Wensleydale Railway Rail Link Photos

Wensleydale Railway - Photo Archive

November 2024 - General

Photographs

During November lots of work has been going on on the railway. Primrose UWC has now being replaced and the both the Vegetation and Direct Works Teams have been very busy. There has been a lot of work in setting up for Polar Express and then running it. This is a heavy workload for everyone involved.
1. Some views at Bedale during the Bedale Bonfire special train
2. A 1995 view of Bedale signal box, compared to the same view today.
3. Various views at Bedale.
4. Some work by the Scruton station team.
5. Leeming Bar Community Association members have been doing some work around their community coach.
6. Loco 47714 arriving on our line and then being tested and recommissioned so that it can act as a standby for Polar Express.
7. The Mk1 brake coach repainting is complete and it is now looking very nice.
8. Work on the Mk2 brake coach is continuing.
9. Work on the restoration of the o-6-0 steam tank locomotive is continuing.
10. The Direct works team have been doing various jobs along the line.
11. The Infrastructure Teams have been busy.
12. The Vegetation Team have been busy.

For photos of the setting up and running of Polar Express see the next page.

For more photos of the arrival and recommissioning of locomotive 47714 see here

For more photos of the restoration and rebuild of the 0-6-0 Steam Tank loco see here

For more photos of the continuing restoration of the Mk2 Coach see here

Ref - 15012

Photo - Andy Turnbull
The Bedale Bonfire special train in Bedale platform with passengers waiting to board (02/11/2024)
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Ref - 15012

Photo - Andy Turnbull
The Bedale Bonfire special train in Bedale platform with passengers waiting to board (02/11/2024)
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Ref - 15013

Photo - Andy Turnbull
On the night of the Bedale Bonfire special train, cars going over Bedale level crossing (02/11/2024)
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Ref - 15014

Photo - Andy Turnbull
Bedale signal box and west crossing gate - on the night of the Bedale Bonfire special train. (02/11/2024)
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Ref - 15015

Photo - Andy Turnbull
A view of Bedale signal box and level crossing on the night of the Bedale Bonfire special train. (02/11/2024)
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Ref - 15016

Photo - Andy Turnbull
A view of Bedale signal box and level crossing on the night of the Bedale Bonfire special train. (02/11/2024)
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Ref - 15017

Photo - Andy Turnbull
On the night of the Bedale Bonfire special train, the crossing keeper is enjoying a blazing fire to keep him warm (02/11/2024)
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Ref - 15018

Photo - Unknown Photographer
A view looking east to Bedale signal box back in June 1995. Very overgrown and obviously there haven't been any trains recently. The track and sleepers look as though they are being used as a footpath. (04/06/1995)
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Ref - 15019

Photo - Andy Turnbull
The same view looking east to Bedale signal box in early November this year. What a difference!! (03/11/2024)
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Ref - 15020

Photo - John Slaughter
Wintry scene at dusk from Bedale Signal Box (23/11/2024)
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Ref - 15021

Photo - John Slaughter
Bedale at dusk in the first snow of the season, as seen by the crossing keeper from the signal box. (23/11/2024)
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Ref - 15022

Photo - John Slaughter
Bedale after dark in the first snow of the season, as seen by the crossing keeper from the signal box. (23/11/2024)
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Ref - 15023

Photo - John Slaughter
The down semaphore signal at Bedale Crossing has been very reluctant to drop to the horizontal in recent days: here it is doing better than average! (26/11/2024)
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Ref - 15024

Photo - John Slaughter
The first signs of Spring at Bedale station, with snowdrops appearing in the garden on the embankment, revealed during weeding. (26/11/2024)
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Ref - 15025

Photo - John Slaughter
Bedale siding with Pacers continuing in storage, seen from the level crossing. (26/11/2024)
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Ref - 15026

Photo - John Slaughter
Leeming Bar: the remains of a dmu driving car on a siding after parts had been salvaged for The North Norfolk Railway. (12/11/2024)
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Ref - 15027

Photo - Joan Walker
The outdoor table at Scruton (to cover the bore hole cap) being Teak Oiled by Keith Walker (19/11/2024)
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Ref - 15028

Photo - Joan Walker
Christmas Tree decorations being readied for the Edwardian Sunday being held at Scruton (19/11/2024)
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Ref - 15029

Photo - Timothy Edwards
Some members of the Leeming Bar Community Association doing some repair work to the entrance steps to their community coach (20/11/2024)
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Ref - 15030

Photo - Oliver Kirkby
Loco 47714 arriving arriving on our line at Springwell Lane (11/11/2024)
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Ref - 15031

Photo - Oliver Kirkby
Loco 37 250 coupling onto 47714 to haul her to Leeming Bar (11/11/2024)
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Ref - 15032

Photo - Timothy Edwards
Our 'new to us' loco 47714 undergoing some maintenance and testing in the maintenance shed (20/11/2024)
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Ref - 15033

Photo - John Slaughter
The first outing of 47 714 in faded Anglia colours, arriving at Bedale Station on a test run from Leeming Bar. It had been delivered from Doncaster earlier in November. (26/11/2024)
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Ref - 15034

Photo - John Slaughter
Bedale Station with a small crowd gathered around the first appearance of 47 714 in faded Anglia livery, on its first outing since delivery from Doncaster. (26/11/2024)
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Ref - 15035

Photo - John Slaughter
47 714 departing Bedale Station to return to Leeming Bar on its first test run since delivery from Doncaster earlier in the month. (26/11/2024)
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Ref - 15036

Photo - John Slaughter
Leeming Bar with 47 714 carrying out its first bit of shunting, moving the class 33 from the loop onto the front of the coaches. (26/11/2024)
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Ref - 15037

Photo - John Slaughter
The driver of 47 714 changes ends as he shunts 33 035 beside 37 250 at Leeming Bar. (26/11/2024)
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Ref - 15038

Photo - John Slaughter
Leeming Bar with 47 714 carrying out its first bit of shunting, moving the class 33 from the loop onto the front of the coaches. (26/11/2024)
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Ref - 15039

Photo - Timothy Edwards
Loco 47714 connecting up to the polar Express rake at Leeming Bar - presumably to do some ETH (Electric Train Heating) tests, (26/11/2024)
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Ref - 15040

Photo - Timothy Edwards
The class 14 'teddybear' diesel loco D9513, alias NCB's no.38. in our maintenance shed (20/11/2024)
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Ref - 15041

Photo - Timothy Edwards
The railway crane under restoration is sitting at Leeming Bar (20/11/2024)
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Ref - 15042

Photo - Timothy Edwards
This mk1 coach is now looking very nice (05/11/2024)
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Ref - 15043

Photo - Timothy Edwards
This mk1 coach is now looking very nice (05/11/2024)
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Ref - 15044

Photo - Timothy Edwards
Work is continuing on the Mk2 brake coach. Replacement steel panels have been welded in at the west end (20/11/2024)
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Ref - 15045

Photo - Timothy Edwards
Work is continuing on the Mk2 brake coach. A lamp bracket is being fitted (26/11/2024)
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Ref - 15046

Photo - Timothy Edwards
Various parts of the 0-6-0 steam tank loco being painted (05/11/2024)
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Ref - 15047

Photo - Timothy Edwards
One of the side water tanks of the 0-6-0 steam tank loco is being restored. You can see the original writing from when it worked at a CEGB power station (05/11/2024)
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Ref - 15048

Photo - Timothy Edwards
Loco 03144 cab (26/11/2024)
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Ref - 15049

Photo - Timothy Edwards
Loco 03144 cab (26/11/2024)
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Ref - 15050

Photo - Dave Fielding
Some temporary water pipes at Leeming Bar needed to be buried so that they would not be a trip hazard during Polar Express - Here a Potable water pipe is ready for burial (01/11/2024)
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Ref - 15051

Photo - Dave Fielding
Some temporary water pipes at Leeming Bar for Polar Express needed to be buried so that they would not be a trip hazard during Polar Express - Here a Potable water pipe is ready for burial by a member of the Direct Works Team (01/11/2024)
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Ref - 15052

Photo - Dave Fielding
Some temporary water pipes for Polar Express at Leeming Bar needed to be buried so that they would not be a trip hazard during Polar Express - Here the Potable water pipe has been buried by a member of the Direct Works Team (01/11/2024)
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Ref - 15053

Photo - Dave Fielding
Some temporary water pipes for Polar Express at Leeming Bar needed to be buried so that they would not be a trip hazard during Polar Express - Here a water pipe is ready for burial by a member of the Direct Works Team (01/11/2024)
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Ref - 15054

Photo - Dave Fielding
Some temporary water pipes for Polar Express at Leeming Bar needed to be buried so that they would not be a trip hazard during Polar Express - Here a water pipe has been buried by a member of the Direct Works Team (01/11/2024)
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Ref - 15055

Photo - Timothy Edwards
The new Volunteers shower and toilet facilities at Leeming Bar have now been placed on a concrete plinth (20/11/2024)
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Ref - 15056

Photo - Dave Fielding
A new drain being constructed behind the recently installed new Vols Shower & Toilet, by the Direct Works Team. The drain will take away the water puddling in front of Goods Shed Main Door (05/11/2024)
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Ref - 15057

Photo - Dave Fielding
A new drain being constructed behind the recently installed new Vols Shower & Toilet, by the Direct Works Team. The drain will take away the water puddling in front of Goods Shed Main Door (05/11/2024)
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Ref - 15058

Photo - Dave Fielding
A new drain has been constructed behind the recently installed new Vols Shower & Toilet, by the Direct Works Team. The drain will take away the water puddling in front of Goods Shed Main Door (05/11/2024)
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Ref - 15059

Photo - Dave Fielding
The Direct Works Team have repaired the steps at Cherry Tree UWC - The view from the track looking South to the gate to the farmer's field (12/11/2024)
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Ref - 15060

Photo - Dave Fielding
The Direct Works Team have repaired the steps at Cherry Tree UWC - the view looking up the bank to the track - please note the white edges of the steps to aid partially sited people (12/11/2024)
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Ref - 15061

Photo - Derek Barnes
The Direct Works Team have repaired the steps over the WR embankment close to the Akebar Golf course. The North side before work started. (19/11/2024)
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Ref - 15062

Photo - Derek Barnes
The Direct Works Team have repaired the steps over the WR embankment close to the Akebar Golf course. The North side after work completed looking up (19/11/2024)
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Ref - 15063

Photo - Derek Barnes
The Direct Works Team have repaired the steps over the WR embankment close to the Akebar Golf course. The North side after work completed looking down (19/11/2024)
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Ref - 15064

Photo - Derek Barnes
The Direct Works Team have repaired the steps over the WR embankment close to the Akebar Golf course. The South side after work completed looking up (19/11/2024)
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Ref - 15065

Photo - Derek Barnes
The Direct Works Team have repaired the steps over the WR embankment close to the Akebar Golf course. The South side after work completed looking down (19/11/2024)
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Ref - 15066

Photo - Dave Fielding
The Direct Works Team have built a new compost bin at Scruton for the vast amount of leaves that fall there (26/11/2024)
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Ref - 15067

Photo - Dave Fielding
The Direct Works Team have built a new compost bin at Scruton for the vast amount of leaves that fall there (26/11/2024)
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Ref - 15068

Photo - Nigel Cockburn
The Bedale p'way team returned to a location just west of the A1 bridge where about 2 years ago we did a short renewal between the A1 bridge and the crossing using concrete sleepers and flat bottom rail that we obtained from Eggborough PS. A couple of the 60ft lengths of rail that we installed had 'RCF' Rolling Contact Fatigue, this caused a rumbling noise as trains passed over. It wasn't identified when we put them in but Vince M strongly recommended they should be changed as they could fail. Using the Iron Men we moved two rails that from under the bridge, lifted the defective rails out, cut the replacements to length then lifted into place. A good days job done that has been on the to do list for a long time. (04/11/2024)
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Ref - 15069

Photo - Nigel Cockburn
The Bedale p'way team returned to a location just west of the A1 bridge where about 2 years ago we did a short renewal between the A1 bridge and the crossing using concrete sleepers and flat bottom rail that we obtained from Eggborough PS. A couple of the 60ft lengths of rail that we installed had 'RCF' Rolling Contact Fatigue, this caused a rumbling noise as trains passed over. It wasn't identified when we put them in but Vince M strongly recommended they should be changed as they could fail. Using the Iron Men we moved two rails that from under the bridge, lifted the defective rails out, cut the replacements to length then lifted into place. A good days job done that has been on the to do list for a long time. (04/11/2024)
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Ref - 15070

Photo - Andy Glendinning
It's tough work Returning to Redmire and can be hard on the back. The newly constructed catch pit at Wilkinson's User Worked Crossing provides some relief. (04/11/2024)
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Ref - 15071

Photo - Andy Glendinning
Start of the sleeper wall to retain the ballast shoulder on the embankment at the site of Bridge 30 (infilled) between Leyburn and Wensley. (18/11/2024)
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Ref - 15072

Photo - Sue Threadgold
The vegetation team working at Constable Burton removing a tree. (06/11/2024)
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Ref - 15073

Photo - Steve Hall
The vegetation team using ropes to ensure that a felled tree drops in the right place. (06/11/2024)
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Ref - 15074

Photo - Sue Threadgold
A stump marks the location of the tree felled and removed by the vegetation team at Constable Burton. (06/11/2024)
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Ref - 15075

Photo - John Thompson
The vegetation team working at Primrose (Newton-Le-Willows) in sub zero November temperatures. (20/11/2024)
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Ref - 15076

Photo - John Thompson
The vegetation team getting welcome help from the Road Rail Vehicle (RRV) to work felled logs near Newton=-Le-Willows. (20/11/2024)
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Ref - 15077

Photo - John Thompson
Sunny weather and sub-zero. The conditions in which the vegetation team turned out on Weds 20th November near Newton-Le-Willows in the cold snap. (20/11/2024)
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Ref - 15078

Photo - John Thompson
The RRV helping the vegetation team move timber near Newton-Le-Willows. (20/11/2024)
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Ref - 15079

Photo - John Thompson
The vegetation team stacking timber near newton-Le-Willows. (20/11/2024)
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Ref - 15080

Photo - Bill Briggs
Moving logs felled by the veg team using the road rail vehicle. (20/11/2024)
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Ref - 15081

Photo - John Thompson
The veg team doing some woodwork on a perishing cold day near Primrose crossing. 27th Nov 24 (27/11/2024)
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Ref - 15082

Photo - John Thompson
The veg team helping stabilise the embankment with heavy trunks between Akebar and Primrose Crossing on a day when, despite the sunshine, it was so cold you couldn't feel your fingers. (27/11/2024)
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Ref - 15083

Photo - Alan Graham
An end of day image showing the bank stabilisation work following the attention of the vegetation team. (27/11/2024)
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