Wensleydale Railway

[paul1609]

Does anybody have idea when the Wensleydale expects to open to Northallerton?
I'm considering a day trip on saturday but coming from Kent leaves me a very tight bus connection at Leeming Bar (is 5 mins enough ?) on the way up and a similarly tight connection (tpe/ec) to the last train at York on the way back.
Is there likely to be a taxi available at Northallerton station?
Also is there still a bus service to Hawes from Redmire that connects with the trains?

 

[Buttsy]

Check out the Dales & District service 157 for Hawes - Redmire: http://www.procterscoaches.com/dales-district-timetables/
The 73 is the one that runs Northallerton - Leeming Bar
The 156 does Leyburn - Hawes

 

[IanD]

There's this bus service that used to be advertised by the railway as a connection:

http://dalesbus.org/wensleydalevintage.html

plus this year they also seem to be running their own bus from Redmire to Castle Bolton and Aysgarth Falls:

http://www.wensleydalerail.com/news/bus-link

 

[duffield]

Does anybody have idea when the Wensleydale expects to open to Northallerton?

Not this year!
I asked this question on another forum a few days ago and was told that due to delays in the planning process, Northallerton West is now a project for the coming winter, presumably with the intent of it being ready for the start of the 'season' in 2014.
Note that (if you don't know this already) that Northallerton West will be located at Spring Lane which (if I can remember my crude estimate correctly) is very roughly 3/4mile walk from Northallerton mainline station.

 

[paul1609]

Not this year!
I asked this question on another forum a few days ago and was told that due to delays in the planning process, Northallerton West is now a project for the coming winter, presumably with the intent of it being ready for the start of the 'season' in 2014.
Note that (if you don't know this already) that Northallerton West will be located at Spring Lane which (if I can remember my crude estimate correctly) is very roughly 3/4mile walk from Northallerton mainline station.

Thanks for the info, the bus it will be then, on the 07.00 ex Kings Cross all going well ATM the moment, hoping to make an unofficial connection at York!

 

[DarloRich]

Thanks for the info, the bus it will be then, on the 07.00 ex Kings Cross all going well ATM the moment, hoping to make an unofficial connection at York!

The bus takes about 20 minutes and leaves form opposite the railway station. If you have time i would recommend a trip to Bolton Castle which is a mile or two beyond Redmire. There is a bus that will take you there. They are every half hour.

There may a steam service today which tends to be the 1030 & 1400 from Leeming.

Have a good day!

Note that (if you don't know this already) that Northallerton West will be located at Spring Lane which (if I can remember my crude estimate correctly) is very roughly 3/4mile walk from Northallerton mainline station.

it is Springwell Lane actually. Spring Lane is the other end of town! It is a nice little walk through residential areas and will take about 15-20 minutes.

I have to say i really like the Wensleydale Railway and hope they do well.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Is their aspiration for the line extension to Garsdale still now part of their long-term project strategy, or has that been dropped ?

 

[DarloRich]

Is their aspiration for the line extension to Garsdale still now part of their long-term project strategy, or has that been dropped ?

Aspirational i think but they have tried to secure as much of the track bed as possible.

Aysgarth and Hawes are the first targets that way as these offer much more tourist traffic. The focus seems to be on opening towards Northallerton and eventually a station in Northallerton

 

[paul1609]

Aspirational i think but they have tried to secure as much of the track bed as possible.

Aysgarth and Hawes are the first targets that way as these offer much more tourist traffic. The focus seems to be on opening towards Northallerton and eventually a station in Northallerton

Is the south curve from the Wensleydale on to the ECML still available or has it been built on? I couldn't make out from the ECML train.
Quite enjoyed the day out, Bolton Castle was worth a visit as was Asgarth falls. I caught the bus up and walked back.
I think the Wensleydale is an exciting project but is of limited railway interest. Arriving back for the last train at Redmire there was only a single man portaloo to persuade me that I hadnt arrived at a disused freight terminal there was not even anywhere to shelter from the rain.
The whole operation gives an impression that its spread worryingly thin. The formation beyond Redmire needs complete replacement I walked along it from Castle Bolton and the ash embankments are undermined by rabbits and there is a major bridge over a beck missing just beyond the buffer stops.
Unless somebody has a large cheque book I cant really see any extension in that direction for some years. Like Darlorich however I think the place has a certain charm and its the sort of place Id volunteer at if I lived in Yorkshire.

 

[Ploughman]

This shot shows the Southern connection to the Wensleydale line in 1937.
However there were alterations to the layout in WW2 providing an emergency link from the avoiding lines to the ECML which are not shown on here.
http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw056044