On Saturday 3rd October from 9am to 6pm, the Wensleydale Railway open day will allow visitors to experience the wide range of interesting activities. At Leeming Bar there will be:
• Demonstration of track laying/track work
• Carriage restoration
• Example of a diesel locomotives (Class 20 with panels removed and shunter with panels removed)
• Level crossing keeping
• Administration/Office work
• Footplate rides on Joem steam locomotive
• Operation of the shop and buffet
• Leeming Bar Residents’ carriage
In addition there will be a Marquee with displays about future plans, cake stall, coffee stall and a Hog roast.
Visitors will have the added opportunity to spend time on the footplate and experience the engine as a train driver and two trains will run the length of the length of the line from Northallerton West to Redmire, stopping at each station to enable visitors to visit each location.
At Bedale there is to be viewing the signal box/signalling, Vegetation clearance, Display of pictures of the level crossing repair work (in the Training Room) and a demonstration of Bedale Station Group activities
At Leyburn there is to be an infrastructure demonstration on the platform, vegetation clearance and demonstration of FOLS, shop and Tea Bar activities
“This is a fantastic opportunity for visitors to learn at first hand how a heritage railway works and will get then into parts of the railway that a normal train ride can never provide. We hope that visitors experiencing these activities will be encouraged to join our volunteer programme and come along to enjoy a very satisfying volunteering role and become ambassadors for the Wensleydale Railway”. comments general manager, Nigel Park.
Trains will run between Northallerton and Redmire for this event and will stop at all stations. A Vintage Bus will also run from Leeming Bar to Scruton free of charge (donations welcome) and there is catering at Leyburn, Bedale and Leeming Bar. Free car parking is available at Leeming Bar. Activities will also take place at Aysgarth station.
Wensleydale Railway is one of the longest heritage railway routes in the country and operates and daily service in the main season between Leeming Bar and Redmire with Wednesday and Saturdays for the Northallerton-Leeming Bar section. Plans are in hand to extend the service in line with future demand.
For further information please contact;
Nigel Park, general manager, The Wensleydale Railway, Leeming Bar Station,
Leases Lane, Leeming Bar, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL7 9AR
Tel: 01325 251204 Mobile: 07446 381118
Email: generalmanager@wensleydalerailway.com
Notes for Editors: The Wensleydale Railway line now serves Northallerton West, Leeming Bar, Bedale, Finghall Lane, Leyburn and Redmire, a distance of 22 miles.