Revealing the stories behind Wensleydale Railway’s stations

Revealing the stories behind Wensleydale Railway’s stations

A generous bequest of family photographs has inspired a remarkable research journey

A recent donation of family photographs has sparked a fascinating journey of discovery, enabling staff and volunteers at the Wensleydale Railway to piece together the story of one of its stations, Finghall Lane near Bedale.

The photographs were kindly given to us by Mrs Jane Stringer, who, having inherited them from a family friend, got in touch to find out if they would be of interest to us. The remarkable photographs, which date from the late 1880s through to the 1930s, depict the station in its heyday, with its beautifully-maintained flower beds and five staff including Station Master, George Metcalfe, who ran it from the mid 1890s until just after the First World War. Born at Great Fencote near Northallerton, George was employed by the North Eastern Railway Company all his working life, working his way up from the roles of porter and signalman to the respected position of Station Master over 50 years.

‘This is a real glimpse into the past for us, given that few people had access to cameras until well into the twentieth century’ commented Virginia Arrowsmith, our Heritage Education Officer, ‘and it’s also really valuable resource for us to share with schools, who visit us to explore what life was like on the railway in Victorian and Edwardian times.’

We are running an ongoing research programme into the history of the Wensleydale Railway, which runs from Leeming Bar to Redmire, and we would be delighted to hear from anyone who has a family connection with the railway or can help us piece together its story over the last 150 years. To get in touch, please email education@wensleydalerailway.com or telephone 01677 425805.

 

Sir Gary Verity to open restored heritage railway carriage

Aysgarth Railway Carriage

Official Opening by Sir Gary Verity, CEO, Welcome to Yorkshire of restored and transformed heritage Railway carriage.

When: Monday 19th October 2015 Time: 9am for 9.30am

Where: Aysgarth Station, Aysgarth, Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

On Monday 19th October, guest of honour Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, will open the restored heritage carriage Coach 5345 at the Wensleydale Railway’s Aysgarth Station.

Coach 5345 was rescued from the siding at Redmire in March 2014 and moved to Aysgarth Station in April 2015. Volunteers from the Aysgarth Station Project (TASP), supported by the Wensleydale Railway Trust and Carperby Parish Council, successfully applied for a grant of £5000 from the Richmondshire Community Opportunities Fund to assist with the restoration. TASP volunteers, supported by local businesses, completed the restoration to a very tight deadline (to comply with funding conditions).

“We began this project with great enthusiasm and after four months of very hard and sometimes frustrating work, the results are impressive.  We still have some minor jobs to do to complete the project, but will be ready to use 5345 as the Aysgarth meeting room/café for next season.  The restoration work has been undertaken by TASP volunteers with the support of local people and businesses.” commented TASP chairman, Neil Barker.

“Thanks to them, to all those who came and helped at Open Days (regulars and occasional visitors, cake makers etc.) and finally, but not least, to our families for putting up with our obsession! We are a small, but effective, go-ahead team and have welcomed several new members this year. We work on most Wednesdays and Saturdays: come and join us; there will always be something that volunteers can make a contribution to, or even learn a new skill.” added Neil.

The 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. The Railway is considering an extension of the line from Redmire to Aysgarth Falls, a return to the centre of Northallerton, and a general upgrade of the line, stations and trains.

“The carriage will be an asset to the Wensleydale Railway and shows our ongoing commitment to a presence in the Upper Dale” commented General manger Nigel Park.

Attendance at the event can be booked at: http://bit.ly/AysgarthCarriageOpening

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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: 01677 425805 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.