Wensleydale Railway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wensleydale Railway
Tornado at Newton-le-Willows in May 2019
Locale	North Yorkshire
Commercial operations
Name	Wensleydale Railway
Original gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Operated by	Wensleydale Railway plc
Stations	7
Length	22 miles (35 km)
Preserved gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
Opened	between 1848 & 1878
Closed to passengers	26 April 1954
Closed	1992
Preservation history
Headquarters	Leeming Bar

The Wensleydale Railway is a special old railway in Wensleydale and Lower Swaledale in North Yorkshire, England. It was built over time by different railway companies. The railway used to go all the way to Garsdale railway station on the Settle-Carlisle line. Since 2003, the remaining part of the line has been run as a special railway that celebrates history. The line is about 22 miles (35 km) long. It runs between Northallerton West station, which is a short walk from Northallerton station, and Redmire.

Trains run regularly for people between Leeming Bar and Redmire. There is also a shuttle train to Scruton. Sometimes, special freight trains or excursions travel along the full length of the line.

The railway used to stretch from Northallerton to Garsdale. However, the tracks between Redmire and Garsdale have been removed. Several bridges in that section have also been taken down. One of the goals of the Wensleydale Railway is to put the line back in place from Redmire to Garsdale. There is also a separate idea to connect Hawes to Garsdale. This would be for daily travel and tourists, not just for the heritage railway.

History of the Wensleydale Railway

On 26 June 1846, a special law was passed. This law allowed the Newcastle & Darlington Junction Railway company to build a railway line. It was to go between Northallerton and Bedale. The first part of the line, about 5+1⁄2-mile (8.9 km) long, opened on 6 March 1848. This section ran between Northallerton and Leeming Lane. The rest of the line to Bedale was not built. This was because a railway businessman named George Hudson had problems with his railway companies. So, the railway ended just west of the Great North Road in Leeming Bar. People wanting to go to Bedale had to finish their journey by horse and cart.

Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Junction Railway Act 1846
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act for making a Railway, to be called "The Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Junction Railway," with a Branch to the Town of Hawes.
Citation	9 & 10 Vict. c. xc
Dates
Royal assent	26 June 1846

Local landowners helped pay for the Bedale and Leyburn Railway. This was an 11+1⁄2-mile (18.5 km) extension from Leeming Bar to Leyburn. Permission for this was given on 4 August 1853. The part between Leeming Bar and Bedale station opened on 1 February 1855. The rest of the line opened on 28 November 1855 for goods and minerals. It opened for passengers on 19 May 1856. The York, Newcastle and Berwick company became part of the North Eastern Railway (NER) on 31 July 1854. The Bedale and Leyburn railway joined this bigger company in 1859.

Share of the Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle upon Tyne Junction Railway Company, issued 1. August 1846

In the mid-1840s, during a time called the "railway mania," a railway called the Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle upon Tyne Junction Railway was suggested. It was meant to connect Settle, Hawes and Askrigg. A law passed on 26 June 1846 gave permission for a main line. This line would go from Elslack to Scorton. It also included a branch line to Hawes. However, this plan did not work out.

In the late 1860s, several railway companies wanted to build lines to serve the farms around Hawes. Eventually, a law was passed on 16 July 1866. This law was mainly about the Settle and Carlisle line. But it also included a branch line from Garsdale to Hawes. This was proposed by the Midland Railway company. Another law was passed on 4 July 1870 for the North Eastern Railway. This law allowed them to build a railway between Leyburn and Hawes. Work on this line did not start until 1874. The part of this railway between Leyburn and Askrigg opened on 1 February 1877. The section between Askrigg and Hawes opened for goods on 1 June 1878. The Hawes branch of the Settle and Carlisle line opened for goods on 1 August 1878. Both the Askrigg to Hawes section and the Hawes to Garsdale section opened for passengers on 1 October 1878. There were delays in opening the section between Hawes Junction and Hawes. This was because it needed more difficult engineering work. It included one tunnel and two viaducts, and had steeper slopes. Just before it opened, a landslide at Mossdale needed extra work to clear the tracks.

At this point, there was a continuous railway route between Northallerton and Garsdale. Both railway companies could use each other's lines. The NER ran passenger trains west from Hawes, but no freight trains. The Midland company only used its right to run trains east to Leyburn. They also ran occasional special trips.

Changes to the Railway Line

The railway line remained a single track branch line. The only exception was the double track section between Leeming Bar and Bedale. The main things transported on the line were coal, milk, and stone. One passenger train ran each way between Garsdale and Hawes until 14 March 1959. At that time, this part of the line closed completely. However, freight trains continued to run from Northallerton to Hawes until 1964. On 27 April 1964, the line between Redmire and Hawes closed completely. The tracks west of Redmire were removed. Many bridges on this part of the line were taken down in 1965. Most freight trains on the line stopped in 1982. The only exception was the limestone traffic from Redmire to Teesside. This limestone was used for making steel. But this freight stopped in December 1992. This was because British Steel started getting its limestone from a different place. Because almost all trains stopped, the Leyburn loop and signal box were closed. Some special train tours ran to Redmire in the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. These tours, especially the DalesRail services in 1977, made people interested in bringing back passenger trains on the line.

Train Services

When the railway opened to Leyburn in 1856, there were five or six return journeys each day. By 1878, when the whole line was open, the NER ran five trains a day between Northallerton and Garsdale. The Midland Railway ran an extra daily return train from Hellifield to Hawes. People often called this train Bonnyface. In the 1880s, the Midland Railway ran two local passenger trains on the Settle-Carlisle Line. These trains connected with the NER local trains to Northallerton from Hawes Junction (Garsdale). The Midland (and later the LMS) also ran a second early morning train to Hawes only on Tuesdays. This was because Tuesday was the day of the cattle market in Hawes. The timetable from 1896 shows five trains going from Northallerton to Hawes. Four of these continued on to Hawes Junction. The same number of trains, five in total, came back down the valley towards Northallerton. Four of these started from Hawes Junction.

In 1914, there were five daily return trips along the full length of the line. Two more trains went part of the way. One went from Northallerton to Bedale, arriving at 10:07 am. Another went from Northallerton to Leyburn, arriving at 11:47 pm. In the other direction, the two extra trains were from Leyburn to Northallerton, leaving at 6:10 am, and from Hawes to Northallerton, leaving at 9:05 am. By 1939, three trains ran the full length of the line in both directions. There were also two extra services that either ended or started from Leyburn and Hawes. By 1942, only two trains ran the whole length of the line. But the third service was brought back by 1950.

After trains stopped running east from Hawes in 1954, the Bonnyface became a once-daily train. It connected Hawes with Hellifield.

Bringing the Railway Back to Life

Diesel multiple unit at Leyburn railway station in 2005

The Wensleydale Railway Association (WRA) was started in 1990. Its main goal was to bring back passenger trains. When British Rail decided to sell the line between Northallerton and Redmire, the WRA decided to take action. They wanted to run the passenger services themselves. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) was interested in using the line. They wanted to transport armoured vehicles to and from Catterick Garrison. The MoD paid for repairs and restoration of the line. They also paid for new loading areas at Redmire. The MoD did not mind the WRA taking over the line. A test train ran in November 1993. Full MoD operations started in July 1996. These military transport trains still run today.

In 2000, the WRA created a separate company called Wensleydale Railway plc (WRC). They offered shares to the public to raise money. They raised £1.2 million this way. Railtrack agreed to let WRC rent the line between Northallerton and Redmire. A 99-year lease was signed in 2003. Passenger services started again on 4 July 2003. The stations at Leeming Bar and Leyburn were reopened. In 2004, the stations at Bedale, Finghall, and Redmire also reopened. A passing loop was opened where the old Constable Burton station used to be. This allowed the railway to run two trains at the same time when needed.

In 2014, Scruton station was reopened. A new station was built at Northallerton West. This allowed passenger trains to go further east from Leeming Bar. However, this section was closed to passengers again in August 2016. This happened after a train hit a car at a level crossing near Yafforth. It is hoped that services will start again there in the future. This will happen once the level crossing equipment is improved.

In 2016, it was reported that the railway carries over 50,000 people each year. It was also found that for every £1 spent on the railway, £4 is spent in the towns or villages along the route.

The company's long-term goal is to reopen the 18 miles (29 km) of line west from Redmire. This would go through Castle Bolton, Aysgarth, Askrigg, Bainbridge, Hawes, and Mossdale. It would then connect with the Settle-Carlisle Railway Route at Garsdale. A study showed that extending the line to Aysgarth from Redmire (3 miles (4.8 km)) would bring in an extra £3.1 million per year to the local economy. It would also add £500,000 in yearly ticket sales for the railway. Aysgarth Station and its track area were sold to a private person in 2017. This helped free up money. The short-term plan is to extend the line about 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) to a new station serving Castle Bolton. This project is estimated to cost £2 million and is part of a five-year plan. To do this, a missing bridge that used to cross Apedale Beck west of Redmire station needs to be replaced. There was a plan to use an old bridge from the Catterick branch line. This bridge was removed in 2015 and stored at Redmire Station car park. However, the bridge was later found not to be suitable. It has since been cut up and removed.

In January 2019, a report by Campaign for Better Transport listed the Wensleydale Railway. It was a "Priority 2" line for reopening. Priority 2 lines need more development or a change in conditions, like new housing.

In 2019, trains stopped running between Leyburn and Redmire. This was because the tracks were in poor condition. As of 2024, services are still hoped to restart between these two stations. Trains currently end at Leyburn. A fundraising effort is happening now to pay for new tracks. The goal is to reopen this section by September 2025.

Upper Wensleydale Railway Plans

In late 2019 and early 2020, a separate group called the Upper Wensleydale Railway was formed. This group wants to bring back the railway line between Hawes and Garsdale. Their goal is to have regular trains run all year by a train operating company. This would be different from a heritage service. This plan was chosen for possible funding in June 2020. This was part of the government's "Reverse Beeching Fund."

How the Railway is Organized

The old Great Eastern Railway signal box at Leeming Bar. It used to be at North Wootton

The Wensleydale Railway plc is in charge of running, maintaining, and improving the railway line and its passenger services. The company has both paid staff and volunteers.

The Wensleydale Railway Association (Trust) Ltd is a group for members and a registered charity. It helps the railway by raising money and providing volunteers. It also offers training and supports work on historic buildings like Scruton station and Bedale signal box.

Locomotives and Trains

Diesel locomotives

Number & Name	Description	Current Status	Livery	Owner	Date Built	Photograph
No. 37250 (D6950)	Class 37	Operational	EWS	Private Owner.	1964
No. 33035 (D6553)	Class 33	Operational	BR Blue	Pioneer Diesels	1961
No. D9523	Class 14	Operational	BR Maroon		1964
No. D9513	Class 14	Operational	NCB Blue	Private Owner	1964
No. 03144	Class 03	Operational	BR Blue
No. 47714	Class 47	Operational	Rail Express Systems

The railway also has an 0-6-0 Sentinel Shunter and a Tyne and Wear Metro Shunter WL4.

Some locomotives, like 20169 and 37674, were moved from the Wensleydale Railway in December 2020.

Other locomotives that were stored or not used, including No. 25313 (D7663), No. 31454, No. 37503 (D6717), No. 60086, and No. 60050, were all removed from the railway in spring 2021. Class 9F No. 92219 was moved from the railway in December 2020 to a private place. It then moved to the Strathspey Railway in 2023. Other locomotives were also moved from the Wensleydale Railway at the same time because the railway was too crowded and needed space to operate.

144004 and 144016 at Bedale

Leeming Bar Community hub

• Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs)
  • BR Class 121 No. 55032
  • BR Class 142 No. 142018, which will be painted in Chocolate and Cream colours
  • BR Class 142 No. 142028
  • BR Class 142 No. 142041
  • BR Class 142 No. 142060
  • BR Class 142 No. 142078, currently stored
  • BR Class 142 No. 142087, currently stored
  • BR Class 142 No. 142090, currently stored
  • BR Class 142 No. 142094, currently stored
  • BR Class 144 No. 144020 (waiting to be used)

In autumn 2020, BR Class 144 Nos. 144004 and 144016 were temporarily stored at the railway. They were waiting to be moved by road to the Aln Valley Railway. They left the Wensleydale Railway in December 2020.

Railway Incidents

• 15 February 1867 – Two trains crashed on a single track section west of Newton-le-Willows station. One train was moving to switch tracks to let the other train enter the station. Both trains were given signals to enter the single track at the same time, causing them to crash head-on. Only passengers on one train were hurt. An investigation suggested that a passing loop and a second platform should be added.
• 24 December 1894 – A goods train from Hawes was moving around the yard at Bedale. A heavy goods train arriving from Darlington crashed into it. One of the wagons fell down a bank, but no one was hurt. However, passengers had to get off their train and walk through the station to get on other trains to continue their journeys.
• 6 December 1900 – A landslide north of Bedale Signal Box caused a train to go off the tracks. It ended up in Bedale Beck. The fireman was badly burned and taken to Northallerton Cottage Hospital, where he later passed away.
• 1988 – A limestone train from Redmire went off the tracks at the level crossing outside Bedale railway station. This damaged the track and station. Rotten wooden sleepers were blamed for the accident. It took over 48 hours to clear up the mess, causing problems for local roads.
• 30 June 2011 – A tractor was hit by a train at Flood Bridge.
• 1 August 2011 – A car was hit by a train at Fox Park level crossing. This happened between Jervaulx and Crakehall stations. No one was reported injured. These two accidents led the heritage railway to improve its safety rules.
• 20 October 2012 – A car was hit by a train at Fox Park level crossing.
• 30 January 2013 – A car was hit by a train at Aiskew level crossing. This crossing used to carry the A684 road over the railway. The A684 road has gone around this area since 2014.
• 3 August 2016 – A heritage train going west from Northallerton West railway station hit a car at a level crossing near the village of Yafforth. The lights and alarms at the crossing were working correctly. The car driver and two passengers on the train were injured.