Wensleydale Railway - Photo Archive
Aysgarth - 1997-2001
Michael Metcalfe's Photos
In November 1997 the Wensleydale Railway Association (WRA) aquired the Aysgarth Station site, so the focus of the volunteers work switched to there from the old track bed near Castle Bolton.
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.
Ref - 884
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Shows the very first work party on the Aysgarth site where the platforms are shrouded in leaves. (08/11/1997)
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Ref - 884
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Shows the very first work party on the Aysgarth site where the platforms are shrouded in leaves. (08/11/1997)
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Ref - 885
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
More platform cleaning and tree felling at Aysgarth. (22/11/1997)
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Ref - 886
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Note the trees growing on the back wall of the platform at Aysgarth. (22/11/1997)
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Ref - 887
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
M & D Thornton cleaning the goods shed dock area at Aysgarth. (22/11/1997)
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Ref - 888
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The steam engine Pilgrim arrived which was the largest mobile travelling railway at Aysgarth. (22/11/1997)
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Ref - 889
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Ian Bell begins glazing the signal box at Aysgarth. (13/12/1997)
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Ref - 890
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Dave Jenkins clearing debris from the platelayers hut roof at Aysgarth - that's quite a pile. (24/01/1998)
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Ref - 891
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Ian Bell cutting the trees down at Aysgarth. The roots needed a JCB. (07/02/1998)
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Ref - 892
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Contractors had started to re-roof the goods shed at Aysgarth. (14/02/1998)
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Ref - 893
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Shows a general view of the Aysgarth Station site - note the tree sections at end of the goods shed dock and roots between the JCB and the Pilgrim wagon. (28/02/1998)
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Ref - 894
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Shows the station house at Aysgarth which is not much different to today except for the pile of coal, as the site was still a working coal depot. (25/04/1998)
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Ref - 895
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
As part of the WRA AGM, Pilgrim was set up for display and rides at Aysgarth. Angus Maude is driving and Colin Brown is in the 3rd class carriage. (13/06/1998)
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Ref - 896
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The first four rails arrive at Aysgarth from Jarvis at Leeds. (31/07/1998)
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Ref - 897
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The area next to the goods shed dock at Aysgarth is been prepared for track laying. (01/08/1998)
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Ref - 898
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The Ruston Shunter's arrival at Aysgarth from Chesterfield shortly after 7am and had been lined up to be loaded onto the newly laid 60ft track panel. (07/08/1998)
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Ref - 899
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The WRC operated a Wensleydale Explorer bus service which is about to leave Aysgarth. This day was the 2 year point from the initial work party at Castle Bolton. (15/08/1998)
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Ref - 900
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Pilgrim was set up for rides at Aysgarth. (15/08/1998)
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Ref - 901
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The Ruston shunter in early morning sunshine at Aysgarth. It was eventually named "Wensley" (15/08/1998)
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Ref - 902
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
To celebrate the two year anniversary, another BBQ was held 6.30pm onwards at Aysgarth. (15/08/1998)
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Ref - 903
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The second panel of track being laid at Aysgarth.
(L-R) Andy Feather, Arthur Hartley, Neil Gill (back to camera), Clive Roberts, Bernard Morris, Ian Bell. (29/08/1998)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 904
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Another portacabin was procured from a Wigan bus depot for free except for transport costs. Bill Angus making the front entrance step/board at Aysgarth. (12/09/1998)
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Ref - 905
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Drains between the platforms are cleaned out at Aysgarth.
(L-R) Bernard Morris, Ian Bell, John Boothroyd. (07/11/1998)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 906
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The original portacabin at Castle Bolton was moved to Aysgarth, Bill Angus and Angus Maude positioning a generator set into the trailer. (21/11/1998)
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Ref - 907
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The portacabin is lowered into position at Aysgarth. This would form the bus drivers operation centre. (21/11/1998)
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Ref - 908
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The WRC started a regular winter bus service using three of these Dennis Dart low floor buses at Aysgarth. (05/12/1998)
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Ref - 909
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Drains were installed from the goods shed down to the main entrance gate at Aysgarth. A contractor was used to get the job started. Angus Maude and Bernard Morris in action. (13/02/1999)
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Ref - 910
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Drains were installed from the goods shed down to the main entrance gate at Aysgarth.
(L-R) Arthur Hartley, Graham Hampson (Contractor), Andy Clark (JCB contractor), Angus Maude. (13/02/1999)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 911
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Building one of the manholes for the drains at Aysgarth.
(L-R) Ken Clough filming me, Bernard Morris, Graham Hampson (Contractor), Clive Roberts, Arthur Hartley, Bill Angus. (27/02/1999)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 912
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Lifting one of the manhole rings into position at Aysgarth.
(L-R) Rob Cummins?, Alan Rutter, Ken Clough, Bernard Morris, Geoff Clarke. (13/03/1999)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 913
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
This was one of the last time a Dennis Dart was on site at Aysgarth as the winter service had ended. The site was so big Angus Maude brought his bike along!! (10/04/1999)
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Ref - 914
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
By this time the WRC bought buses to run services. (Aysgarth) (05/06/1999)
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Ref - 915
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Fencing started around the coal drops at Aysgarth - note three buses in the background.
(L-R). Clive Roberts, Ken Clough, Arthur Hartley, Geoff Clarke, Angus Maude. (05/06/1999)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 916
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Pilgrim track has been laid out as a trial - I think at Aysgarth. (05/06/1999)
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Ref - 917
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Fencing continues around the coal drops at Aysgarth. (19/06/1999)
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Ref - 918
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Fencing was also taking place on the North and South boundary lines at Aysgarth which lasted a year. The fencing materials came from a temporary fence on a new build road somewhere.
(L-R) Bernard Morris, Cliff Hayes, Arthur Hartley. (03/07/1999)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 919
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The WRA post knocker and aligner in action at Aysgarth.
(L-R) Alan Rutter, Arthur Hartley, Cliff Hayes, Bernard Morris. (03/07/1999)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 920
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
3 years on, both Leyland Atlanteans are in the new WRC livery at Aysgarth. (14/08/1999)
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Ref - 921
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Ken Clough and Clive Roberts fitting a replacement donkey engine to the Rushton shunter at Aysgarth. (14/08/1999)
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Ref - 922
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Cliff Hayes painted the signal box. Note the fencing materials for the perimeter fencing at Aysgarth. (28/08/1999)
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Ref - 923
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Northallerton Rotoract members came on several occasions to help out, mainly with painting at Aysgarth. (25/09/1999)
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Ref - 924
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
View of the signal box exterior nearing completion at Aysgarth. (06/11/1999)
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Ref - 925
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
View of the waiting room exterior completion at Aysgarth. (19/02/2000)
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Ref - 926
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
More drainage repairs near the goods shed at Aysgarth.
(L-R) Paul Manley, Bernard Morris. (18/03/2000)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 927
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
More Drainage repairs at Aysgarth.
(L-R) Angus Maude, Clive Roberts, Bernard Morris, Alan Rutter, Cliff Hayes. (06/05/2000)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 928
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Bus leaving the site early morning, passing the still working coal depot at Aysgarth. (01/07/2000)
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Ref - 929
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The fencing gang having a breather at Aysgarth.
(L-R) Arthur Hartley, Clive Roberts, Mick Snowden, Cliff Hayes, Bernard Morris. (01/07/2000)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 930
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The last recorded job I have at Aysgarth. Fencing the front entrance. The big tree behind has since been felled as it was unsafe.
(L-R) Cliff Hayes, Colin Brown, Bernard Morris.
By this time the railway had procured the Leeming Bar site so we moved there. (29/07/2000)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 931
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Due to a donation of 2000 sleepers and a mile of track by Railtrack/First Engineering, most of the sleepers were stored at Aysgarth. Alan Rutters son Graham, came along with his JCB to help sort and load sleepers. (14/07/2001)
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Ref - 932
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
More sleepers been sorted into piles of good, medium, bad at Aysgarth.
(L-R) Cliff Hayes, Mick Snowden, Arthur Hartley, Bernard Morris. (14/07/2001)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 933
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Sleepers been loaded at Aysgarth into the Army truck for the new loop at Leeming Bar. (14/07/2001)
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Ref - 934
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Bedford MJ 80KD19 leaving Aysgarth for Leeming Bar with a load of sleepers. (14/07/2001)
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Ref - 935
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
Sorting sleepers at Aysgarth.
(L-R) Ian Farrer, Bernard Morris, Alan Rutter, Mick Snowden, Arthur Hartley. (28/07/2001)Click here to see higher resolution photo
Ref - 936
Photo - Michael Metcalfe
The last time we were at Aysgarth sorting more sleepers.
(L-R) Arthur Hartley, Bill Angus, Mick Snowden, Francis? (22/09/2001)Click here to see higher resolution photo
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