Author: gp

The Wensleydale Railway had a meeting of ‘bubble cars’ recently when David Garner, chairman of the Messerschmitt Owners Club visited the railway. David is also a railway enthusiast and was keen to see and ride on the Wensleydale Railway’s own Class 121 “bubble car” so he brought his own Messerschmitt ‘bubble car’ to ‘meet’ the railway’s ‘bubble car’ at Leeming Bar station.

David is now intending to undertake the Wensleydale Train Driver Training Course.

“When I heard about the Wensleydale Railway “bubble car” from their PR agent, I thought what a great opportunity to put my two interests together and take the Railway’s engine driving course”. Comments David

The Wensleydale Railway “bubble car” no: 55032 was acquired earlier this year and is one of sixteen Class 121 single-car, double-ended driving motor vehicles that were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten single-ended trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 (later renumbered 54280–54289).

They have a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes. The driving motor vehicles were nicknamed “Bubble cars” by some enthusiasts (a nickname now endorsed by current commercial operator Chiltern Railways). The Class 121 is Britain’s longest serving DMU, having been in service for 55 years as of 2015.

 

Stoke Rochford Hall near Grantham has announced Iron Lady Tours that introduces visitors to the place where Margaret Thatcher grew up as a grocer’s daughter and went on to become Britain’s first woman Prime Minister.

October 13^th 2015 would have been her 90^th birthday.

The new tour will guide guests to locations in Grantham beginning with the site of Thatcher’s home, her school, a visit to the Grantham Museum where there is an exhibition about Margaret Thatcher and includes details of the Margaret Thatcher Statue campaign. Also at the Grantham Museum guests will have the opportunity to see the D-Day exhibition and the Dambusters exhibition, the iconic raid on Germany’s Ruhr Valley in 1943, the historic achievement of this raid and the crucial part it played in World War Two that was devised in Grantham.

“Margaret Thatcher remains one of the UK’s most important political figures. Her connection with Grantham is evident in her biographies and in recognition of her association with Grantham, and whatever people’s views about her may be, she is one of the dominant political figures of 20th century Britain, and the political philosophy that bears her name ‘Thatcherism’ is recognised worldwide. This tour will explore her early life and the things that influenced her.” comments Barry Clark, general manager.

Another famous son of Grantham, is Nicholas Parsons whose father was a doctor in a country practice in Grantham. Among his patients were the Robert’s family which included young Margaret who became Margaret Thatcher. Nicholas went to the same school as her, Grantham & Kesteven High School for Girls! In the kindergarden they took boys … not what you might think. He moved to London with his family when he was 8 years old.

Visitors will also be invited to learn about other Grantham historic sites including the statue of Isaac Newton (1642-1727) the mathematician and physicist who was one of the foremost scientific intellects of all time. He was born at Woolsthorpe, near Grantham in Lincolnshire, where he attended school.

“Grantham has been somewhat unfairly dubbed as boring in the past and may be somewhere that people have only seen from a train or passed in a hurry on the A1 but there is so much to explore and discover. We hope that this new tour will encourage people to stay longer, to learn about its rich and varied past and its people”. added Barry.

At the hotel, guests will have an historical tour of Stoke Rochford Hall that explains the background to the imposing grand hotel, which began as the site of a Roman Villa, was the location for a series of noble houses and for 18 months in WW11 housed the headquarters of the Second Battalion of the Parachute Regiment. Here, on the Library floor, the plans were laid which led to the ill-fated Arnhem ‘drop’ of 1944.

‘Iron Lady’ tours include a two night stay, dinner and breakfast and is available for independent travellers and for group visits.

For further information please contact: Barry Clark, general manager, Stoke Rochford Hall Hotel, Stoke Rochford, Grantham, NG33 5EJ Tel: 01476 530337 Email: b.clark@stokerochfordhall.co.uk

Press Contact: John Gallery, Great Potential T: 07967 032623

E: johngallery@greatpotential.co.uk

Notes for Editors: Stoke Rochford Hall, near Grantham in Lincolnshire is a unique 96 room hotel, conference and banqueting centre. A Victorian country mansion  set within formal landscaped gardens and 28 acres of parkland.

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.

On Saturday 26^th September, the Wensleydale Railway will be running the Joem Steam engine for a special steam day between Leeming Bar and Northallerton.

Visitors will have the added opportunity to spend time on the footplate and experience the engine as a train driver. The arrangements for this will on a ‘first come first served’ basis for places during travel and will be available for other visitors at each stopping station.

Open Day at Wensleydale Railway on Saturday 3^rd October 2015 – Visitors invited to see behind the scenes and learn about Volunteering opportunities

On Saturday 3^rd October, the Wensleydale Railway is staging a special open day that 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.

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.

more details: www.wensleydalerail.com

 

Carlton Lodge Activity Centre near Thirsk, North Yorkshire has announced new courses in Caving for team building and education that provides a range of subterranean experiences.

Caving instructor George Plant who has recently completed the British Caving Association’s (BCA) highest instructing award, the Caving Instructors Certificate (CIC), will deliver the courses that offer three levels:

• Introductory Caving – suitable for novices
• Intermediate Caving – For those with some previous underground experience who want a taste of the vertical.
• Advanced Caving – For those who have experienced caving and want to go further.

Caving courses begin at £170 per person including full board accommodation.

David Sharp, chief executive said: “Caving is a fascinating experience and in North Yorkshire we have the premier caving region in the British Isles. Our skilled and qualified instructors will show students the experiences from a choice of suitable caves where they will discover it is unlike anything else.”

The courses are ideal for corporate groups for team building and challenge events for normally desk-bound executives and other adults seeking an extreme adventure experience for leisure.

“As alien as scuba-diving or space-travel but available to all, caving provides ‘dirty-learning’ that children and adults can all enjoy“. added George Plant, caving instructor at Carlton Lodge.

For further information please contact: Mark Faulkner, Head of Centre

North Yorkshire Youth, Carlton Lodge, Carlton Miniott, Thirsk, YO7 4NJ

Tel: 01845 522 145  e-mail: mark@nyy.org.uk

Websites: North Yorkshire Youth: www.nyy.org.uk Carlton Lodge Activity Centre: www.carltonlodge.org.uk

Notes for Editors:  North Yorkshire Youth, provides opportunities for children and young people to learn and grow by:

• Supporting youth development work in North Yorkshire communities
• Providing  day and residential programmes of adventurous activities from Carlton Lodge Activity Centre
• Providing training opportunities for young people and those who work with them

• NYY’s mission remains the same as that of its founders in 1941 –‘to help children and young people to realise their full potential by enhancing and improving our range of learning and development opportunities’.