Wensleydale Railway Rail Link Photos

Wensleydale Railway - Photo Archive

July 2020

Photographs

Due to the Coronavirus epidemic the railway has been closed, however over the last month volunteer work has been expanding and getting back to some semblance of normality. The contractor who was restoring Leeming Bar station house has completed their work funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The next stage will be the internal decoration and fittings. There are a few photos of the restoration here.

This month we have:-
1. The restoration of Leeming Bar Station House by the contractor is now complete and the scaffolding is now down. For photos showing the work so far see the dedicated restoration photo gallery.
2. Some more Pacer Units arrive on the line.
3. A couple of photos showing the state of the track prior to the weed killing being carried out.
4. The Weed Killing Unit Mk1 in operation along the line.
5. Some items found in the trackside undergrowth along the line.
6. Neil Guest sorting out the main electrical distribution board at Leeming Bar.
7. The new storage shed on Leeming Bar platform has been painted.
8. The Direct Works Team has been working at Scruton.
9. The Vegetation Group has been working at various places along the line.

There is also a dedicated photo gallery that shows more photos of the progress of the restoration. here

Ref - 6149

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Station House, Leeming Bar scaffolding gone. (27/07/2020)
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Ref - 6149

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Station House, Leeming Bar scaffolding gone. (27/07/2020)
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Ref - 6150

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Station House, Leeming Bar scaffolding gone. (27/07/2020)
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Ref - 6151

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Station House, Leeming Bar scaffolding gone. (27/07/2020)
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Ref - 6152

Photo - Andy Glendinning
New house martin nesting boxes under the eaves at Station House, Leeming Bar along with some untidy phone cabling which will hopefully be removed if it is undergrounded. (13/07/2020)
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Ref - 6153

Photo - Gordon Steadman
Another Pacer unit coming to the Wensleydale Railway. Seen here rounding the corner off the main line approaching Springwell Lane level crossing. (03/06/2020)
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Ref - 6154

Photo - Gordon Steadman
Another Pacer unit coming to the Wensleydale Railway. Seen here at Springwell Lane level crossing. (03/06/2020)
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Ref - 6155

Photo - Gordon Steadman
Another Pacer unit coming to the Wensleydale Railway. Seen here just past Springwell Lane level crossing and now on the Wensleydale line proper approaching Northallerton West. (03/06/2020)
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Ref - 6156

Photo - Gordon Steadman
Another Pacer unit coming to the Wensleydale Railway. Seen here making its way to Leeming Bar. A weed killing train in definitely needed as the track cannot be seen. (03/06/2020)
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Ref - 6157

Photo - Gordon Steadman
Another Pacer unit coming to the Wensleydale Railway. Seen here making its way to Leeming Bar. A weed killing train in definitely needed as the track cannot be seen. (03/06/2020)
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Ref - 6158

Photo - John Carter
On Monday I walked across the line on the footpath from Preston under Scar towards Bolton Hall - I'm sure it has a name but I don't know it - and took the two attached shots which show how nature has produced a superb flower display on our track. I would not fancy the job of weeding, hopefully we will be able to use a weed-killer train as and when we are able to resume. (13/07/2020)
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Ref - 6159

Photo - John Carter
On Monday I walked across the line on the footpath from Preston under Scar towards Bolton Hall - I'm sure it has a name but I don't know it - and took the two attached shots which show how nature has produced a superb flower display on our track. I would not fancy the job of weeding, hopefully we will be able to use a weed-killer train as and when we are able to resume. (13/07/2020)
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Ref - 6160

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Leyburn Tuesday, Weed killing unit Mk1. The spray bar was subsequently raised to give a more even spread. (28/07/2020)
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Ref - 6161

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Too windy on Tuesday to spray so the unit was moved to Redmire ready for an early start on Wednesday. (28/07/2020)
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Ref - 6162

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Wednesday. Spennithorne reload. Stop to transfer water from the blue drum to the weed killing tank on the back of the quad. (29/07/2020)
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Ref - 6163

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Thursday. Approaching Ainderby gates showing the need for weed killing on this section. (30/07/2020)
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Ref - 6164

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Thursday. With a 3.8m boom care had to be taken passing lineside obstructions (and the weeds). (30/07/2020)
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Ref - 6165

Photo - Alan Graham
It's amazing what you find in the undergrowth (1). These signals have long since indicated to their last train. Spotted by the vegetation team rotting away near Ainderby Steeple. (08/07/2020)
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Ref - 6166

Photo - Alan Graham
It's amazing what you find in the undergrowth (2). Though Constable Burton station was demolished decades ago, a short section of platform wall and an associated sign survive to say it was here once. (15/07/2020)
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Ref - 6167

Photo - Michael Metcalfe
A converted leaf blower been used as a stone blower on trial to pack under the sleepers whilst removing a twist on Preston bank. (06/07/2020)
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Ref - 6168

Photo - Mike Averis
Neil Guest at the Distribution Board sorting out the electrics at Leeming Bar (15/07/2020)
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Ref - 6169

Photo - Bob Coombs
Paul Kendall and Mike Pearey painting the new shed on Leeming Bar platform. (28/07/2020)
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Ref - 6170

Photo - Derek Bailey
The Front Gate on Scruton Platform removed for repair work by the Direct Works Team (29/07/2020)
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Ref - 6171

Photo - Derek Bailey
The Front Gate hinges packed on Scruton platform by the Direct Works Team (29/07/2020)
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Ref - 6172

Photo - Derek Bailey
The Front Gate rehung after the repair work by the Direct Works Team on Scruton platform (29/07/2020)
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Ref - 6173

Photo - Derek Bailey
The Gate closing post planed after repair work by the Direct Works Team on Scruton platform (29/07/2020)
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Ref - 6174

Photo - Joan Walker
Derek Bailey adjusting the front gate hinges at Scruton Station (29/07/2020)
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Ref - 6175

Photo - Derek Bailey
Bob Coombs cutting the grass behind Scruton Station (29/07/2020)
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Ref - 6176

Photo - Derek Bailey
Keith Walker painting the wood store guttering at Scruton station (29/07/2020)
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Ref - 6177

Photo - Derek Bailey
Bill Simmon sorting timber to repair the trolley decking at Scruton (29/07/2020)
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Ref - 6178

Photo - Joan Walker
Mike Averis installing a pelmet to hide the sliding door workings in Scruton Station Main Waiting Room (29/07/2020)
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Ref - 6179

Photo - Bob Coombs
Tug Lee stacking salvaged stone in the compound at Scruton station, ready for reuse. (29/07/2020)
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Ref - 6180

Photo - Alan Graham
The first job for the vegetation team in July was to remove willows blocking maintenance access to a culvert near Ainderby on the Northallerton stretch. Here we are setting up at start of day. (01/07/2020)
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Ref - 6181

Photo - Alan Graham
From the embankment top you can see the willows that have to go. There's a steep 15 foot slope and dense brambles out of sight which have to be cleared to gain safe access to the trunks. (01/07/2020)
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Ref - 6182

Photo - Alan Graham
While the chainsaw operators are seeing to the willows, other members of the vegetation team are removing giant thistles and Indian Balsam from the four foot. (01/07/2020)
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Ref - 6183

Photo - Alan Graham
Willows being removed by the vegetation team. The work is uncovering a deep pool at the bottom of the embankment. There's a culvert down there somewhere, that's leading in to the pool. (01/07/2020)
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Ref - 6184

Photo - Alan Graham
End of day and job done. The vegetation team wait to ensure that their fires have died down before leaving site. Maintenance teams can now gain access to the subterranean culvert for inspection. (01/07/2020)
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Ref - 6185

Photo - Alan Graham
Track patrols have identified tree damage to the wall of this underpass between Ainderby and Morton On Swale. Today's job is to clear the area of overhanging and problematic trees to prevent further damage. (08/07/2020)
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Ref - 6186

Photo - Alan Graham
Some trees just grow in the wrong place. Here a member of the vegetation team takes down the worst of of the offending specimens to be converted in to logs. (08/07/2020)
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Ref - 6187

Photo - Alan Graham
The extreme gardeners have cleared both sides of the underpass from dense vegetation that was damaging the walls. Just some tidying up to do now. (08/07/2020)
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Ref - 6188

Photo - Alan Graham
The vegetation team tidying up at end of day. The colour of the sky gives a clue to what happened next. Having just made it back to the cars the sultry hot sunshine gave way to torrential storms. (08/07/2020)
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Ref - 6189

Photo - Alan Graham
And so to Constable Burton for the latter part of the month. The vegetation team's job now is to clear an embankment near to the old station site in preparation for a temporary Polar Express platform. (15/07/2020)
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Ref - 6190

Photo - Alan Graham
This is the passing loop in the woods at Constable Burton, pictured on the morning that the vegetation team arrived to begin clearance work for the Polar Express Halt. (15/07/2020)
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Ref - 6191

Photo - Alan Graham
The vegetation team ferrying equipment during their work at Constable Burton. (22/07/2020)
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Ref - 6192

Photo - Alan Graham
The same view a fortnight later. Overhanging trees in the far distance have been removed. There's still plenty to do and the job is continuing but it's already beginning to look tidier. (29/07/2020)
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