Wensleydale Railway - Photo Archive


January 2020
Photographs
This month we have:-
1. More photos of last month's Polar Express.
2. Photos from the Bedale Station Support Group.
3. The Works Train doing some ballasting runs and moving some coaches to the Leyburn loop.
4. The Infrastructure Team in action.
5. The Vegetation Team in action

Ref - 5726
Photo - Richard Pheby
The S160 Locomotive on the Polar Express approaching Crakehall level crossing (01/12/2019)
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Ref - 5726
Photo - Richard Pheby
The S160 Locomotive on the Polar Express approaching Crakehall level crossing (01/12/2019)
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Ref - 5727
Photo - Richard Pheby
A beautiful red evening sky from Crakehall level crossing whilst on Polar Express duties (01/12/2019)
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Ref - 5728
Photo - Richard Pheby
The S160 Locomotive on Polar Express duties at Leeming Bar (07/12/2019)
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Ref - 5729
Photo - Richard Pheby
One of the new platform lights at Leeming Bar decorated for the Polar Express (07/12/2019)
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Ref - 5730
Photo - Richard Pheby
The interior of the Polar Express exit marquee (07/12/2019)
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Ref - 5731
Photo - Richard Pheby
Stalls in the forecourt of the Polar Express experience at Leeming Bar (07/12/2019)
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Ref - 5732
Photo - Richard Pheby
The S160 locomotive resting in the yard at Leeming Bar between duties (08/12/2019)
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Ref - 5733
Photo - Richard Pheby
A beautiful late afternoon sky at Crakehall level crossing during Polar Express duties (08/12/2019)
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Ref - 5734
Photo - Richard Pheby
The S160 locomotive with the Polar Express (08/12/2019)
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Ref - 5735
Photo - Richard Pheby
The Polar Express (08/12/2019)
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Ref - 5736
Photo - Richard Pheby
The Polar Express near Bedale (taken from the bypass) (13/12/2019)
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Ref - 5737
Photo - Richard Pheby
The Polar Express near Bedale (taken from the bypass) (13/12/2019)
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Ref - 5738
Photo - Andy Crawford
Bedale station roof undergoing repair work to eliminate leaks. (01/01/2020)
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Ref - 5739
Photo - Andy Crawford
Bedale station roof undergoing repair work to eliminate leaks. (--/01/2020)
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Ref - 5740
Photo - Andy Crawford
We have been aware for some time that there appears to be a general lack of awareness amongst many Bedale and Aiskew residents even of the existence of the railway, after all the crossing is easy to miss (not!). Come to the rescue local resident and fellow WRA(T) member Ian Mawson. He has very kindly developed and funded a number of advertising stands/timetable holders and has persuaded six locations across Bedale to host them, including those with a particularly high footfall. (--/01/2020)
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Ref - 5741
Photo - Andy Crawford
The Bedale Station Support Group having their post-christmas dinner. (21/01/2020)
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Ref - 5742
Photo - Andy Chapman
Around 70 Tonnes of Ballast was loaded up at Redmire into 3 ballast wagons, including the recently refurbished Seacow. The train then moved to Middlefields - Stoop House Bridge and the ballast dropped across the site. (27/01/2020)
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Ref - 5743
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
37250 at Harmby on way to Middlefields/Stoop House for the 2nd ballast drop. (27/01/2020)
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Ref - 5744
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Ballast train at Bridge 21 Stoop House. (27/01/2020)
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Ref - 5745
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
A good stream of ballast coming out near Bridge 21 Stoop House. (27/01/2020)
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Ref - 5746
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Andy Chapman in charge of the ballast dropping - just trickling out now. (27/01/2020)
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Ref - 5747
Photo - Andy Glendinning
Combined works train and empty coaching stock delivery working.
Setting back to drop excess stone from Leeming Bar. (27/01/2020)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 5748
Photo - Andy Glendinning
Because of the cant (slope) the stone didn't end up exactly where it was supposed to. (27/01/2020)
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Ref - 5749
Photo - Andy Glendinning
Cue lots of shovelling to get it down behind the sleeper wall on the right. Ex Spennithorne Station on the left behind the tree branch. (27/01/2020)
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Ref - 5750
Photo - Andy Glendinning
The original builders futureproofed their railway by constructing Stoop House Bridge to accept double track in the hope that in the future as traffic increased they could add a second line. In the event this never happened and it has always been single track here. (27/01/2020)
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Ref - 5751
Photo - Andy Glendinning
An indication of the number of trees cut down by the Infrastructure Team to clear this section of line and open up the views. (27/01/2020)
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Ref - 5752
Photo - Andy Glendinning
37250 pauses to be admired in the sun just west of ex Spennithorne Station. (27/01/2020)
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Ref - 5753
Photo - Andy Glendinning
Secondman's view of Ord and Maddison Bridge west of Leyburn. Again constructed for double track although here the quarry sidings branched off right. (27/01/2020)
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Ref - 5754
Photo - Andy Glendinning
Propelling the empty coaches into Leyburn Loop. (27/01/2020)
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Ref - 5755
Photo - Andy Glendinning
Ballast wagons dropped off in the sidings at Redmire and a coach to pick up. Of course it was the further blue/grey one which entailed shunting the blood and custard one out of the way. (27/01/2020)
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Ref - 5756
Photo - Andy Glendinning
Snowdrops on the embankment between Stoop House Bridge and ex Spennithorne Station (27/01/2020)
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Ref - 5757
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
A view from B21 Stoop House towards Bedale showing the ballast dropped been shovelled in readiness of a tamper doing the business shortly. (29/01/2020)
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Ref - 5758
Photo - Andy Chapman
A photo shows the newly dropped ballast spread out near stoop house bridge. (29/01/2020)
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Ref - 5759
Photo - Andy Chapman
A Reoccurring dip in the track at 8m 52ch was jacked and packed over a 30ft panel by the Infrastructure Team. Cross level checks were carried out before and after the lift. In the worst places we had to lift the track 40mm to regain some sort of line. Here you can see the track before work started. (08/01/2020)
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Ref - 5760
Photo - Andy Chapman
A Reoccurring dip in the track at 8m 52ch was jacked and packed over a 30ft panel by the Infrastructure Team. Cross level checks were carried out before and after the lift. In the worst places we had to lift the track 40mm to regain some sort of line. Here you can see the track now fit for traffic to run at line speed, with all twists removed. (08/01/2020)
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Ref - 5761
Photo - Andy Chapman
The Infrastructure Team doing vegetation clearance. View at the start of the day (10/01/2020)
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Ref - 5762
Photo - Andy Chapman
The Infrastructure Team doing vegetation clearance. View at the end of the day (10/01/2020)
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Ref - 5763
Photo - Nigel Cockburn
Further tree clearance by the Infrastructure Team continued on both the North and south sides just west of Spennithorne station. Here you can see Andy Chapman in action (15/01/2020)
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Ref - 5764
Photo - Andy Chapman
Further tree clearance continued on both the North and south sides just west of Spennithorne station. (15/01/2020)
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Ref - 5765
Photo - Andy Chapman
Further tree clearance continued on both the North and south sides just west of Spennithorne station. (15/02/2020)
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Ref - 5766
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Leyburn gang felling trees at B29 Ord & Maddisons towards B28. The sun is just not quite hitting the track yet but another month and it will. Fencing on the right is been attended to as we move along, but some trees are growing up around the fence line. (20/01/2020)
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Ref - 5767
Photo - Andy Chapman
Views available across Middlefields and stoop house area now that the Infrastructure Team have removed a lot of lineside vegetation. (22/01/2020)
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Ref - 5768
Photo - Andy Chapman
Views available across Middlefields and stoop house area now that the Infrastructure Team have removed a lot of lineside vegetation. (22/01/2020)
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Ref - 5769
Photo - Andy Glendinning
The Infrastructure team carrying out seemingly never ending vegetation clearance between ex Spennithorne Station and A684 Traffic Light Bridge. (25/01/2020)
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Ref - 5770
Photo - Andy Glendinning
Slowly getting there by the Infrastructure Team. Ex Spennithorne Station in the right background. (25/01/2020)
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Ref - 5771
Photo - Andy Chapman
West of Spennithorne, the Infrastructure Team continued with tree clearance continued on the south side heading towards the A684 bridge. A view at the start of the day (25/01/2020)
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Ref - 5772
Photo - Andy Chapman
West of Spennithorne, the Infrastructure Team continued with tree clearance continued on the south side heading towards the A684 bridge. A view at the end of the day (25/01/2020)
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Ref - 5773
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
More tree clearance on the approach to Bridge 22 (A684 Traffic light). Again the sun is just hitting the edge of one rail. (29/01/2020)
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Ref - 5774
Photo - Alan Graham
The vegetation team's first Wednesday visit of the New Year was to the Northallerton stretch, here working near the bridge over the Yafforth to Romanby road at Castle Hills. (08/01/2020)
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Ref - 5775
Photo - Alan Graham
The vegetation team working at Castle Hills. The line curves to the west in the distance, beyond which lie the points where the branch joins the east coast main line. (08/01/2020)
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Ref - 5776
Photo - Alan Graham
Finished at Castle Hills the vegetation team ended the day at Yafforth, ensuring as before that overhanging branches are clear of traffic. Here the team let the bonfire die down before heading home. (08/01/2020)
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Ref - 5777
Photo - Alan Graham
For the rest of January the vegetation team moved to the west of Leyburn. In this start of day image, the scale of the overgrowth can be seen on the right; too close for comfort. (15/01/2020)
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Ref - 5778
Photo - Alan Graham
Apart from clearing our route, the vegetation team also restored the views for a couple living alongside the line. Their views went from this... (22/01/2020)
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Ref - 5779
Photo - Alan Graham
...to this. To say they were overjoyed would be an understatement. Offering everything from hot tea flasks to loos if needed, they couldn't have been more helpful nor grateful. (22/01/2020)
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Ref - 5780
Photo - Alan Graham
Looking west, the vegetation team's work for February lies in the distance. The bridge ahead carries the A684 between Wensley and Leyburn. (29/01/2020)
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Ref - 5781
Photo - Alan Graham
The worst jobs for the vegetation team may be hacking out brambles and sharp stuff as here (left). The better jobs might be removing the bigger stuff for logs (right). (29/01/2020)
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Ref - 5782
Photo - Alan Graham
January's weather has been kind and the vegetation team can look back on a good month's work as here, viewing east towards Leyburn. Just a little tidying up to do before leaving... (29/01/2020)
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Ref - 5783
Photo - Alan Graham
Hard to believe that this whole area was covered in brambles, hawthorn and trees at the start of 2020, the track being invisible. What the vegetation team have achieved in January. (29/01/2020)
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Ref - 5784
Photo - Alan Graham
The vegetation team's track trolley, end of day 29/1/20. These little trolleys are pushed for miles, without them the work could be largely impossible. (29/01/2020)
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