Wensleydale Railway

[MiNi]

Any truth in the rumour that Wensleydale have acquired 47714 for the line.?

 

[47434]

Yes. Truth in said rumour. It was in the members newsletter this month.

 

[DarloRich]

Is that the Anglia liveried carriage warmer at Wabtec in Doncaster?

 

[Gwr12345]

Can I ask why? Back in 2020/21 when they published their rolling stock strategy, they said a 47 would be too big for regular use, rather a hire would be better?

 

[Tractor37]

Is that the Anglia liveried carriage warmer at Wabtec in Doncaster?

Yes

 

[paul1609]

Can I ask why? Back in 2020/21 when they published their rolling stock strategy, they said a 47 would be too big for regular use, rather a hire would be better?

Have to say, having seen the Wensleydales track issues a 100+ ton co-co diesel loco doesnt really strike me as a good idea.

 

[duffield]

Have to say, having seen the Wensleydales track issues a 100+ ton co-co diesel loco doesnt really strike me as a good idea.

Maybe it will flatten out some of the bumpier bits.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Have to say, having seen the Wensleydales track issues a 100+ ton co-co diesel loco doesnt really strike me as a good idea.

Drove the 143 a couple weeks ago, there's a 10mph TSR where badgers dug a tunnel and it collapsed, as well as long sections of 15mph where new tracks are sat in the middle of the old, hopefully those new tracks can be moved in (problems with staff availability to do so) and the loco isn't too difficult.

 

[renegademaster]

Yes

That's in a pretty awful state at the moment. Hopefully all the rust is just cosmetic

 

[Iskra]

That's in a pretty awful state at the moment. Hopefully all the rust is just cosmetic

Just to illustrate the point for anyone who doesn’t pass through Doncaster regularly. At least it’s not the 47 on the right though, that looks a right mess. Hopefully the Anglia 47 gets a bit of TLC and a repaint at the Wensleydale.



Presumably a 47 is more suitable for relatively long trips compared to the Class 14, the rods of which presumably put a fair bit of force down on the tracks too?

 

[rustbucket]

Just to illustrate the point for anyone who doesn’t pass through Doncaster regularly. At least it’s not the 47 on the right though, that looks a right mess. Hopefully the Anglia 47 gets a bit of TLC and a repaint at the Wensleydale.

View attachment 160050

Presumably a 47 is more suitable for relatively long trips compared to the Class 14, the rods of which presumably put a fair bit of force down on the tracks too?

Will be important for the Polar season for them as well with the need for eth

 

[paul1609]

Drove the 143 a couple weeks ago, there's a 10mph TSR where badgers dug a tunnel and it collapsed, as well as long sections of 15mph where new tracks are sat in the middle of the old, hopefully those new tracks can be moved in (problems with staff availability to do so) and the loco isn't too difficult.

Have they replaced many of the wooden sleepers? 22 miles of track with wooden sleepers and a volunteer pway workforce isnt viable long term. You wont be able to keep up with the renewals needed let alone improve the track.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Have they replaced many of the wooden sleepers? 22 miles of track with wooden sleepers and a volunteer pway workforce isnt viable long term. You wont be able to keep up with the renewals needed let alone improve the track.

Wasn't really paying attention to sleepers unfortunately, was mostly focussed on driving the train.

The footage family took shows wooden sleepers, but couldn't tell you how new they are

 

[47434]

Will be important for the Polar season for them as well with the need for eth

Exactly, it won't be running 22 miles of track on a regular basis. Only Leeming Bar to Constable Burton for Polar plus out of season diners which need heat. A sensible strategic purchase in my opinion, the 33 has been a great performer but hiring 701 engine last year was expensive as a back up. Polar has allowed the railway to become debt free and enable significant infra repairs e.g. Aiskew and Harmby Cutting - so it must be protected.

 

[paul1609]

Wasn't really paying attention to sleepers unfortunately, was mostly focussed on driving the train.

The footage family took shows wooden sleepers, but couldn't tell you how new they are

Wooden sleepers are fine in stations and other photographic locations but railway track has around 1400 sleepers in a mile of plain track so the 22 miles of the Wensleydale has in excess of 31000 sleepers. Standard wooden sleepers have a life of around 30 years so you need to change over a 1000 sleepers a year just to maintain the track without tackling any backlog. From my teeenage years until my thirties I was involved in this battle albeit in Kent. Its why the mainline and most preserved railways dont use wooden sleepers anymore.

 

[47434]

Wooden sleepers are fine in stations and other photographic locations but railway track has around 1400 sleepers in a mile of plain track so the 22 miles of the Wensleydale has in excess of 31000 sleepers. Standard wooden sleepers have a life of around 30 years so you need to change over a 1000 sleepers a year just to maintain the track without tackling any backlog. From my teeenage years until my thirties I was involved in this battle albeit in Kent. Its why the mainline and most preserved railways dont use wooden sleepers anymore.

The last 3 relays at WR have all gone down on concretes.

 

[bishdunster]

allowing for the old standard of 24 per 60' panel thats 2112 per mile , however even on presesrved lines it makes sense these days to relay at 26 sleepers per 60' panel

 

[DarloRich]

I had a trip out on the Wensleydale Railway on Sunday. it was a lovely day and my mum fancied a trip out with a spot of lunch in Leyburn. Sadly, I thought, we found the class 143 at Leeming ready to run up to Leyburn and I was a bit apprehensive about travelling because, well, pacer.

Actually the trip was great, the pacer was lightly loaded, the windows give a great view of the scenery, the seats were good but being an ex ATW there were few bays of 4, the run was gentle so the pacer wasn't having its guts flogged out trying to keep to 75mph and there were very limited squeeeeeellllllllllsssss! As we couldn't get in the pub my mum wanted we had a cup of tea at Leyburn and came straight back to Leeming. Sadly on arrival at Leeming we found the class 33 burbling away on a rake of coaches but such is life!

They do seem to have half the ex northern Pacer fleet stored in various bushes and still have a bit of a liner scrap yard feel in places but a lot of the more rotten stuff seems to have gone since my last visit. The pacer was in good nick, very clean and tidy and looked good in RR livery. if only the 37 was on..........................

I have to say they seem to be going in the right direction and while the pacer fleet will put some people off they will be idea for lightly loaded trains. I hope they get the infrastructure work done and can soon run to Redmire.

 

[paul1609]

allowing for the old standard of 24 per 60' panel thats 2112 per mile , however even on presesrved lines it makes sense these days to relay at 26 sleepers per 60' panel

yes you are correct, I was having a brainstorm!

 

[12LDA28C]

Have to say, having seen the Wensleydales track issues a 100+ ton co-co diesel loco doesnt really strike me as a good idea.

Although of course 47715 was a resident at the Wensleydale for many years, seemingly without issue.

 

[47434]

I had a trip out on the Wensleydale Railway on Sunday. it was a lovely day and my mum fancied a trip out with a spot of lunch in Leyburn. Sadly, I thought, we found the class 143 at Leeming ready to run up to Leyburn and I was a bit apprehensive about travelling because, well, pacer.

Actually the trip was great, the pacer was lightly loaded, the windows give a great view of the scenery, the seats were good but being an ex ATW there were few bays of 4, the run was gentle so the pacer wasn't having its guts flogged out trying to keep to 75mph and there were very limited squeeeeeellllllllllsssss! As we couldn't get in the pub my mum wanted we had a cup of tea at Leyburn and came straight back to Leeming. Sadly on arrival at Leeming we found the class 33 burbling away on a rake of coaches but such is life!

They do seem to have half the ex northern Pacer fleet stored in various bushes and still have a bit of a liner scrap yard feel in places but a lot of the more rotten stuff seems to have gone since my last visit. The pacer was in good nick, very clean and tidy and looked good in RR livery. if only the 37 was on..........................

I have to say they seem to be going in the right direction and while the pacer fleet will put some people off they will be idea for lightly loaded trains. I hope they get the infrastructure work done and can soon run to Redmire.

I think what Wensleydale have achieved is impressive. They haven't tried to be too bold and gradually built the railway up - a far cry from the madness of the early days where they burnt through money running a daily service. I visit a couple of times a year and each time I go, something has changed for the better. I sense they desperately need more volunteers but then most places do. Looking forward to 714 being resident there.

 

[paul1609]

Although of course 47715 was a resident at the Wensleydale for many years, seemingly without issue.

Except a large amount of the railway is closed to passengers services because the track is worn out?

 

[47434]

Except a large amount of the railway is closed to passengers services because the track is worn out?

5 miles is closed to Redmire because the track and draining needs sorting properly. I recall reading that track around Redmire is approaching 100 years old - not intrinsically linked to running 715. The heavy stone trains which ran daily probably put a fair amount of wear and tear on this.

The section to Northallerton is closed to passenger services because it isn't commercially viable.

 

[ThetrackMaster]

I think what Wensleydale have achieved is impressive. They haven't tried to be too bold and gradually built the railway up - a far cry from the madness of the early days where they burnt through money running a daily service. I visit a couple of times a year and each time I go, something has changed for the better. I sense they desperately need more volunteers but then most places do. Looking forward to 714 being resident there.

I would agree with you there, what they have / are achieving is simply fantastic. My mate visits a couple of times a month and I always try to when I'm up that way and the changes can be seen.
They don't appear to be living beyond their means.
The word is that they have several new people in and around the Trust who also I believe integrate with the PLC to apparently the good of the WR.
I think like all HR's they suffer from a lack of volunteers, however I think what is slightly misleading is in the name "Wensleydale"?
"Wensleydale" is an area not a town or village and of course better known as being smack in the Yorkshire Dales.
Contrary a lot of people assume you have to journey to the YD's to visit when in fact the WR starts from just outside of Northallerton.

 

[DarloRich]

"Wensleydale" is an area not a town or village and of course better known as being smack in the Yorkshire Dales.

the Bolton & Embassy Railway are known as the Yorkshire Dales Railway

 

[paul1609]

I would agree with you there, what they have / are achieving is simply fantastic. My mate visits a couple of times a month and I always try to when I'm up that way and the changes can be seen.
They don't appear to be living beyond their means.
The word is that they have several new people in and around the Trust who also I believe integrate with the PLC to apparently the good of the WR.
I think like all HR's they suffer from a lack of volunteers, however I think what is slightly misleading is in the name "Wensleydale"?
"Wensleydale" is an area not a town or village and of course better known as being smack in the Yorkshire Dales.
Contrary a lot of people assume you have to journey to the YD's to visit when in fact the WR starts from just outside of Northallerton.

In fact none of the Wensleydale Railway is in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, that starts about 1/2 mile as the now closed Redmire station.

 

[Train Maniac]

Yes

Haha! Thats gonna take a fair bit of money to restore, didnt know it was still in use

Regarding weight issues, i dont see why there would be a problem, didnt 66s work on the line until relatively recently?

 

[ThetrackMaster]

In fact none of the Wensleydale Railway is in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, that starts about 1/2 mile as the now closed Redmire station.

Ok...you've got me...clutching at straws now ha ha on a technicality!! The point is, taking Wallace & Grommet into account, everyone thinks the WR is somewhere in the Yorkshire Dales, outer mongolia etc, when in fact for the purpose of volunteering and visitors its very much near to the lovely Town of Northallerton.
Close to London - Edinburgh main line, York, Teesside, A1M...etc.

 

[paul1609]

Ok...you've got me...clutching at straws now ha ha on a technicality!! The point is, taking Wallace & Grommet into account, everyone thinks the WR is somewhere in the Yorkshire Dales, outer mongolia etc, when in fact for the purpose of volunteering and visitors its very much near to the lovely Town of Northallerton.
Close to London - Edinburgh main line, York, Teesside, A1M...etc.

Indeed in the past Ive called in at Leeming Bar station on my Kent to Scotland commutes. Ive even done a couple of day trips from Kent. However Im one of those people that likes to do something in the middle of the day out and I think all the sort of things Im interested in are at Redmire, Castle Bolton and Aysgarth etc. so I probably wouldnt be interested again until the line reopens to Redmire

 

[DarloRich]

Im one of those people that likes to do something in the middle of the day out and I think all the sort of things Im interested in are at Redmire, Castle Bolton and Aysgarth etc. so I probably wouldnt be interested again until the line reopens to Redmire

there are a couple of nice pubs for lunch in Leyburn.