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Wensleydale Railway

47403

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21 May 2012
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Both 37s were on fine form today. Plenty of folk there, but not wedged. I inadvertently had a few yards of haulage from the 47 when they swapped locos just outside Leeming Bar to enable 254 to run round.

254 worked on the Cambrian a few times, but not when I was around to get it. Definitely a bigger visitor than 421 would have been.
Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself. Another 37 red penned. I know 37025 is on your radar at Keighley, is there many of the ones mainline or preserved ye after now.
 
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RailUK Forums

SuspectUsual

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Does anyone know the gradient profile of the WR, specifically either side of Bedale?

On the Leeming side the line must rise maybe a hundred feet between Bedale crossing and the level crossing between Aiskew and the A1 - basically the same rise as Aiskew bank on the road as the road is pretty much flat from the top of the bank along to the crossing

On the Leyburn side I suspect its not as steep, but must begin to rise from the new bypass bridge?
 

Magdalia

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The Fens
Does anyone know the gradient profile of the WR, specifically either side of Bedale?

On the Leeming side the line must rise maybe a hundred feet between Bedale crossing and the level crossing between Aiskew and the A1 - basically the same rise as Aiskew bank on the road as the road is pretty much flat from the top of the bank along to the crossing

On the Leyburn side I suspect its not as steep, but must begin to rise from the new bypass bridge?
You have a very mistaken perception of what is 100 feet of altitude.

Bedale and Aiskew level crossings are about a mile apart, a mile being 5280 feet. An altitude change of 100 feet in about 1 mile is a gradient of 1 in 53. The only preserved railway gradient steeper than 1 in 53 that I can immediately think of is the North York Moors between Grosmont and Goathland, which is 1 in 49. It would be steeper that the 1 in 60 climb to Medstead on the Watercress line.

I have been to the Wensleydale Railway, though it is a while ago now, and have stayed in Aiskew, including doing the bus from Northallerton, so I know the road and the railway. I can also read the Ordnance Survey map. This shows that the Bedale and Aiskew level crossings are both close to the 40 metre contour line, and the railway follows close to the contour line between the crossings. The line is close to level track between the two crossings, with no significant gradients.

The road is different: from Bedale it climbs quite steeply up above the 50 metre contour, so a height difference of a bit more than 10 metres (maybe 35-40 feet), but there is then a more gentle gradient down the other side, so that the altitude of the road is back down to about 40 metres at the Aiskew crossing.
 

John Webb

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St Albans
Does anyone know the gradient profile of the WR, specifically either side of Bedale?

On the Leeming side the line must rise maybe a hundred feet between Bedale crossing and the level crossing between Aiskew and the A1 - basically the same rise as Aiskew bank on the road as the road is pretty much flat from the top of the bank along to the crossing

On the Leyburn side I suspect its not as steep, but must begin to rise from the new bypass bridge?
According to Stanley C. Jenkin's book "The Wensleydale Railway - a New History" (Oakwood Press, 2nd Edition, 2002) the line leaves Leeming "on a gradient of around 1 in 104" and comments that the large bend approaching Bedale was not the originally planned route but was done to get the station close to the village. The distance from Leeming to Bedale is given as 1mile 57chains (approx a mile and three-quarters).

Unfortunately the book does not have a full gradient diagram - indeed the gradient I mention above is the only mention I could find other than comments on the gradients from Hawes to Hawes Junction/Garsdale!
 

HertiageFan

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Wakefield
Today I travelled on the members train. 37250 was hauling 5 blue and grey mk2s and 47714(on the Leyburn end), which had issues the previous day and, due to lack of time, could not be removed so was dragged around by 37250. Enjoyed my cake and tea. There wasn’t a single second when 37250 was silent, and the drivers were generous with tones. I was in the rear carriage and it felt like it was thrashing next to me during some moments.
 

SuspectUsual

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Today I travelled on the members train. 37250 was hauling 5 blue and grey mk2s and 47714(on the Leyburn end), which had issues the previous day and, due to lack of time, could not be removed so was dragged around by 37250. Enjoyed my cake and tea. There wasn’t a single second when 37250 was silent, and the drivers were generous with tones. I was in the rear carriage and it felt like it was thrashing next to me during some moments.

We live pretty close to the line and there was quite the racket coming across the field at the back of the house this afternoon
 

47403

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The sentinel is green, the yellow loco is ex Tyne and Wear Metro shunter WL4
I saw the T&WTPE old logo I just wasnt sure if it was a Sentinel shunter or not. I'll openly admit, Im pretty hopeless when it comes to ID'ing the Industrial stuff. So thanks for clearing that Mr Heritage fan. Everydays a school day. :D :D
 
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HertiageFan

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30 Jul 2025
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Wakefield
I saw the T&WTPE old logo I just wasnt sure if it was a Sentinel shunter or not. I'll openly admit, Im pretty hopeless when it comes to ID'ing the Industrial stuff. So thanks for clearing that Mr Heritage fan. Everydays a school day. :D :D
It’s my pleasure. Currently, 37250, D9523 (the red 14), WL4 and the sentinel are rostered to run with potential for 03144 and D9513 (the blue 14) to run as well. To be honest, the event an unusual locomotive WL4, which is one of two in preservation (along with WL3) and the only operational one at the time of writing.
 

47403

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Yeah the 2 class 14s are a bit of a draw, i hope they can get D9513 and 03144 fit. Who needs an excuse to ride behind the beast that is 37250 anytime too.
 

SuspectUsual

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Just been sat in the garden having a cup of coffee and I was disturbed (in the nicest possible way) by the sounds of 37250 wafting across the field. Lovely
 

HertiageFan

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Wakefield
Today I have discovered that they now have a trolley service, I enjoyed a cuppa while listening to 37250

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Today I have discovered that they now have a trolley service, I enjoyed a cuppa while listening to 37250
Lots of young volunteers there, always nice to see and all are so friendly, 37250 was in fine form today (as usual)
 
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SuspectUsual

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11 Jul 2018
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37250 was in fine form today (as usual)

Maybe it was the wind direction but I thought it sounded extra noisy going out of Bedale headed towards Leyburn

Incidentally, the Queen stage of the Tour of Britain cycling finishes on Leyburn a week on Saturday and the WR are running a park and ride from Bedale and Leeming as the traffic up the valley will be a nightmare (both sheer volume and the fact that the route crosses the main road at Patrick Brompton so will be shut for a period)
 

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