Wensleydale Railway - Photo Archive
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Various Infrastructure Work
From 2005-2014
Once trains started running again in 2003 and Leeming Bar station and yard were done the focus changed to maintaining the whole line from Northallerton to Redmire
Thanks go to Michael Metcalfe who has provided these photographs. He has been a volunteer right from the very first WRA working party and is still an active volunteer on the railway.
The names of the people named in the photo captions are thought to be all correct, however if there are any errors or omissions please let me know.
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Ref - 952
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The Bedford Bruff at Redmire getting ready to move a point rail. (L-R) John Thompson, Colin Brown. (05/07/2005)
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Ref - 952
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The Bedford Bruff at Redmire getting ready to move a point rail. (L-R) John Thompson, Colin Brown. (05/07/2005)
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Ref - 953
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Shows the point blade in the 4 foot ready for fitting into the chairs at Redmire. The blade was damaged by a non WR loco and had to be removed, sent away for straightening prior to been refitted here.
(L-R) In the Foreground - John Thompson, Arthur Hartley, Bill Angus, Phil Kirkland. (09/07/2005)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 954
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Shows 37198 re-railed the day after it had a mishap at Redmire. This picture shows the jacks and wood blocks needed to get the loco back onto the rail. (14/08/2005)
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Ref - 955
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Quite a large team was assembled despite being on a Sunday to get the loco back on track and then repairing sleeper/chair damage for next day running. (14/08/2005)
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Ref - 956
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Jim Wareing ditching at Preston Under Scar with his own digger. (10/12/2005)
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Ref - 957
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Sleeper renewal at Ham Hall along with a recently refurbished mess van.
(L-R Ron Healey, ? , Phil Kirkland) (26/08/2006)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 958
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Lord Bolton asked the railway if we could repair some fencing near High Thoresby Farm. Ken Clough seen with his Landover taking a small team on site to fettle some fencing. The rabbit infested embankment can be clearly seen behind the Landrover. (14/10/2006)
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Ref - 959
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The first time the Yorkshire Dales Caravan crossing deck was renewed. The mini digger belonged to the site owners.
Andy Chapman on extreme left. Colin Brown in middle. (24/02/2007)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 960
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Crossing repairs at Peter Blacks UWC shows Ken Clough and Angus Maude cutting out a sleeper for the deck. The former Express Diary and Peter Blacks shoe factory behind has since been demolished and the site awaits the next development on the industrial estate. (03/03/2007)
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Ref - 961
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Andy Chapman glazing the Preston Under Scar permanent way hut. (31/03/2007)
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Ref - 962
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The railway was asked by the A1 Steam Trust to lay some rails outside the shed for Tornado to eventually run onto. The sleepers were already in place and we just had to fit the rails over a weekend. The JCB lifted the rails into place and final adjustment by a crow bar.
Rob Williamson is on the Left. (15/12/2007)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 963
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Colin Brown drilling fish plate holes. The job was completed the next day. (15/12/2007)
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Ref - 964
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
One of the first big jobs was at bridge 28 outside Leyburn where the track was very wet under the bridge and this shows vegetation been cleared. John Tong having a rest up against the bridge wall. Bridge 28 has since been re decked in January 2011. (12/01/2008)
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Ref - 965
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Shows one section of track refitted and been levelled. The main problem here is water from the shawl floods over the embankment as well as water off the road bridge and from Wilkinson's crossing in U tubes arrives here all at once and the drains cannot cope. It still is a problem today but will flow away slowly. (26/01/2008)
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Ref - 966
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The rails are in and ballast down under bridge 28. This made a big improvement but the drainage sumps need regular cleaning out after wet weather. (27/01/2008)
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Ref - 967
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The coach was installed at Redmire for a cafe/waiting room and shows it in place after the mainline was slewed over to allow the coach to be shunted into position.
This coach is now at Aysgarth looking a lot better. (24/02/2008)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 968
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Vegetation clearance opposite Leyburn station. The water tank sits now where the JCB is parked. Unfortunately time has moved on and the trees have grown again. (12/04/2008)
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Ref - 969
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
DMU 101678 after mounting a large boulder which had rolled into the four foot. (25/07/2008)
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Ref - 970
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Rescue arrives in the form of the works train.
After a long night in which an attempt to lift the front of the DMU clear of the boulder failed, a jack hammer was used to break up the boulder and it was eventually re railed in the early hours of the next day. The track team then changed a few sleepers plus minor repairs by about 03.30 am.
(L-R) Colin Brown, Andy Chapman, Paul Warren. (25/07/2008)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 971
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
47715 on the first train of the next day..! You can hardly tell the problems there the day before. (26/07/2008)
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Ref - 972
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The Bruff was used to change a couple of rails on Preston Bank starting after the last train at approx. 4 pm. (01/08/2009)
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Ref - 973
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Jim Wareing and Colin Brown lifting the rail saw into position. You can see the left hand rail has already been installed as there is no shine on it yet. Job completed by 10pm. (01/08/2009)
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Ref - 974
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
After a spell of rain the track washed out here so it was filled in and fresh ballast added.
(L-R) David Bailey, Andy Chapman, Geoff Dalby with a makeshift ballast wagon. (05/12/2009)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 975
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Drainage pipes been installed at bridge 31 on Preston Bank. Bridge 31 has also since been re decked in January 2014. (13/02/2010)
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Ref - 976
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Phil Reade and Roger Lees building rodding access manholes out of some old concrete sections found by the line side. (13/03/2010)
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Ref - 977
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
More 6" dia pipes installed further down the bank and about 150m was installed to flow out into an open ditch.
(L-R) Ken Clough, Roger Lees, Cliff Hayes. (27/03/2010)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 978
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Yorkshire Dales Caravan crossing been replaced again and eventually soon after POGO gates were fitted.
Geoff Dalby sweeping the sleeper. Not sure who is operating the drill! (26/03/2011)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 979
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
A bit of fun entered here as a near double rainbow appeared at Leyburn during sleeper replacement.
(L-R) Jim Wareing, Andy Waite, Andy Chapman, Roger Lees, Mike Brittlebank. (03/12/2011)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 980
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Wilkinson's crossing repairs continue with Andy Waite and Andy Chapman handling a sleeper. (14/01/2012)
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Ref - 981
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Work continues, removing dirty ballast ready for a new layer of clean ballast. (27/01/2012)
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Ref - 982
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Drainage work during a snowy spell between bridge 28 and bridge 29. Drainage pipes were inserted and rodding access/sumps made from old sleepers.
(L-R) Angus Maude, Jim Wareing, Roger Lees. (26/01/2013)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 983
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Jim Wareing operates the railway's digger at Bedale Blind Lane during drainage improvements. A twin pipe was installed then backfilled. Roger Lees observes. (11/01/2014)
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Ref - 984
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Colin Brown doing more open ditching with the rail/road machine. (11/01/2014)
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