• COLAS LOCO NAMING CEREMONY AT STANHOPE : Representatives of the Weardale Railway, UK Coal, Colas and Durham County Council joined together on the platform at Stanhope station on the second of August to commemorate the launching of the freight trains from Wolsingham, by naming one of the locomotives which haul the coal to steelworks and power stations. The trains are hauled by freight operator Colas, who use Canadian built Class 66’s. each train can haul 1,200 tonnes of coal, the equivalent of 40 lorry loads. The locomotive name : ‘Wylam Dilly’ was chosen by pupils of Wolsingham School and Community College and it was first used on an engine on one of the world’s pioneer steam colliery railways at Wylam in Northumberland in 1813. The full ceremony including the naming, the speeches and the departure from Stanhope can be viewed on Youtube at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqb5xPNCZKo

Colas Class 66, No 66849, with two coal hoppers standing in the  platform at Stanhope prior to the naming ceremony on 2nd August                                                                 ( Photo : Peter Baker)	WR Trust Chairman David Scott addressing the guests at the station, speaking on behalf of Trust members and volunteers.                                                                                 (Photo : Ruth Carroll )

• WR VOLUNTEERS AWARDED DCC CHAIRMAN’S MEDAL : The DCC Chairman’s Medal is awarded to individuals, groups and organisations throughout County Durham to recognise achievement and outstanding effort. Councillor Dennis Morgan presented the Medal to the volunteers of the Weardale Railway as part of the Class 66 naming ceremony on August 2nd. "Weardale Railway is a success story that warms the heart of everyone especially those involved in getting it up and running. Top of this list is the volunteers - whose dedication has literally clawed this line back from grassroots level to the high quality we can all witness today" The medal was received by Youth Team member Daniel Brown.

• FOOTNOTE : EXCURSIONS TO EASTGATE : In the last issue we referred to excursions from Darlington to Eastgate in 1977/78. The Editor is reminded by reader Paul Kenyon that there were further similar trips in 1987 as part of the ‘Darlington Station Centenary’ celebrations. The price by then had increased from £2 return in 1978 to £4 return in 1987. There was an item about this and a photograph of a ticket in Newsletter Number 28 , November 2009.

   

• NEW BUS SERVICE LINKS WR TO ALSTON : As from August 6th and until October 2nd a bus service is being operated on Saturdays and Sundays between Stanhope and Alston Railway stations. This is a Tourism Transport Project pilot scheme and is a partnership between Durham County Council, North Pennines AONB, Weardale Railway, Killhope: North of England Lead Mining Museum and Weardale Community Transport. The pilot scheme will offer visitors arriving in the area via rail, coach, bike or foot, the chance to visit attractions throughout this very rural area, without bringing a car. There are three return services each day timed to provide optimum train connections. Durham County Council’s economic regeneration team submitted the funding bid to North Pennines Leader and helped co-ordinate the development of the project and timetable. David Million, General Manager of Weardale Railway said: "We are very happy to be involved in this pilot project to help develop and sustain tourism in Weardale." An adult return ticket to Alston is £3, children cost £1.50 and a family ticket is £8. The full timetable is here. Connections are also shown in the latest (August20) WR Timetable.

WR Youth Team member Daniel Brown receives the Chairman’s  Medal from Cllr Morgan on behalf of the Trust volunteers.                                                    (Photo : Ruth Carroll)	Representatives of the Railway, Colas and UK Coal with Cllr Morgan  and a name badge which will be auctioned for charity.                                                   (Photo : Ruth Carroll )
Service 100 : Stanhope Station to Alston Station  – the launch  of the new Community Minibus by the  partners in this Tourism Transport Project                                      ( Photo : N Pennines AONB)	First of a number of photos in this edition to illustrate  progress on the new layout at Bishop Auckland shows  a works train on August 12th delivering materials.                                        ( Photo : Alistair Gregory)

• BISHOP AUCKLAND STATION PLATFORMS -FUNDING FOR A DIRECT FOOTPATH The present roundabout route between the Northern Rail and Weardale platforms will be replaced by a direct footpath now that both the complex land issues have been solved and also that Durham County Council have confirmed they will allocate funding for the joining footpath. The grant will cover all materials, labour provisions and installation of lighting for this element of the work to be carried out at Bishop Auckland . Thanks to Andrea Davidson, Marketing Manager for this item.

   

• BISHOP AUCKLAND : WORKS PROGRESS : As photographs throughout this edition show, considerable progress is being made on the new layout and platform at Bishop Auckland. Laying out of the new siding commenced last month and the siding is now long enough to accommodate the shunting required to transfer the steam loco from the east end of the coaches to the west end for the return trip utilising an 08 shunter to assist. Work is now proceeding to extend the siding to the new platform, which is also under construction. When completed the existing temporary platform on the main through line will be removed and trains will operate to the new platform alongside the siding. Completion of these works is expected in October and the new platform should be ready for use sometime in the following month after testing and commissioning.

August 18th : a view looking west towards Latherbrush Bridge,  mainline on left, work on new siding underway.                                               ( Both photos : Trevor Horner )	August 20th : No 40 has arrived at Bishop Auckland West  while work commences on the new platform which will  be made from pre formed concrete sections.
While we await the new platform at Bishop Auckland attention turned to the existing temporary wood platform which had become a victim of the recent wet weather which caused the wood surface to delaminate Over 2 days members of the Junior Club and Youth Team carried out emergency repairs under the supervision of David Million, General Manager, replacing the damaged surface with new boards and then generally giving the station a tidy up, including the cutting back of vegetation at the station entrance. This platform will be decommissioned and used elsewhere.                                                                                                                                                               (Photos and item : David Million.)

• WR MAJORITY OWNER SELLS US RAILWAY FOR $90 MILLION : Iowa Pacific (IP) which through BARS owns 75% of the Weardale Railway has agreed to sell the Arizona Eastern Railway to another US company for $90.1 million in cash . IP purchased the severely run down line in 2004 and worked with all stakeholders to improve track and bridge conditions, and to develop additional freight business for the line and purchased an additional nearby line. As a result of these actions traffic grew considerably. Ed Ellis, President of IPH, said, "We are grateful to the hard working men and women of AZER for their diligence and creativity in assisting us with the turnaround of this important rail property in Eastern Arizona.We are confident that Genesee and Wyoming will take AZER to the next level of service." The full text of the Press Release is given at the end of this Newsletter – which has included several news items on this railway in earlier editions.

DATUM POST NOW IN PLACE AT STANHOPE : Trevor Hewitt reports : "Datum Posts were a classic feature of all NER stations and can  still be seen in some places. They were used to mark the central points, in milepost mileage terms, of passenger stations and some junctions.  This particular post was donated by a Mr. E. Scarlett who now lives in Huntington, Yorkshire but grew up in the Wear Valley and has been  watching the progress of our railway with interest. The original siting of the post isn't known. The post was installed by John Wardell  and myself."
A concrete slab was placed on the line just east of the  Wolsingham Station on the 31st July. It was spotted  by Staff. See item below.	BARS affiliate DCR’s Class 31 -5613 on a crew training run on August 24th,  seen here at Darlington it also visited Grosmont before returning to Derby.                                                                        (Photo : Alistair Gregory)

• VANDALISM STRIKES AGAIN : Summertime sees a rise in railway vandalism on the railway network and it seems the Weardale Railway is no exception. A large concrete slab was placed on the line near Wolsingham station on Sunday, 31 July. The incident was reported to police at 09:35 after a member of rail staff saw the slab on the track near Wolshingham train station. PC Ryan Griffiths, the investigating officer, said: "Luckily the obstruction was spotted by a member of rail staff prior to a train travelling on the line which was extremely fortunate. Those who think that placing objects on the tracks is fun or a game should consider the consequences of their actions. In recent weeks we have noticed an increase in reports of incidents on the railway in this area. The Weardale railway is now used for freight services, in addition to being used as a tourist line, which has resulted in an increase in the number of trains travelling on this stretch of railway. "I would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time or who can help identify those responsible to contact us urgently."

• BRIDGE 15 (NEAR WOLSINGHAM DEPOT): WORK PROGRESSES :Trevor Horner reports : A site meeting was held at Bridge 15 with Environment Agency representatives and a modified Method Statement of the proposed works was agreed in principle. The whole scheme is now being spread to three phases up to 2013, with the time window for completion of the first phase being extended to the end of September 2011. We await a visit from a Tyne Rivers Trust expert to give guidance on how to develop the river flow pattern so as to minimize scour and encourage deposition of material under the eastern span. Preliminary vegetation clearance work to enable access is expected to start following the Bank Holiday, with site works to commence the following week. Large stone block rock armour is to be sourced from the Newlandside Quarry.

• MORRIS MINOR CLUB RALLY HELD AT STANHOPE : Ruth Carroll reports : "Despite the inclement weather everybody enjoyed themselves at the Morris Minor Rally. The members arrived to camp on the field on Friday and the last people left on the Monday morning. The field was set up ready by members of the Junior Club and the Youth Team with assistance from Munro Odell. People came from far and wide to ride on the train and view the cars. There was a gentleman in a disabled buggy and his wife who came from Seaton Sluice. He rode on the train to Bishop Auckland and then he viewed the cars before returning home. The Morris Minor Club held a raffle and a tombola. The monies raised from this will go to Alzeihemer Research."

Some of the vehicles lined up for display at the Morris Minor  Club Rally at Stanhope Station on August 21st                                                                                (Photo : Ruth Carroll)	The Junior Club and Youth Team members with the Mayor  of Bishop Auckland to receive his donation to the Club.                                               ( Photo : David Million)

• MAYOR OF BISHOP AUCKLAND SUPPORTS WR JUNIOR CLUB : David Million reports : The Mayor of Bishop Auckland recently made a donation of £480 to the Junior Club and Youth Team for the purchase of uniform and safety clothing and as a result all members have now received brand new Weardale Railway branded rail specification high visibility safety vests. The donation allowed the purchase to take place without drawing upon limited club funds. A press photo shoot took place at Bishop Auckland West station with an article appearing in the Northern Echo on Friday 26th August.

From a slightly different viewpoint, No 40 crosses Etherley viaduct  on August 20th                                           ( Photo : Kevin Chester)	No 40 again on a test run on August 28th passes the editor’s  lineside caravan at the Kingfisher Park near Frosterley                                              (Photo : Marilyn Mudd )

• RAILWAY SERVICE TO WOLSINGHAM AND STANHOPE SHOWS : After the successful trials last year the Railway will operate to a special temporary platform at both the Wolsingham (September 3rd and 4th) and Stanhope (September 10th and 11th ) shows. The Timetable for these days is here. Note that in order to operate a more intensive service using both DMU’s there will be no Heritage services on these four days.

   

• RENOVATION PLANS FOR THE GUN BARREL SHED : This Grade II-listed shed was built in 1864 by the Wolsingham Iron Works and was part of the original steelworks in the village. It stands on WR leased land in the Depot area. The idea is to turn the building, which is currently used for storage and is in a poor state of repair, into a large workshop with viewing platforms where visitors can watch the engines and carriages being worked on. Andrea Davidson, WR Marketing Manager said "This is a building of huge historical significance and we want to celebrate that instead of letting it deteriorate further." Phil Ball, from Leisure Consultancy Ltd, worked on Locomotion, the National Railway Museum in Shildon and has been enlisted to help with fund raising for the gun shed project. The shed was home to machines that made gun barrels for Royal Navy ships before and during the First World War. German engineer Axel Huttinger visited the huge shed this week to assess the feasibility of the scheme. Mr Huttinger said: "This is an impressive building with massive potential. "Its location and the history associated with it and the area makes it a captivating project."

Photo miscellany 1 : Left : No 40 on its evening test run to Bishop Auckland after repairs on August 17th.(A Gregory).                                          Centre : Axel Huttinger and Mike Fairburn. BARS General Manager, inside the Gun Barrel Shed – see item above. ( K Taylor).                               Right : Munro Odell, Stanhope Station Supervisor, has a 66th Birthday trip on the Class 66 from Wolsingham to Shildon on August 15th ( D Butler).
Photo Miscellany 2 : Left : On 20th July Stanhope station was invaded by a group of artists. A general invitation was taken up to paint and  draw the railway and everyone loved it! David Scott the Controller for the day was amazed at the good standard of pictures produced,  but even more amazed at the enthusiasm the group showed for the railway and the variety of subjects and scenes available to draw.  Many of the artists promised to return to do additional work.                                                                                            ( D Scott) Right : Two of the new concrete platform support members in place at Bishop Auckland. The platform will extend past the first (red edged)  building on the left. Beyond is the B & Q (orange) building and the Network Rail platform.                           (Photo : T Horner)

• THANK YOU AND A REQUEST : Ruth Carroll, Volunteer Co-ordinator writes : "I would like to say a big thank you to all the people who took part in last weekend including the Morris Minor Event. It was a long weekend but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. If anyone is interested in helping out at the War on The Line Event on 17th and 18th September or in the setting up beforehand feel free to email me at rcarroll@britamrail.com

No 40 returned to service on August 20th , here are two photos from John Lewins taken on the 21st with the train making a  spirited start on its 15 mile run to Stanhope. Essential to our ability to run to Bishop Auckland has been the provision of a  water tower. No 40 can be seen being watered in the right hand photo.

• WAR ON THE LINE : Full details are awaited, however associated with this event and on the previous weekend the New Victoria Centre in Howden le Wear has sent us the following information : In conjunction with Weardale Railway’s ‘War on the Line’ event, the NETOA presents ‘WAR-BLITZ-ER’, a nostalgic evening of film and music from the Second World War years. Following the success of last year’s event, we present a trip down memory lane on Saturday, 10 September at 7.00pm, including the superb vocal talents of ‘Spot On’. It’s an event not to be missed, so be sure to book early! Tickets are available from David Kirkbride on 01388 762 467. When available details of the main ‘War on the Line’ event on the weekend of the 17th and 18th September will be posted on this website.

Weed Spraying : WR Style : A little later this year due to all the other infrastructure work for the freight traffic.  On the left the team on Etherley viaduct on the 7th August , l- r Mike Mitchell, Mike Smith, James Piercy,  Donald Heath and John Mitchell. On the right at Unthank, heading up to Eastgate with John and James Mitchell.  The work was completed the following weekend.       Both photos by the other member of the team : John Lewins.
Bishop Auckland West Mark II : Two more pictures as the work proceeds. On the left taken by Alistair Gregory on the 22nd August and on the right  by Class 66 driver Cameron Tye as he passes with the empties from Scunthorpe on the 24th August. The platform will be directly in front of the  Royal Mail building and the path mentioned elsewhere in this Newsletter will run from the platform end directly to the Network Rail platform.
Finally a fine location shot from John Lewins, No 40 heading back to Stanhope, just past the Engineman’s Terrace Crossing.  Taken on the 21st August. On the right is the completed but not yet officially opened extension of the Durham County Council  footpath alongside the line on land leased from the Railway.

• THE WEARDALE MUSEUM : Your editor strayed from the Railway recently as far as the Weardale Museum in Ireshopburn and thoroughly enjoyed the visit to this excellent Museum of Dale history wand which also includes an excellent section on the Railway in Weardale. A recent piece in the local press noted a fall in visitor numbers which was attributed to the rise in petrol prices. A visit is highly recommended. Until 2nd October 2011 the Museum will be open Wednesdays to Fridays between 2pm and 5pm and also between 10.15am to 5pm on Saturdays and 11.15am to 5pm on Sundays to coincide with the timings of the Weardale Community Transport from Stanhope Station and Alston.

• NEW LAYOUT AT BISHOP AUCKLAND : Donald Heath Reports : With the laying in of the new connection and the installation of the groundframe at Latherbrush bridge (Bishop Auckland), the Project Connect gang have made a start on the provision of the facilities that are required to make the Weardale railway a separate entity from the national network but joined to it by a connecting line which will only be used by trains passing between the two railways. The new connection, currently, has some 50 yards of track joined to it which, temporarily, provides a holding siding for a locomotive. (In due course the siding will be extended to run behind the platform of our existing Bishop Auckland West station so as to serve a new, longer platform constructed from concrete units.) This, together with the provision of a water tank, has created the position where it is now possible to run a steam hauled heritage train to Bishop Auckland and, with the help of a shunting locomotive already in the siding, to run the steam engine round its train. After taking water the train can then return to Stanhope.

Ron Enticott on the footplate of No 40 on August 29th with driver  Norman Swindle. Ron was one of the pioneers in the early days  -see news item below.                                                                                             ( Photo :Ruth Carroll and John Haregeaves.)	Operations Manager Donald Heath observing a coal empties pass  over Witton le Wear Crossing on its way to Wolsingham                                                          ( Photo : Steve Bissell)

• MORE OPERATIONS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED : After the initial experience of simultaneously running heritage steam, community Diesel and freight trains on the Railway, Operations Manager, Donald Heath makes the following appeal : "The biggest problem area operationally is finding enough of the "right people" to cover all of the slots in the roster. By "right people" I mean persons who are qualified to carry out the relevant tasks. If you would like to become involved with Operations please let Ruth Carroll know so that she can induct you into the system and start your training. To those of you who are qualified please look at the gaps in the roster and see if you can not possibly find the time to do an extra duty: if you can then please let me know."

• No 40 FOOTPLATE RIDE FOR PIONEER CONTRIBUTOR : A special visitor to the railway over the Bank Holiday Weekend was Ron Enticott who was involved with the railway in it's formative years on the administrative side. Ron, who lives in southern England, also made a very generous donation towards the purchase of No. 40 so he was thrilled to be given a cab ride on the locomotive. He had travelled on the line before but only on the 141 between Stanhope and Wolsingham. He appreciated the amount of work which had gone into opening up the extra 10 miles to Bishop Auckland and hopefully enjoyed being given a history lesson of the line as he travelled. Ron certainly learned something about how steam engines functioned, oiling, watering, run round procedures and he even used the shovel to put coal on the fire. He had seen No. 40 running on the short Colne Valley Railway prior to the purchase of the loco but it was a different experience on Weardale's 16 miles. What was particularly pleasing was that No. 40 steamed so well and performed without a hitch. A day Ron is sure to remember for a long time. Thanks to driver Norman Swindle for this item.

Edited by Gerry Mudd, with thanks to all contributors – As ever all contributions, photographic or otherwise are welcome as are comments and suggestions.

Chicago – August 1, 2011 – Iowa Pacific Holdings, LLC (IPH) has agreed to sell the Arizona Eastern Railway Company (AZER) to Genesee and Wyoming Inc. (NYSE:GWR) in a cash transaction of $90.1 million subject to post-closing adjustments.

AZER was chartered in 1895 as the Gila Valley, Globe and Northern, and was constructed between Bowie and Miami, AZ, about 133 miles. In the last two decades of the 20th Century, it changed hands several times, and when IPH purchased it in 2004, it was in severely deteriorated condition. IPH worked with all stakeholders to improve track and bridge conditions, and to develop additional freight business for the line. In 2008, AZER purchased an additional line between Clifton, AZ and Lordsburg NM, and connected through trackage rights over the Union Pacific Railroad (NYSE:UNP) to the original Bowie line with all stakeholders to improve track and bridge conditions, and to develop additional freight business for the line. has grown dramatically, track speeds have increased, and there has been a significant reduction in derailments and a corresponding improvement in other safety metrics.

Ed Ellis, President of IPH, said, "We are grateful to the hard working men and women of AZER for their diligence and creativity in assisting us with the turnaround of this important rail property in Eastern Arizona. We also acknowledge the instrumental contributions of the major customer, Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold, toward the rehabilitation of the track and bridges. We are confident that GWR will take Arizona Eastern to the next level in service and condition of the physical plant, and are pleased to hand the reins to GWR." IPH is a privately-held operator of freight and passenger shortline railroads in the US and UK.