War on the Line 2008 was again an overwhelming success despite not having steam motive power available this year. (News of No 40's refurbishment soon!).
The spectacles of the weekend were enjoyed by participants, local people and visitors alike with many local businesses reporting booming trade. This high profile event also provided enthusiastic feedback both to the railway and to the Military Vehicle Trust.

A couple of pictures are shown below to give a flavour of the event:

To see more, click here.

War on the Line 2008 is our next big event, held in association with the Military Vehicle Trust over the weekend of August 2^nd and 3^rd. 

Stanhope and Frosterley will be coming under attack from Second World War German troops, being repelled by Allied forces. Local townsfolk are warned to expect some loud explosions and gunfire over the weekend of the 2^nd and 3^rd August. The activities will take place in and around both Frosterley and Stanhope Stations.
Fret-sur-Lee (formerly Frosterley) will be taken over by German forces and passengers will need to have their travel passes ready for inspection by the occupying forces.
On the home front catch up with the latest fashions and learn how to re-style using whatever you have in your wardrobe.  Visit our hairstylist and have your hair dressed for the evening entertainment. Enjoy a preview of the evening’s offerings.

To aid morale there will be a dance held in the marquee on Bondisle Recreation Field at Stanhope commencing at 7.30pm, featuring the ever popular singers – The Fenner Sisters – with Moggie providing many of the popular tunes from the era on his gramophone so you can take to the dancefloor.  Entry to the dance is £5.00. Bar and food will be on sale.

The Fenner Sisters

Visit the local cinema to catch up on the world scene through the Pathe news reels.

BEWARE UNEXPLODED BOMBS!    LISTEN FOR THE AIR-RAID SIRENS AND TAKE COVER!

Two free tickets to the evening dance will be awarded to the two best dressed civilians wearing 1940’s period costume on 2^nd August.

Trains:  NB: Due to a direct hit the steam engine is out of commission. The Class 73 diesel will be operating the service between Wolsingham and Stanhope. 
(Diesel engines were used during the war – the advantage being that during air-raids the lights on the whole train could be switched off all at once).

Timetable: Special timetables apply all weekend. Please refer to Timetables area of the website for full details.

Tickets: Purchase a Travel Warrant - £10.00 (Adult) £8.00 (Senior) £4.00 (Child) - for combined entry to the field and ride on the train. Please have this ready for inspection by the authorities.

The Lamp Room Gift Shop will be open with all manner of gifts, toys (including Thomas the Tank Engine) and souvenirs; the Signal Box Café will be offering the usual selection of homemade soups, light lunches and home bakes to eat in or take-away.

Customer Enquiries:  01388 526203 (operational days/recorded information)
                  info@weardale-railway.com                       www.weardale-railway.org.uk

Commercial & Marketing Enquiries
Katharine Wood:        kathwood-weardalerailways@hotmail.co.uk      07779571228
              Office:       Enquiries@weardalerailways.com                     01924234440

A reminder of last year's event is shown below (courtesy J. Askwith).

An update message has been issued by the Trust Chairman:

• The sale of ECT's shares in Weardale Railways is progressing and on track for early completion.

• The boiler and firebox of our steam loco No. 40 will be tested soon, and should then be certificated ready for re-assembly at Wolsingham. 

• Despite the poor summer weather visitor numbers continue to increase, including several coach parties and school visits. Special event weekends have proved extremely popular and will continue to feature in our forward planning. The next event, War on the Line, held in association with the Military Vehicle Trust, will be held on August 2nd and 3rd. It will include a 1940s dance on the Saturday evening.

You can read the full message in Snippets.

Last Sunday's Classic Vehicle Rally was remarkably well-attended despite the continuing unseasonal weather (the cafe sold more tea than ice cream!). The members of the public who attended thoroughly enjoyed their visit.
A couple of pictures of the car and commercial lineup below, courtesy of John Askwith.

Legacies and Bequests .... Over the years, a number of people have remembered our railway project in their will and recently we have been asked for information on the most effective ways to do this. To assist, our Treasurer has drawn up a simple advice leaflet. If it is of interest, you can download it here.

Santa Specials ... It may seem a long time to Christmas but most of last year's runs were totally sold out weeks in advance. If you want to plan ahead, the 2008 Santa Specials leaflet/booking form is now available to download on the Timetables page.

Gala Music Evening, Locomotion, Shildon, 29th August 2008 

Locomotion, the Northern Satellite Museum of the National Railway Museum, York, with its connotations with the Weardale Railway, and a close eventual neighbour of the Railways link to the main line at Darlington, is the setting for this prestigious Gala Evening.

The entertainment will include Suzannah Clarke, international opera singer, the Shiney Row Male Voice Choir, well known in the North-East for its Charity work, and popular Benny Graham, Northumbrian Folk Singer.

The programme commences at 7.00 pm and includes a finger buffet and pay bar. 

"The Heritage Line and the Railways of Weardale" – Wednesday 2nd July
An open evening with photographs and slide show documenting our railway heritage from the birth if the S&DR to the creation of the Weardale Railway.

If this topic interests you, download details here.

Father's Day / Big Boys' Toys – Sunday 15th June

Yesterday's event saw a large number of dads dragged along to the railway for their free ride and a close look at the displays of "toys" at Wolsingham and Stanhope Stations.

Pictures below from Stanhope (courtesy of John Askwith).

	Above: Part of the line-up of classic commercial vehicles. Left: 1910 Martilghi Organ exhibited by Mr. P. Raymond.

ECT, the major partner in Weardale Railways CIC, issued the following press release yesterday:

ECT Group, one of the UK’s leading social enterprises, is moving in a new direction it was announced today. The Group, whilst retaining its commitment to the provision of high quality public services for the community and to sustainability and partnership working, is preparing for major changes in direction.

This is a joint press release sent on behalf of ECT Group and May Gurney Integrated Services Plc  

ECT Group, one of the UK’s leading social enterprises, is moving in a new direction it was announced today. The Group, whilst retaining its commitment to the provision of high quality public services for the community and to sustainability and partnership working, is preparing for major changes in direction.

ECT Recycling - part of the ECT Group with 1,100 employees - has been acquired by May Gurney, one of the UK’s most successful maintenance and support services companies and listed on the London stock market (AIM).

First and foremost, it’s ‘business as usual’ at ECT Recycling - the current strong management team will remain in place, led by Stephen Sears, and the focus will remain on delivering service quality for its customers and its customers’ customers – members of the public.

For some time, ECT Recycling had been exploring ways to secure its future and to build upon its successful business formula in delivering municipal waste services to local authorities.

Stephen Sears, who has led the development of ECT since 1980 said: “ECT has been looking for a partner for our recycling and waste management business with a good reputation in the local authority market place and with the commercial muscle to help us to secure bigger contracts. This will allow us to deliver our social and environmental objectives as well as the financial results that are essential to continued success.

We are delighted to have the opportunity to work within May Gurney and to develop our sustainable waste management business in a way that retains our commitment to working in partnership with our customers, to staff development and to strong corporate responsibility to communities and the environment”.

David Sterry, Chief Executive of May Gurney, said: “We are delighted to welcome a company whose long-term customer oriented culture and focus on partnerships is aligned to our own. This acquisition significantly enhances our capabilities and customer relationships in the local government waste services market, a market where the demands on our customers and challenges for our customers are growing rapidly.”

The ECT Group (which includes the charity Ealing Community Transport) will continue to operate community transport services in Ealing, Milton Keynes, Cheshire and the 195 bus service. It will maintain its joint venture with Hackney Community Transport (E&HCT), transporting construction workers within the Olympic Park, on behalf of the ODA.

The rail businesses - RMS, Weardale and Dartmoor - are in the process of being sold to new owners with the financial firepower and resources to develop them successfully.

Cuckoo Lane Health Care will become an independent organisation. Its association with ECT made Cuckoo Lane one of Britain’s most well known nurse-led practices.

ECT Group recently sold its interest in its successful recycling joint venture in Northern Ireland; Bryson Recycling to its joint venture partner the Bryson Charitable Group.

Anna Whitty, who becomes Chief Executive of the ECT Group commented: “From community transport to mainstream bus services, ECT Group will continue to put our passengers first, thanks to the staff and volunteers who make our services run so smoothly.

“It has been an exciting time for us with the expansion of our services up and down the country and our new joint venture with Hackney Community Transport.

“We look forward to working in partnership; whether it is with local authorities, charities, other community transport organisations, or government schemes such as SureStart, to provide quality, accessible, sustainable community and public transport services”.

***** A message from the Trust Chairman, Ian Gardner has been posted in the "Snippets" page *****

Big Boys' Toys – Sunday 15th June

To coincide with Father's Day, Dad can travel for free and get excited about the vehicle displays at Stanhope and Wolsingham Stations. More details here.

The Livery Competition for No. 40 is now closed. The winning livery is to be BR lined black with early crest.
Further details in Snippets section.

Teddy Bear’s Picnic – Sunday 25^th May

 The good weather over the Bank Holiday weekend brought excellent business to the Railway. Particularly enjoyable was the Teddy Bear’s picnic event on the Sunday which was well attended and saw the diesel hauled coaching stock and the griddle car in operation.  Customers could purchase drinks and picnic bags on the train as well as the usual range of goods from the Signal Box café at Stanhope station. 

As well as the bears brought by our young customers a larger than usual Teddy Bear was observed at Stanhope.  The families were entertained by a magician, and  a treasure hunt and other fun and games and prizes  were laid on. 

Thanks to all the volunteers who organised the event and those who helped out on the day.

Click me!  

Teddy Bear’s Picnic – Sunday 25^th May

 Weardale Railways is happy to announce a fun filled day on the Railway. Aimed at the young (and young at heart) we are sure it will prove to be a big hit! 

Children can take a free ride if they bring their teddy bear’s along too.  

Picnic bags will be for sale on board (£2.50 each), in our heritage griddle car, and the Signal Box Café will be serving a full range of menu items, including sandwiches and homemade cakes – to eat in or take away. (You may bring your own picnic too!) You can enjoy your picnic in and around the station or the adjacent recreation field (some seating is available but you may prefer to bring something to sit on) where there will be music, fun and games … and a children’s entertainer all day. Take part in the Teddy Bear’s Treasure Hunt, Teddy tombola and raffle.

The first train departs Wolsingham Station at 10:30; and 11:45 from Stanhope. 

The Lamp Room Gift Shop will be open with all manner of gifts, toys (including Thomas the Tank Engine) and souvenirs; the Signal Box Café will be offering the usual selection of homemade soups, light lunches and home bakes to eat in or take-away. 

Downloadable poster here.

Group Visits Boosting  Weardale Railway passenger numbers

Since re-establishing the passenger service last year, a concerted effort has been made to encourage groups and coach parties to visit the Railway. This effort is now bringing results.

A recent example is the visit of a party from the Teeside Caledonian Society. This was initiated by a talk and slide show by our volunteers to a meeting of the Society.
Their visit took place on the 26^th April and was part of a day out which included a visit to the Shildon Railway Museum, the Durham Dales Centre, the Weardale Museum and culminated in a journey on the 16.30 ex Stanhope.

The Society have acknowledged their visit and commented to our Chairman as follows :- 

Dear Ian,
             The quick rail trip provided a good end to a rather hectic but enjoyable day.
Your colleagues at Stanhope and on the train were very helpful and, particularly on the train, hilariously entertaining.

Thank you for your help.
Regards
James Smith. 

Classic Car Rally:
The weather did not produce snow this time, so the twice-postponed rally took place yesterday.

Twenty three cars, the oldest dating from the 1920’s took part in a 50 mile trip around Teasdale and Weardale, finishing in the car park at Stanhope Station on the Weardale Railway.
The morning started with a ‘Full English breakfast’ at the Bridge Inn, Ramshaw for motor enthusiasts from the North East Club for Pre-War Austins and Northern Vintage Transport Association taking part. Cars included were a Bullnose Morris, Jaguar XK150, Ford Consul, Lea Francis, Morris Minors and Wolseleys. The event was organised by Alan Hutchinson in conjunction with Weardale Railways CIC.
The Signal Box café at the station was kept very busy selling a selection of homemade soups, light lunches and home bakes. The Lamp Room Gift shop was also busy selling railway souvenirs and Weardale related goods.
Photographs below courtesy of John Askwith:

ECT to sell its share:
There has been much speculation and misinformation about the effect on the project of ECT's withdrawal from railway operations. You can read a statement from the Trust's chairman, Ian Gardner here.

From the beginning of May, Weardale Railways will be running trains on Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays before the full seven day a week service is introduced from the middle of July. The next special event on the railway will be the Teddy Bears Picnic on 25^th May.

Classic Car Rally revised date:
The deferred classic car rally will now take place on Sunday 27^th April. The cars should start arriving at Stanhope Station from midday to form a display for the afternoon.

Family Fun Days, April 19th/20th:
was principally organised by the Junior Club who brought in their own equipment, set up the various games and manned the car park on both days so that they were there to tempt other youngster to join in. Well done! Any under-16s interested in being involved can find out more on the Junior Club's own website www.wrjc.org.uk

Classic Car Rally postponed again:

The deferred classic car rally was to take place on Sunday 6^th April. Unfortunately the organisers of the rally have again decided that owing to the forecast of inclement weather they will postpone the rally. We hope this event change does not affect your plans.

Diesel Gala, April 12^th/13^th:

The planned diesel gala will now be run as Depot Open Days so that visitors can see all our diesel stock. Details here.

Weardale Railways CIC's major shareholder ECT is seeking to transfer all of its railway interests to another company.
You can read their press release here.

Easter Sunday Classic Car Rally postponed:

Part of the Easter weekend programme of special events was to be a classic car rally. Unfortunately the organisers of the rally have decided that owing to the forecast of inclement weather they will postpone the rally. Their rally will now take place on Sunday 6^th April, the vehicles arriving at Stanhope Station from around noon and staying on display throughout the afternoon.
We hope this event change does not affect your Easter weekend plans.

WEARDALE RAILWAY MAIN SHAREHOLDER ECT TO REORGANISE ITS RAIL BUSINESSES

Last week ECT announced that due to the poor performance of some of its Group rail businesses it was taking action to improve the situation. ECT is the major shareholder in Weardale Railways.
Under the rescue plan launched in 2005 after Weardale Railways Limited entered administration, the Company membership was reconstituted with ECT taking the majority membership holding. ECT is a Community Interest Company with activities in both recycling and rail transport. Other members were the Weardale Railway Trust, Durham County Council and Wear Valley District Council.
The new Company was formally constituted as Weardale Railways CIC in 2007 and services recommenced in that year and have operated every week since then.
As part of its action plan ECT has appointed a new General Manager of the rail businesses. It is likely that the core rail businesses, which are in activities such as operating charter trains and contract railway engineering work on the main network, will be treated separately from the Heritage railway interests (the Dartmoor and Weardale Railways)  and the outcome will be dependent on discussions with ECT and the other members, including the Trust, which will take place in the near future.

The following statement was issued by Ian Gardner, Chairman of the Trust:

“We are very disappointed at this turn of events not only for the Trust and its members, but also for our colleagues within the ECT Group with whom we have worked over these past months. It is important that we recognise that without the participation of ECT in the rescue plan then the Railway would not have been able to exit administration and with the lack of any other buyers would have gone into liquidation and its assets sold off, the purchase of the line from Network Rail cancelled and the line abandoned and probably scrapped.” 

“ECT has put in considerable resources of manpower and equipment and has made a substantial financial contribution to maintain and develop the railway in the last two years. This enabled the Trust to organise and operate a sell out season of Christmas Santa trains. We plan to continue to expand and improve our services. These plans include the reintroduction of midweek services in the main holiday periods, the use of steam locos in the summer season and the opening of a station building at Wolsingham and expansion of our catering and retail facilities. We also plan to operate a full programme of special events, the next of which will be over the Easter Holiday weekend”. 

“So the Weardale Railway remains open for business. It faces further challenges in the months ahead but with the continued support of our volunteers and the growth in the numbers of our passengers and visitors we believe we can survive these challenges.”

 GCM

5 March 2008

Mother's Day success: 

This years programme of special events got off to a good start yesterday. The trains were filled with mums (and grandmums) and their families - many of whom enjoyed cream teas en route. Stanhope Station down platform waiting room (the Education Room) was opened for children to make their own special Mothers Day Cards.
Overall a very successful and busy day for the Railway. Customer comment forms were handed out and the feed back was uniformly positive.

Photo courtesy of John Askwith.	4 generations of mums & daughters.

More details and photos in the Supporters' Snippets area.

Mother's Day (Sunday March 2^nd): 

For the Mother's Day runs we will again be using the class 73 diesel with heritage coaching stock (see last news item for picture).
If mum is accompanied by her family, she will travel free. The café and shop will be open on Stanhope Station, and cream teas will be available on the train.

To download a poster giving details click here.

To download flyers to give to friends click here.

There will be further special events at Easter including a classic car rally and a Bunny Hunt - details to follow.

Attention all class 25 enthusiasts: 

It has been decided to give the 141 a rest and use the class 25 diesel with coaching stock on the weekend of Feb 23^rd/24^th.
This train will be in use for all services over that weekend.

25067 at Stanhope Station.

2008 Timetables and Special Events: 

These are now published in the Timetables section. The list of special events will grow and have more detail added during the year.

Going anywhere near our "sister" Dartmoor Railway at any point this year?
If so, you may be interested in their special events. Download a poster here.

Steam for the summer? No 40 BACK IN SERVICE : TARGET DATE – 15 JULY 2008 …….With your help

The Trust owned 0-6-0 locomotive No 40, an ex-NCB passenger tank engine built in 1954, is currently undergoing repairs to part of the inner firebox at the Midland Locomotive Works in Tylesley. These repairs and the subsequent reassembly, testing and recertification of the locomotive are targeted to be completed by July 15^th, thus we could have it available for the summer school holiday period.
The total cost including transport back to Weardale and reassembly etc is going to be in the order of £48,000. The Trust has already paid an initial sum of £6,650 and from its own resources and from the amount already raised from the members through the No 40 Appeal, can cover just over half of these costs when the bill falls due in June. 

But that still leaves a gap of £24,000 to find between now and June 2008. We will be conducting further campaigns during the spring and early summer at events on the line but one of our main sources of funds has been by the direct appeal to the members through the magazine and via the website. This has so far raised over £6,000. The gratifying response has been nationwide, with over 40% of the contributions coming from outside the region, and also including a donation from Holland. 

 So now here is your chance to help to have No 40 steaming again in July. Please give as generously as you can.

 All gifts over £10 will be acknowledged and the donor will receive a colour print of the loco in action in Weardale.

For gifts over £100 you will receive the above benefit plus recognition as a premium donor in the Trust magazine  ‘Between the Lines’.

For gifts over £500 you will receive the above benefits, recognised a Silver donor and receive a voucher for a footplate ride on No 40.

For gifts over £1000 you will receive all the above benefits, recognised as a Gold Donor and receive a pass valid for one year allowing free travel on the railway for yourself and three accompanying passengers.

Please remember if you are a taxpayer you can donate via Gift Aid, which increases the value to the Trust at no cost to you. Please indicate in the appropriate place on THIS FORM.

The Santa Special Season saw almost every run totally sold out as reported last time.
Here are some photos (Courtesy David Scott ) of the Santa trains on a very wintry and atmospheric 8^th of December. The photos show the Class 73 diesel which provided the haulage power and the Class 25 which provided the (very welcome) steam heating. The newly arrived maroon griddle car was a welcome addition to the 4 coach formation and provided a means of providing refreshments en route. Also shown are the Appalachian dancers ‘Step This Way’ performing on the platform at Stanhope station.

Just a reminder that the 141 will be operating every weekend through to March.

The Weardale Railway Junior Club now has its own website. Pay it a visit at www.wrjc.org.uk especially if you are under 15 and interested in helping out on the railway.