The Alston Branch

[Mark62]

I wasn't lecturing them mate I was advising them of the law and how to save their bus. They weren't interested .they wanted someone else to do it for them as usual.
How would would you advise someone of their rights under the act of deregulation?
Not everyone lives in the city. Plenty of shops in rural areas allow dogs. It's not illegal to have dogs in shops, butchers, cafes etc it's discretionary
In Alstons case, a dead town, the can't afford to turn away custom. Maybe that's why it's a dead town. They don't want custom.

 

[Mark62]

I've been to the old station in Allendale. It's a caravan park now. Actually, the station isn't in Allendale it's some way out. The intention was,to run it to Allenhaeds but they didn't even make it to Allendale.
Apparatly it was a difficult line with steep gradients and curves. Service was sparse and the bus was faster.
The A69 is one part of the old track bed from hexham.
Allendale station is in good condition and not far from the superb Allendale brewary. Both are worth a visit.

 

[backontrack]

I wasn't lecturing them mate I was advising them of the law and how to save their bus. They weren't interested .they wanted someone else to do it for them as usual.
How would would you advise someone of their rights under the act of deregulation?
Not everyone lives in the city. Plenty of shops in rural areas allow dogs. It's not illegal to have dogs in shops, butchers, cafes etc it's discretionary
In Alstons case, a dead town, the can't afford to turn away custom. Maybe that's why it's a dead town. They don't want custom.

Alston is also England's highest market town, and the town with the worst gender imbalance in Britain; in 2005, there were ten men to a single woman in the town.

Interestingly, Alston is joint top for gender imbalance in the UK...with Bere Alston in Devon.

Wolsingham, in Weardale, is third, while towns like Hythe (Kent) and Hexham are also in the top ten, as are Long Preston in Craven, the New Forest, and the entire region of Donegal.

 

[backontrack]

I've been to the old station in Allendale. It's a caravan park now. Actually, the station isn't in Allendale it's some way out. The intention was,to run it to Allenhaeds but they didn't even make it to Allendale.
Apparatly it was a difficult line with steep gradients and curves. Service was sparse and the bus was faster.
The A69 is one part of the old track bed from hexham.
Allendale station is in good condition and not far from the superb Allendale brewary. Both are worth a visit.

Thank you for that travel tip! It's interesting that some of the trackbed was used (similarly, on the Keswick-Workington line, between Braithwaite and the east of Cockermouth, and between the A66/A55 roundabout and Broughton Cross, the old trackbed was used for the railway).

Allendale station was originally called Catt Road.

And any mention of Allenheads reminds me of this...

 

[transmanche]

How would would you advise someone of their rights under the act of deregulation?

I wouldn't presume to lecture people on the bus...

 

[Tetchytyke]

It is uncertain whether the service will ever come back (apparently Virgin are against it) but that line should certainly never have closed.

I can't see why it would have anything to do with Virgin, but it also wouldn't surprise me that they're against it. They're against serving Penrith at the best of times.

The Keswick branch will not reopen in my lifetime, of that I am certain. Too expensive, too difficult, too rural.

 

[backontrack]

I can't see why it would have anything to do with Virgin, but it also wouldn't surprise me that they're against it. They're against serving Penrith at the best of times.

Also, I imagine that they wouldn't be the TOC operating the services to Keswick - it would likely either be the TPExpress or Northern franchise.

 

[snowball]

and the town with the worst gender imbalance in Britain; in 2005, there were ten men to every one woman in the town.

Ten men to each woman sounds a bit excessive. Googling around, I find this BBC report, which says ten men for each single woman. That sounds more plausible.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4158618.stm

 

[DarloRich]

Wolsingham

Wolsingham - where men are men and sheep are worried!

Wolsingham can, sometimes, be reached by train via the Weardale Railway.

 

[backontrack]

Wolsingham - where men are men and sheep are worried!

Wolsingham can, sometimes, be reached by train via the Weardale Railway.

It used to be the line's eastern terminus. Have they reached Eastgate yet?

 

[DarloRich]

It used to be the line's eastern terminus. Have they reached Eastgate yet?

the sheep? I should think they are well past Eastgate by now!

I have been right up to the old cement works at Eastgate so have done the full line

 

[backontrack]

the sheep? I should think they are well past Eastgate by now!

I have been right up to the old cement works at Eastgate so have done the full line

I see, thanks. It's a shame that they no longer operate to Bishop Auckland.

 

[backontrack]

Welcome on board - i would love to say that the line would have a business case today but i just cant see it. it is amazing it lasted as long as 1976.

Wasn't the line already earmarked for closure before Beeching came along?

 

[StoneRoad]

Alston is a funny (peculiar) place.
Much of the area seems to have a similar feel to that of Blaenau Ffestiniog area during the 1970/1985 sort of period.
So maybe, it might drag itself up or not.
It certainly hasn't woken up from winter hibernation, yet ! I was up there a few days ago, myself.

 

[backontrack]

Alston is a funny (peculiar) place.
Much of the area seems to have a similar feel to that of Blaenau Ffestiniog area during the 1970/1985 sort of period.
So maybe, it might drag itself up or not.
It certainly hasn't woken up from winter hibernation, yet ! I was up there a few days ago, myself.

A good comparison. I imagine that, if the Alston Branch were still open, it would have a similar service to the Conwy Valley Line, albeit without the lure of a place like Betws-y-Coed en route.

 

[HowardGWR]

A good comparison. I imagine that, if the Alston Branch were still open, it would have a similar service to the Conwy Valley Line, albeit without the lure of a place like Betws-y-Coed en route.

I am trying to remember the 'lure' of Betws-y-Coed but I'm not getting there. I expect it's what the Park authorities call a 'honeypot' nowadays. My dear late FIL went there. He pronounced it 'Bets why Co-ed'!
I've looked at the Alston railway web site in the past. They seem very keen and not at all asleep. They seem to be doing a great job. To the OP, please accept my condolences.

 

[backontrack]

I am trying to remember the 'lure' of Betws-y-Coed but I'm not getting there. I expect it's what the Park authorities call a 'honeypot' nowadays. My dear late FIL went there.

Maybe, but if it's a 'honeypot' then it must have appeal for some people It's also close to a couple of wonderful waterfalls.

Also, my condolences.