No. 40 in service:

As hoped, No. 40's first scheduled runs were during the weekend 11th & 12th July to coincide with the Classic Car Rally at Stanhope Station.

Pictures below courtesy of John Askwith.

No. 40 successfully completes trials.

On Friday No. 40 had its first run to Broadwood crossing and back without problems. Today it ran from the depot to Stanhope and back hauling 4 coaches. Inspections show that this trial run was also successful. No. 40 now requires some minor adjustments and completion of paintwork (lining and logos) before becoming available for scheduled services. It is hoped that No. 40's first scheduled runs will be over the weekend 11th & 12th July.

***Added July 9th***
It has been confirmed that No. 40 is now available for service and is scheduled to run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during August. Download a poster here.

Volunteer Recruitment - Saturday & Sunday 4^th & 5^th July.

From 10am to 4:30pm there will be a recruitment stand at Stanhope Station with volunteers in attendance to answer questions. If you are interested in becoming involved as either an adult volunteer or as a Junior Club member, please call by - you will be made very welcome.

The Weardale Railway Junior Club will also be running a fund raising stand offering ex GNER branded crockery and glassware which were donated by National Express East Coast, also available are a number of redundant station name signs from York station. Further details in "Snippets" area of main website.

** Network Rail plan to reconnect the Weardale Railway to the national network at Bishop Auckland that weekend **

Father's Day & Big Boys' Toys was extremely popular on Sunday.

Some of the "Toys" at Stanhope Station:

Photos courtesy J. Askwith

In Northumberland or Tyneside in the first week of August?
Why not consider a visit to the week-long Ponteland Summer Festival which includes some interesting railway-related features.

Read the press release here or download a poster here

Reminder for Sunday:

Steam to return this summer........ The refurbishment of the Trust's steam loco No. 40 is nearing completion. We hope to make the first steam test, loco only, between Wolsingham and Frosterley on 26^th June, then with a rake of coaches on 29^th June. If these test runs are satisfactory it is possible the Loco could make an appearance during the Classic Car event on the 12^th July. 
It is expected to be in regular service each Friday, Saturday & Sunday throughout August ....... Watch this space!

Bishop Auckland connection ...... Network Rail have indicated that they will reconnect the Weardale Railway to the national network on July 4^th. About 4000 sleepers and 2 level crossing then need to be replaced before the Railway inspector returns. We hope to have the entire line useable before winter.

Schools Competition for War on the Line: Wendy Elsdon our Volunteer Education Liaison Officer is organising an Art Competition to commemorate the sixty-five years since the Second World War D-Day Landings. It is open to children from local schools in Key Stage One and Key Stage Two, and based around “Life in the 1940’s”. The initial prize is an exclusive invite for 65 children (they are asked to dress in ‘40’s style clothing) to attend a Celebration Tea Party that will take place on the Saturday afternoon of the event at Stanhope Station. For details contact Wendy Elsdon   T: 01388 526641

Teddy Bears' Picnic weekend was a great success with the weather playing its part for once:

Loco hauled coaching stock ... will be in use every weekend throughout the summer (subject to availability). For now the rostered loco will be our class 73, seen on Broadwood Bridge above. Once it is available for use, steam loco No.40 will be the preferred traction for the special events. Weekday services will continue to use our 141 DMU.

Teddy Bears' Picnic:  

You can also see details of future 2009 special events by following the link from the Timetable page of the main website.

Steam Loco No. 40: 
Last week's light running test out on the line revealed one bearing running hot. Once this has been replaced, the testing can recommence. In the meantime, work continues on its paintwork.
The delay unfortunately means that No. 40 will not be available for work on the above Bank holiday weekend, though it is hoped to be in regular use by the summer school holiday period.

HMRI visit:
The inspection on Wednesday 13th was very positive. All works completed to date were commented on favourably. The next visit will be mid July. By then a team from RMS Locotec will have spent around a month at Weardale (principally correcting the Broken Banks landslip). By then Network Rail are also on schedule to complete the trackwork and signalling changes required to reconnect the Weardale line to the national network.

Timetable Change: There will be a visit by HM Railway Inspectorate next month in connection with our expansion plans. Unfortunately this means that services need to be cancelled on Wednesday 13^th May. Whilst we regret this late change it is unavoidable if we are to maintain our schedule to reconnect at Bishop Auckland by August.

Witton-le-Wear: The level crossing gates, previously derelict and overgrown, have now been replaced. Work on the signalling and control equipment continues.

Steam Loco No. 40: 
Full pressure (180psi) was raised on the 6^th April and the loco moved a short distance under its own steam. Then on 9^th April the official inspection took place with the loco again in steam – this was satisfactory and the loco is now cleared for use up to the end of October 2012.
Repainting of the loco in its final livery continues. The livery is to be BR lined black with additionally the Weardale Railway crest (colour version) flanked by letters ‘W’ and ‘R’ on each tank side, with ‘No 40’ on the bunker sides.  On Thursday and Friday the first of a series of running tests took place within depot limits. After further testing the loco will be handed over to the Company for its Fitness to Run examination, on completion of which it will be ready to enter service. It is hoped that this could be as soon as the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May.

Midweek running has now resumed. Also the Easter period will see trains running every day from 4^th to 19^th April inclusive.

There are a number of special attractions over the Easter weekend:

Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday 

Children’s Easter Bunny Hunt.  Free to enter, find all the bunnies and make a legend. Easter treat awarded to all completed entries with a chance to win Weardale Railway Rail Tickets for all entries. Names drawn on last train Easter Monday.
Card Making. Card making material available in the Waiting Room.
Model Railway.  Weardale Railway Junior Club will be opening their Model Railway on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday.

Easter Sunday: back by popular demand:

Cream Teas – a lovely selection of sandwiches and delicious homemade cakes served in a traditional manner on board our heritage griddle car. (Charge £3.50 per person)
Classic Car Rally: Join us at Stanhope Station from noon to see the cars of yesteryear arriving. The cars will be on display until the last train departs.

Trains:  Departing Wolsingham 10:30, 13:00, 15:30 and from Stanhope: 11:45, 14:15, 16:30. Tickets: Family and Rover Tickets available.

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.

Download a poster here.

Representatives from Network Rail recently met with Weardale Railway managers at Bishop Auckland to inspect the connection to the main network and agree on the work required to restore the line for through working. This will involve some work on the track and work on the circuitry linking the signalling and the points to the box at Shildon. Network Rail have undertaken to complete this work by the end of July.

The restoration of number 40 continues to make progress and with cab roof now in place it now looks like a steam engine. Work is continuing and the current plan is to have the locomotive ready for its boiler inspection on the 8^th of April. If this and other tests are satisfactory, the Trust will hand the locomotive to the Company for its Fitness to Run examination prior to its return to service.

Mothers Day special event: The Class 73 was operational for the special services on the 22^nd March and operated with the coaching stock and the griddle car where Kath Wood and her team provided cream teas etc to the family groups. The Juniors operated their ‘Stanham’ model railway, there was a miniature steam railway offering rides in the car park and in the waiting room  materials were provided for children to draw Mothers day cards. A good time was had by visitors as indicated by the feedback, however the weather was cold and overcast which meant we did not break attendance records.

Further information and photos can be found in "Supporters' Snippets" area of main site.

Activities for Mother’s Day, Sunday 22^nd March 2009....

....... a series of treats for Mothers on their special day. 

Come along with the family and Mum’s can travel for free. 
Whilst on board you will be able to treat her to a cream tea – a lovely selection of sandwiches and delicious homemade cakes served in a traditional manner on board in our buffet car. 
For the children, visit our Waiting Room at Stanhope Station and get the materials to make your Mum a very special card …. let your imagine run free. 

NEW  Simon’s Miniature Railway will also be running in Stanhope Station car park.

NEW  Visit our Junior Club’s Model Railway in the Education Room.

Trains run every 2 hours, the first departing Wolsingham Station at 10:30; and 11:30 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.

Why not make a day of it and take a walk along the river and around the town. The last train departs Stanhope Station at 3.30pm.

(You can download a poster here.)

"Part of a growing family....."

- Chicago meetings to review the 2008 performances of the various railways within the Iowa Pacific Family and the plans for 2009. The picture below was taken at Iowa Pacific's Chicago office.

Some links to transatlantic "sister" railways:

Mount Hood Railroad     Rio Grande Scenic Railroad    Copper Spike Railroad

Following from the last news entry............

Young rail enthusiasts' VIP trip:

Royal Naming of Peppercorn class A1 locomotive 60163 “Tornado”
Thursday 19^th February 2009
York Station

Two "Junior Club" stories courtesy of Northern Echo:

Young rail enthusiasts' VIP trip

Young rail enthusiasts from Weardale will rub shoulders with royalty on Thursday. 
Members of the Weardale Railway Junior Club have been invited behind the scenes at the official naming ceremony of steam locomotive Tornado at York Station, performed by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.

Youngsters will be granted access to restricted VIP areas, and watch the ceremony from front row seats.
David Million, who runs the club, broke the news to unsuspecting members during the group’s meeting at Stanhope Station on Friday evening. Mr Million said the youngsters were very excited to be attending the event, and added: "This is fantastic news, and it is something that they will all remember for the rest of their lives."

He thanked National Express East Coast, the British Transport Police, North Yorkshire Police and the royal household for arranging the opportunity. 
The new Peppercorn class A1 steam locomotive Tornado, was built by a group of volunteers in Darlington, and will pull the Royal Train containing Princes Charles and Camilla from York to Leeds.

Surplus GNER crockery on sale in Stanhope

GNER branded crockery leftover from the rail company’s rebrand is helping swell the coffers of a North East railway club.

Hundreds of glasses, plates and bowls bearing the GNER logo became surplus to requirements after the company relaunched as National Express East Coast in December 2007. The items were donated to the Weardale Railway Junior Club, based in Stanhope, County Durham, to help raise funds for the club and the steam locomotive No 40 restoration appeal. Their headquarters at Stanhope Station have been swamped with 4,000 wine glasses, around 400 plates, bowls, saucers and cups, and dozens of salt and pepper pots.

David Million, who runs the club, said some items would be kept for future use on dining trains proposed for between Weardale and Bishop Auckland, but the rest go on public sale next weekend. 
"We’ve had a fair bit of interest already from people wanting to reserve items, and made £400 from selling some wine glasses online," said Mr Million, who also works for National Express East Coast. 
Company spokesman John Gelson added: "We are pleased to support the Weardale Railway and its expansion plans because it’s good news for tourism in the region."

Mission Accomplished!
The track repairs/reconstruction have been completed and Bishop Auckland has been reached by the first Weardale train for 12 years.

The Wickham trolley was run the full length of the line to within sight of Bishop Auckland station on Tuesday 27^th January. On Board were: Graham Lord, Driver; Steve Race, Secondman;  Ed Ellis (Iowa Pacific President); Steve Raine, Duty Manager; Mark Westerfield; Todd Cecil; Mike Fairburn  and  Dave Payne. The trip went according to plan there were no problems. Volunteers monitored the crossings and several observers watched the progress of the train from vantage points along the route.  (Picture courtesy of Steve Gregory)

The Wickham at Bishop Auckland, B & Q in left background ; from left , Steve Race, Graham Lord, Todd Cecil, Steve Gregory, Mike Fairburn, Ed Ellis, Steve Raine and Dave Payne. 27/1 /2009

News Update 10 added to Supporters' Snippets.

Track Access to Bishop Auckland in 2 weeks?
Materials and equipment will be put in place early next week to fix the two biggest challenges we face in extending the operational railway :- the landslip at Broken Banks (between Escomb and Bishop Auckland) and the stretch of stolen track near Witton Park. The target is to have track access to Bishop Auckland by January 26^th.
Abattoir Crossing work underway : Another obstacle Between Witton le Wear and Wear Valley Junction was the concreting over of the busy  crossing connecting the Abattoir with the main road. Working in cooperation with Abattoir owner the crossing is now passable for train traffic and work on upgrading the road crossing will be carried out.

Santa season 2008: The Santa specials were a great success and planning is already underway for the 2009 Santa season. In 2008 we hoped for an increase in the region of 25 to 30% compared to 2007, but with the increase in visits from schools we have topped out at over 50%.

Fund Raising Event - Sale of surplus GNER Crockery & Glassware, Saturday 21^st & Sunday 22^nd February 2009, Stanhope Station, 10am – 4pm 

The Weardale Railway Junior Club have been donated a large quantity of genuine GNER glassware and crockery for use on the railway and also for fund raising purposes. 

GNER operated rail services on the East Coast Main Line until December 2007 when the franchise moved to National Express. This glassware and crockery was used on-board GNER services. Items will be made available to Trust members and members of the public at a fund raising event at Stanhope station on 21^st & 22^nd February 2009.  Items for sale include:- 

Glassware (bearing the GNER crest):

-          Tall tumblers (£5 each or 4 for £15)

-          Wine glasses (£7 each or 4 for £20)

Crockery (GNER branded & GNER “blue rim” style):

-          Cups & saucer set (£2.50 per set)

-          Small & large plates (£2 each)

-          Rectangle plates (£2 each)

-          Soup bowls (£2 each)

-          Pasta bowls (£2 each)

-          Salt & pepper sets (£2 per set)

-          Sugar bowls (£2 each)

-          Milk jugs (£2 each)

 Items are subject to availability.

 Proceeds from the sale will go towards Junior Club funds and the Weardale Railway Trust’s No 40 Appeal. Enquiries or advance reservations can be made by contacting the Junior Club on admin@wrjc.org.uk