Ref - 6500

Photo - Unknown Photographer

Rishi Sunak (our MP) recently paid a visit to the railway. Seen here viewing the coach restoration work. He said -
"The Wensleydale Railway is an important part of our local tourism industry.
I recently saw what the volunteers and staff have been doing to prepare this beautiful heritage line for re-opening – when that is possible. The work on the track, rolling stock and making the railway Covid-safe has been assisted by a £90,000 grant from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.
Good to meet the railway’s apprentice Alex Lomax who showed me two of the railway’s carriages now being refurbished.
Let’s hope it’s full steam ahead for the railway soon." (--/12/2020)

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Ref - 6501

Photo - Alan Graham

Having mentioned I had pictures of the BBC using Finghall station when filming All Creatures Great and Small, some have asked if I'd put them on the monthly compendium so let me take you back to March 1988. (--/03/1988)

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Ref - 6502

Photo - Alan Graham

Apologies if the picture quality isn't as good as usual; digital cameras weren't then available and fiddling with old negatives to convert them to digital images can sometimes be a bit tricky too.
Filming All Creatures Great and Small at Finghall. (--/03/1988)

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Ref - 6503

Photo - Alan Graham

As the branch was only open to limestone trains running Monday to Friday and no passengers had alighted here since 1954, filming was done on a Saturday and suitable signs and posters etc were put in place.
Filming All Creatures Great and Small at Finghall. (--/03/1988)

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Ref - 6504

Photo - Alan Graham

Because no trains were available the BBC added steam train sound effects and a bloke using a machine with an extendable hose stood in the four foot blowing steam around the actors' feet.
Filming All Creatures Great and Small at Finghall. (--/03/1988)

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Ref - 6505

Photo - Alan Graham

The big projector screen had something to do with increasing the lighting available though I'm not sure how it worked. A big searchlight was trained on to it.
Filming All Creatures Great and Small at Finghall. (--/03/1988)

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Ref - 6506

Photo - Alan Graham

Perhaps you might recognise Callum Buchannan (grey coat on the left). He played the part of the vet with the badger, and many other wild creatures, much to his boss Siegfried's disapproval in the series.
Filming All Creatures Great and Small at Finghall. (--/03/1988)

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Ref - 6507

Photo - Alan Graham

Here is Siegfried Farnon (Robert Hardy) wearing the hat. My wife got in to the picture on the far left, still in her twenties in those days.
Filming All Creatures Great and Small at Finghall. (--/03/1988)

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Ref - 6508

Photo - Alan Graham

Siegfried Farnon, played so brilliantly by the late Robert Hardy, in discussions with a person unknown.
Filming All Creatures Great and Small at Finghall. (--/03/1988)

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Ref - 6509

Photo - Alan Graham

Finghall was a smaller village at that time and although there must have been other people with cameras there , to the best of my knowledge no other images of that day have surfaced anywhere else publicly.
Filming All Creatures Great and Small at Finghall. (--/03/1988)

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Ref - 6510

Photo - Alan Graham

Here is Siegfried learning/rehearsing his lines. The black car (a Rover I believe) appeared in a lot of episodes. I still think the current Channel 5 series isn't a patch on the BBC's production.
Filming All Creatures Great and Small at Finghall. (--/03/1988)

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Ref - 6511

Photo - Alan Graham

"Rainby Halt, Alight here for Darrowby". In 1998, alighting here for anywhere would have been a pipedream, and wouldn't occur for another 16 years until Finghall reopened to passengers in 2004.
Filming All Creatures Great and Small at Finghall. (--/03/1988)

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Ref - 6512

Photo - Alan Graham

And that's it. I wish I'd taken more but I probably reached the end of my roll. Old episodes are still shown on the Drama channel periodically and it's lovely to see what they did again that day on TV.
Filming All Creatures Great and Small at Finghall. (--/03/1988)

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Ref - 6513

Photo - Alan Graham

Still at Finghall and rather poignant and thought provoking to consider that once, from this little hatch, one could buy a ticket to anywhere in Great Britain. Until 1954 that is. (16/12/2020)

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Ref - 6514

Photo - Alan Graham

The little public waiting room at Finghall station; a real time warp yet still fulfilling its intended purpose. Probably quite unlike anything available elsewhere on the rail network today. (16/12/2020)

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Ref - 6515

Photo - Alan Graham

The view towards Finghall from the waiting room. The station was always known as Finghall Lane and the lane is to the right of the hedge. I was once surprised by a little lamb looking through this glass. (16/12/2020)

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Ref - 6516

Photo - John Slaughter

One of the Pacer units (144 020) in store at Leeming Bar, with a newly restored picnic bench in the foreground, together with one of the new station lamps (08/12/2020)

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Ref - 6517

Photo - John Slaughter

Three of the Pacer units in store at Leeming Bar Station: 142 035 closest, and 144 020 to the right. (08/12/2020)

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Ref - 6518

Photo - John Slaughter

Impressive diesel line up at Leeming Bar Station: closest is 33 035, coupled to D9523, with 37 674, 37 250 and the class 03 shunter beyond. (08/12/2020)

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Ref - 6519

Photo - John Slaughter

Diesel line up at Leeming Bar Station: 37 674 with 37 250 and the class 03 shunter beyond (08/12/2020)

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Ref - 6520

Photo - Andy Glendinning

Van ready to leave Leeming Bar. (09/12/2020)

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Ref - 6521

Photo - John Slaughter

9F class 92219 at Leeming Bar Station shortly before it was removed to a new home. (08/12/2020)

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Ref - 6522

Photo - Andy Glendinning

9F 92219 ready to leave Leeming Bar. (09/12/2020)

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Ref - 6523

Photo - Andy Glendinning

Pacer destined for the Aln Valley Railway ready to leave Leeming Bar. (14/12/2020)

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Ref - 6524

Photo - Unknown Photographer

We have been pleased to help out the Aln Valley Railway by accepting two Pacer units from the main line and after a brief period of storage the units have now been split into five separate cars and moved by road transport to their final destination. Here is a set been tested on the Aln Valley Railway after arrival there. (--/12/2020)

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Ref - 6525

Photo - Unknown Photographer

A photo of the recently deceased railway volunteer Jim Tomlinson with his friend Bill Maingot. A donation in memory of Jim has been recently made to the WRA(T). (15/06/2016)

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Ref - 6526

Photo - Unknown Photographer

A photo of the recently deceased railway volunteer Jim Tomlinson with his famous jacket. A donation in memory of Jim has been recently made to the WRA(T). (15/06/2016)

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Ref - 6527

Photo - Unknown Photographer

Work has been carried out to improve the reliability of the unique automatic crossing between Leeming Bar and Scruton. New treadles have been installed which force entry into the track circuits controlling the lights. This overcomes the problems with sporadic use as even when the rails are rusty the treadles will ensure that the crossing sees the train arrive and depart from its circuitry. Installed in the 1970s Ham Hall is unique in design and functionality and was intended to be used daily. These improvements along with the impending upgrade to LED road lights will allow the regular running of services to Scruton and Northallerton. Help has been given by Network Rail in the design work for the lamp improvements something we are very grateful for. (06/12/2020)

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Ref - 6528

Photo - Unknown Photographer

Work has been carried out to improve the reliability of the unique automatic crossing between Leeming Bar and Scruton. New treadles have been installed which force entry into the track circuits controlling the lights. This overcomes the problems with sporadic use as even when the rails are rusty the treadles will ensure that the crossing sees the train arrive and depart from its circuitry. Installed in the 1970s Ham Hall is unique in design and functionality and was intended to be used daily. These improvements along with the impending upgrade to LED road lights will allow the regular running of services to Scruton and Northallerton. Help has been given by Network Rail in the design work for the lamp improvements something we are very grateful for. (06/12/2020)

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Ref - 6529

Photo - Alex Lomax

Following recent maintenance and examination resident class 20 no.20166 was taken up the line to Redmire to bring back some wagons ready for engineering works starting in January. (19/12/2020)

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Ref - 6530

Photo - Alex Lomax

Following recent maintenance and examination resident class 20 no.20166 was taken up the line to Redmire to bring back some wagons ready for engineering works starting in January. Seen here at Finghall crossing (19/12/2020)

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Ref - 6531

Photo - Alex Lomax

Following recent maintenance and examination resident class 20 no.20166 was taken up the line to Redmire to bring back some wagons ready for engineering works starting in January. (19/12/2020)

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Ref - 6532

Photo - Alex Lomax

Following recent maintenance and examination resident class 20 no.20166 was taken up the line to Redmire to bring back some wagons ready for engineering works starting in January. (19/12/2020)

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Ref - 6533

Photo - Alex Lomax

Following recent maintenance and examination resident class 20 no.20166 was taken up the line to Redmire to bring back some wagons ready for engineering works starting in January. (19/12/2020)

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Ref - 6534

Photo - Andy Glendinning

Snow on Penhill with West Witton nestling below.Taken from the summit of the line at Preston Under Scar while on a track patrol between Wensley and Redmire. (29/12/2020)

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Ref - 6535

Photo - Michael Metcalfe

Working under B23 Harmby, two 60' rails have been removed with the Ironmen to gain access to the sleepers to be renewed. It's unlikely any sleepers have been renewed at this location since trains started running. (07/12/2020)

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Ref - 6536

Photo - Michael Metcalfe

Some new sleepers fitted. (07/12/2020)

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Ref - 6537

Photo - Michael Metcalfe

Once the old sleeper has been removed the hole requires a bit more digging out. (07/12/2020)

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Ref - 6538

Photo - Michael Metcalfe

Not the best idea of fasteners to hold the chair to the sleeper they came up with. These are through bolts with a plate on the underside which should stop it turning whilst removing the nut. Easier to cut the bolts off once removed. (07/12/2020)

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Ref - 6539

Photo - Unknown Photographer

The Leeming Infrastructure team replaced and widened the User Worked Crossing (UWC) at Langthorne Wood 1 mile west of Bedale. (02/12/2020)

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Ref - 6540

Photo - Alan Graham

The weather for early December outings for the vegetation team was largely favourable. Here the embankments on both sides are being cut back, on this stretch between White cross Bridge and Crakehall. (02/12/2020)

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Ref - 6541

Photo - Alan Graham

Blackthorn and bramble are the worst things to drag out and their clearance here has gone right back to the fence. Between White cross Bridge and Crakehall. (02/12/2020)

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Ref - 6542

Photo - Alan Graham

The vegetation team have cut back everything on the left and are doing the same on the right. White Cross Bridge is in the far distance, (that's the one carrying the A684 between Crakehall and Bedale). (02/12/2020)

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Ref - 6543

Photo - Alan Graham

Hard to believe that both sides were previously hemmed in with vegetation. The team are continuing clearance in to the far distance. This view is looking the opposite way towards Crakehall station. (09/12/2020)

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Ref - 6544

Photo - Alan Graham

All smiles from the vegetation team in this end of day photograph. It's a very fulfilling feeling of contentment when you can see the difference your hard work's helped to make, before heading home. (09/12/2020)

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Ref - 6545

Photo - Alan Graham

On the last working Wednesday before Christmas the vegetation team were out in semi-darkness, cold and pouring rain at Finghall and yet somehow managed to produce the hottest bonfire of the year in the wet. (16/12/2020)

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Ref - 6546

Photo - Alan Graham

The vegetation team working at Finghall in dreadful weather conditions, Wednesday 16th December 2020. (16/12/2020)

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Ref - 6547

Photo - Alan Graham

The vegetation team working at Finghall in truly awful conditions, with the light from the fire reflected on the wet rails. Wednesday 16th December 2020. (16/12/2020)

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Ref - 6548

Photo - Alan Graham

A little bit of drainage work at Wilkinsons UWC (nr Bridge 28 Leyburn Road) Weds 16th December. Richard Willis & Peter Johnson. It did the trick and diverted the overflow away from the four foot. (16/12/2020)

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Ref - 6549

Photo - Steve Hall

Two of the vegetation team's chainsaw operators, Dave Lawson (left) and Steve Hall (right). (20/10/2020)

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Ref - 6550

Photo - Steve Hall

The vegetation team working west of Bedale. (--/12/2020)

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Ref - 6551

Photo - Steve Hall

The vegetation team working west of Bedale. (--/12/2020)

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Ref - 6552

Photo - Steve Hall

On the last working day of the year, the vegetation team continued tackling level crossings to improve visibility. Frost still covers the sleepers late in the day despite the sunshine, here near Crakehall. (30/12/2020)

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Ref - 6553

Photo - Steve Hall

An end of day photo showing vegetation free and cleared embankments on both sides of the four foot between Newton - Le-Willows and Crakehall station. Weds 30th December 2020. (30/12/2020)

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Ref - 6554

Photo - Steve Hall

Cleared vegetation on both sides allows low December afternoon sunlight to illuminate the rails between Newton - Le- Willows and Crakehall. The vegetation team plan to continue level crossing works in Jan. (30/12/2020)

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Ref - 6556

Photo - Robert Hall

Some Pacers currently stored at Redmire (09/12/2020)

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Ref - 6557

Photo - Robert Hall

Some coaches and Pacers currently stored at Redmire (09/12/2020)

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Ref - 6558

Photo - Robert Hall

Some coaches and Pacers currently stored at Redmire (09/12/2020)

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Ref - 6555

Photo - Robert Hall

Some Pacers currently stored at Redmire (09/12/2020)

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