankment near the water tank. Thanks to
Arthur Temple for initiating this latter project.
- FATHERS DAY : 17th June : plans
are under way to offer a ride on the train where Dad will be served with
a locally brewed beer on board. More details in next Newsletter.
- BISHOP AUCKLAND STATION IMPROVEMENTS (2 : PLATFORMS ) : One
of the perpetual grievances we hear from passengers is of the
inconvenient access to the WR platform, in that you have to take a
circuitous walk from the Northern Rail platform at Bishop Auckland
around the rear of B & Q and the Royal Mail offices to reach the
platform. "You built the platform in the wrong place" is a
typical comment. Actually it was built in the only place possible (i.e .
on WR owned land) until such time as the Railway could conclude all the
legal arrangements with Network Rail, who own the land up to our
boundary and the main station building and platform and Northern Rail
who lease the station. There have been other complicating factors but at
last we are at the final hurdle and finance is in place to build a
direct path from the Network Rail platform, alongside and fenced off
from the track, to the WR platform – it will be on the level, tarmaced
and will have lighting. Thus changing trains will be straightforward and
take less time than changing, say, at York! Cannot give a precise time
on this as there are third parties involved - but hopefully it will be
during the summer season.
 |
 |
Easter Bunny time ; providing on board service are
(l-r) David, Miriam and Rebecca Ashton, and Alex
Thorkildsen.
Photo : Helen Skelton. |
31601 heads the
morning train across Broadwood bridge
on the first
day of the 2012 season, April 6.
Photo : Chris Simpson. |
- BBC FILMING ON THE WEARDALE RAILWAY AGAIN : Helen
Skelton, the former Blue Peter presenter visited the Weardale railway as
part of the filming of a new BBC series for which the working title is
‘Dale to Sea’. The team travelled on the Easter Bunny special and
also Helen carried out an interview with WR Trust Director and archivist
John Askwith. The production team visited the railway again on the
following Sunday to take exterior footage.
- BISHOP AUCKLAND STATION
IMPROVEMENTS (3 : FACILITIES ) : At
the moment the Weardale Railway subleases part of the office block on
the main station from Northern Rail. It is used mainly as an office and
meeting room. Plans are being developed jointly with Durham County
Council, to redevelop the whole of the western end of the station
buildings to provide facilities for intending passengers, the provision
of toilets and also revamped office/ meeting accommodation. Thus with
these facilities plus the existing café and, as mentioned elsewhere,
the recently opened ‘Bishop Trains’ shop – the two platform
station at Bishop Auckland will take on a new lease of life. More on
these developments in later issues.
- MOTHERS DAY : FIRST 2012 EVENT A
SUCCESS : On
Sunday March 18th a round
trip was operated leaving Stanhope at 13.15 and returning from Bishop
Auckland at 14.45. Passengers were served afternoon tea in the First
Class coach Nina and Mums received a glass of sparkling wine. Meanwhile
the children were kept busy decorating cupcakes for mum while on board.
There was great feedback from passengers after this event. Now to the
plans for Fathers Day (June 17th )
- UPCOMING WR EVENTS : Attached
to this Newsletter are posters (A4 size) for the next three special
events on the Railway – Teddy Bears Picnic on the 27th May,
Fathers Day on the 17th June and
War on the Line on the weekend of 14th and 15th July. If
you are a member of the Trust (or would like to join) and would like to
help at these events or just get involved in any aspect of the Railway
such as helping with the Café, Customer Service, Ticket Office &
Administration, Cleaning and General Maintenance please get in touch
with Ruth Carroll : RCarroll@britamrail.com
 |
 |
YOUTH TEAM news : two new recruits ,on the left Jack Andrews, and on
the right Rhys Jones and in the centre acting as mentors,
are Alex
Thorkildsen and Stuart Watters. The right hand photo shows the newly
completed WRYT meeting room (The North Eastern
Room) in the 5226 coach at
Stanhope station.
Photos : David Million. |
- UPCOMING WR EVENTS : Attached to this Newsletter are
posters (A4 size) for the next three special events on the Railway –
Teddy Bears Picnic on the 27th May,
Fathers Day on the 17th June and
War on the Line on the weekend of 14th and 15th July. If
you are a member of the Trust (or would like to join) and would like to
help at these events or just get involved in any aspect of the Railway
such as helping with the Café, Customer Service, Ticket Office &
Administration, Cleaning and General Maintenance please get in touch
with Ruth Carroll : RCarroll@britamrail.com
- G5 LOCO NEW BUILD PROJECT MOVES AHEAD : This
project, the building of an entirely new tank engine to the original
LNER design, has been led by Weardale Railway Director and Trust Vice
Chairman Dr Mike Wood. The G5 Company has recently announced that it had
begun the assembly stage of the G5 locomotive, which was designed by
Wilson Worsdell for the North Eastern Railway in 1893. The locomotive is
being assembled at the Rail Restorations North East (RRNE) works in
Shildon County Durham. The frames, boiler, bogie and a number of
castings were transferred in mid March from Great Northern Steam in
Darlington, who had built the components under contract from the G5
Company. Mike explained that this was a significant step forward for the
project. Rail Restorations North East will be responsible for the
detailed management of the assembly work, advised by the G5 chief
engineer, David Elliot, who is well known for his work with Tornado. Follow
progress on : http://www.g5locomotive.co.uk/
Edited by G C Mudd
All comments, suggestions, contributions please to gcmudd@ntlworld.com
|
