Wensleydale Railway Rail Link Photos

Wensleydale Railway - Photo Archive

October 2023

Photographs

During October lots of work has been going on on the railway. This month we have:
1. Sue Threadgold – our first female driver.
2. We were on Radio York.
3. Scruton station looking very nice.
4. Kate Draffin’s Scarecrow.
5. Work by the Finghall Lane station support group.
6. A new class 14 ex NCB loco has arrived at Leeming Bar.
7. Work continuing on converting an old Mk.1 coach to a 'Green Room' for the Polar Express actors.
8. The Polar Express marquees are being erected.
9. Various work in preparation for Polar Express.
10. Work continues on restoring a Wickham trolley.
11. Work continues on restoring the railway crane.
12. Work continues on painting palings and rails for a future replacement of the fencing at Aiskew.
13. Additional platform lighting and a power supply at the end of the platform are being installed.
14. Work by the Infrastructure Teams.
15. Work by the Vegetation Teams

For more photos of the conversion of an old Mk1 coach into a 'green room' for the Polar Express actors see here.

For more photos of the restoration of the Wickham Trolley see here.

For more photos of the restoration of the railway crane see here, here and here.

For more photos of the restoration of the Mk 2 coach see here

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Photo - Wensleydale Railway
OUR FIRST FEMALE TRAIN DRIVER
We are absolutely delighted to announce the appointment of our first female train driver! Long-term volunteer Sue Threadgold, from Harrogate in North Yorkshire, has recently passed her driver training and is now qualified to drive our class 142 and class 143 diesel multiple unit passenger trains. Sue also became our railway’s first female train guard in 2018. We currently have 3 female guards. Congratulations Sue, we’re very proud of you! (25/10/2023)
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Photo - Wensleydale Railway
OUR FIRST FEMALE TRAIN DRIVER
We are absolutely delighted to announce the appointment of our first female train driver! Long-term volunteer Sue Threadgold, from Harrogate in North Yorkshire, has recently passed her driver training and is now qualified to drive our class 142 and class 143 diesel multiple unit passenger trains. Sue also became our railway’s first female train guard in 2018. We currently have 3 female guards. Congratulations Sue, we’re very proud of you! (25/10/2023)
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Ref - 12380

Photo - Wensleydale Railway
We were on BBC Radio York on Tuesday 24 October! Listen to Bob Coombs, Connor Lagus and Nick Keegan talk to Julia Lewis about our railway’s heritage, special events and plans for the future.
The interviews can be found at 1:42:24 (Bob), 2:20:56 (Connor) and 2:50:36 (Nick).
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0gj469h
Please note that you will need to sign into a BBC account to listen to the show. (24/10/2023)
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Photo - Alan Graham
A pacer waiting to depart from Scruton station in October 23. There is much to be proud of in this picture for the volunteers who have transformed this little wayside station from the overgrown scene of dereliction it once was, to the immaculate vision that you see today. (11/10/2023)
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Photo - Bob Coombs
The story about Kate Draffin’s Scarecrow for the Romanby Scarecrow trail. (30/10/2023)
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Photo - Bob Coombs
Kate Draffin’s Scarecrow for the Romanby Scarecrow trail. (30/10/2023)
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Photo - Bob Coombs
Kate Draffin’s Scarecrow for the Romanby Scarecrow trail. (30/10/2023)
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Photo - Richard Kirk
Finghall Lane - Tidying up of the platform continues. (05/10/2023)
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Photo - Richard Kirk
Finghall Lane - The black horizontal conduit had always been sagging. Additional support clips have been added and the conduit now looks better. The water butt had to be drained and removed to allow the works to be completed. (05/10/2023)
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Photo - Richard Kirk
Finghall Lane - With the water butt temporarily removed it allowed us to dig down to see if there was a rainwater drain. We didn't find what we were hoping but did find this surface drain which is now mostly buried under the tarmac of the tenant's car park. (05/10/2023)
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Photo - Richard Kirk
Finghall Lane - One of the neighbours keeping a close eye on developments. (05/10/2023)
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Photo - Kev Burnitt
'Don't mind if I do!'
Customers excitingly waiting for the Gin Train to arrive at Leyburn Station. (07/10/2023)
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Photo - Andy Glendinning
New arrival on the Railway. Ex BR Western Region diesel hydraulic Class 14. (07/10/2023)
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Photo - Andy Glendinning
Identity crisis for our new 'Teddy Bear' diesel loco. (07/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The builders place of the new class 14 diesel loco D9513, alias NCB's no.38. (17/10/2023)
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Photo - John Slaughter
New resident in Leeming Bar yard: a second "Teddy Bear" - D9513, alias NCB's no.38. (10/10/2023)
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Photo - John Slaughter
New resident in Leeming Bar yard: a second "Teddy Bear" - D9513, alias NCB's no.38. (10/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
A new resident on our line is this ex NCB class 14 'teddybear' diesel loco D9513, alias NCB's no.38. (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
A new resident on our line is this class 14 'teddybear' diesel loco D9513, alias NCB's no.38. (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The class 14 'teddybear' diesel loco D9513, alias NCB's no.38. in our workshop for some repair work (26/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The class 14 'teddybear' diesel loco D9513, alias NCB's no.38. in our workshop for some repair work (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The class 14 'teddybear' diesel loco D9513, alias NCB's no.38. in our workshop for some repair work (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The class 14 'teddybear' diesel loco D9513, alias NCB's no.38. in our workshop for some repair work (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
A pile of coal at Leeming Bar is being moved to allow access to remove the sleeping car next to the station buffet coach and replace it with the coach being converted into a green room for the Polar Express actors (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
A pile of coal at Leeming Bar is being moved to allow access to remove the sleeping car next to the station buffet coach and replace it with the coach being converted into a green room for the Polar Express actors (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The old Mk.1 coach being converted into a 'Green Room' for Polar Express actors in our maintenance workshop to allow work on the exterior and to be painted (03/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The old Mk.1 coach being converted into a 'Green Room' for Polar Express actors - The old guards van section being cleared and tidied up (03/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The old Mk.1 coach being converted into a 'Green Room' for Polar Express actors has now been moved to the station platform next to the station buffet coach in place of the precious sleeper coach. (26/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The old Mk.1 coach being converted into a 'Green Room' for Polar Express actors - The old guards van area is being insulated and then lined to provide the 'green room' area (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Starting to layout and erect the first of the Polar Express marquees (26/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Starting to layout and erect the first of the Polar Express marquees (26/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Starting to layout and erect the first of the Polar Express marquees (26/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The first of the Polar Express marquees is being prepared (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The first of the Polar Express marquees is being prepared (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The first of the Polar Express marquees (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
A sleigh, ready to be taken to Constable Burton as part of the 'North Pole' diorama (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
A large pile of newly delivered coal ready for the Polar Express steam locomotive (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Sheeting is being put up to shield the yard from view during the Polar Express season (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The rake of coaches for Polar Express is starting to be prepared. (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
A water tanker has been brought into Leeming Bar yard to supply water to the Polar Express steam locomotive (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Work is continuing on the restoration of the Wickham Trolley. New flooring and seating is going in (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Work is continuing on the restoration of the Wickham Trolley. Note that part of the front uprights have been disconnected as there was a problem with alignment. Will need new support girders (26/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Work is continuing on the restoration of the Wickham Trolley. (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Derek Bailey
The Crane’s Match wagon showing the start of the refurbishment where most of the wooden deck has been replaced and creosoted. (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Derek Bailey
The West end of the Crane match wagon showing the new decking. (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Derek Bailey
Newly painted Crane match wagon side (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Derek Bailey
The west end of the Crane match wagon showing the fitted raised decking ready for the accessories box to be fitted (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Loco 03144 with a wagon full of sleepers at Leeming Bar (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Loco 03144 with a wagon full of sleepers at Leeming Bar (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Painting of palings and rails for a future replacement of the fencing at Aiskew level crossing (03/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Painting of palings and rails for a future replacement of the fencing at Aiskew level crossing (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Painting of palings and rails for a future replacement of the fencing at Aiskew level crossing (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Painting of palings and rails for a future replacement of the fencing at Aiskew level crossing (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The Direct Works Team installing posts for new platform lighting (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The Direct Works Team installing new cable trays to support the cabling for the new additional platform lighting and a power outlet unit at the end of the platform (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The Direct Works Team installing new cable trays to support the cabling for the new additional platform lighting and a power outlet unit at the end of the platform (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The Direct Works Team installing new cable trays to support the cabling for the new additional platform lighting and a power outlet unit at the end of the platform (17/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Neil Guest (our Electrical Engineer) wiring up one of the new additional platform lights (26/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Neil Guest (our Electrical Engineer) wiring up one of the new additional platform lights (26/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The new additional platform lights (26/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The box to hold a power outlet socket at the end of the platform is being painted (26/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The box to hold a power outlet socket at the end of the platform is being painted (26/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The electrical supply box is fitted with a temporary fixing (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The electrical supply box fitted to the platform fence by the Direct Works Team (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
The new cable trays fitted by the Direct Works Team inside the platform fence and new cables secured for both the new platform lighting and an electrical supply box at the far end of the platform (31/10/2023)
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Photo - Andy Glendinning
After the old ditch west of Wilkinsons User Worked Crossing had been cleared of silt and vegetation the base is levelled to provide the new pipe with the correct fall. (09/10/2023)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Work begins to clear the banking slip material between B28 and B29 at Leyburn Shawl area. The straight edging which has been exposed is a buried U tube drainage arrangement but one side has been mostly broken off. (23/10/2023)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
This section under B28 has been exposed to find a pipe inside a U tube channel which might run all the way to B29. On the right is a drainage pit installed by the railway in 2008 to divert the water to the other side of the track. The pipe is going to be tested to see if it contains asbestos. (23/10/2023)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Work continues to install a drainage pipe from Wilkinson's crossing towards B28. (23/10/2023)
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Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Water running down this lane from the A684 to Wilkinson's crossing has been a problem for years leading to mud on the crossing deck/track which then allows the grass to grow. This lump of rail has been installed to try and divert the slow trickle of water. (23/10/2023)
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Photo - Andy Glendinning
Several years of accumulated scrap ready to go off site to tidy up the Leyburn Permanent Way Team's base. (27/10/2023)
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Photo - Alan Graham
Where to start? This is part of the largely unused section between Scruton and Northallerton and the vegetation team have been asked to clear a way for the huge steam locomotive known as the Polar Express, to make its way through. (18/10/2023)
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Photo - Alan Graham
Some of the vegetation team who have begun work on the eastern end between Scruton and Northallerton. Here, a farmer's level crossing has been uncovered and spades used, to remove accumulated soil from the inner rails of the four foot, allowing wheels to pass unhindered. (18/10/2023)
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Photo - Alan Graham
A member of the vegetation team in full PPE with his strimmer, making his way along a currently unused section of track between Scruton and Northallerton. (18/10/2023)
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Photo - Alan Graham
Working with the vegetation team can be a noisy business at times but not half as noisy as the planes that regularly take off and land at nearby Leeming. In this image a plane can be seen directly above the track between Scruton and Northallerton. (18/10/2023)
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Photo - Timothy Edwards
Not the usual aircraft seen taking off from RAF Leeming. Taken from Leeming Bar station platform. (31/10/2023)
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