On Sunday a group of us (Eazypeazy, DaveNewcastle, Evil_Hippo, Metrocammel, Nick W and myself) cycled along the Waskerley Way up the Crawleyside incline and then the fantastic, mostly downhill track from there to Chester-le-Street.
Except we got a bit delayed due to various reasons so, at Annfield Plain, we diverted to Durham, as the service from CLS is utterly abysmal - the last southbound train being 1657, the 1807 heading North was too late for Nick W's AP ticket, but we got the 1737 from Durham so all was fine in the end.
Thanks to all who came, especially thanks to DaveNewcastle for taking the bikes in the van from Durham/Willington to Wolsingham.
The Weardale Railway looked as if it is completely abandoned at Wolsingham, but it did run! Shame they run a Pacer. But the staff were friendly on board.
The meet was a great success, and we are definitely going to cover the route again (I have made that promise already to Adam P and Paul1609 who were unable to make it today due to reasons out of their control) except going along the Derwent valley route instead, in 2009, and end the ride at Metrocentre on a Saturday.
I really would recommend it. Walking former lines would take an age, and cycling them is really enjoyable. It's the only way we'll ever be able to travel on these lines and see what they were like now that the trains and tracks are long gone, probably forever.
Except we got a bit delayed due to various reasons so, at Annfield Plain, we diverted to Durham, as the service from CLS is utterly abysmal - the last southbound train being 1657, the 1807 heading North was too late for Nick W's AP ticket, but we got the 1737 from Durham so all was fine in the end.
Thanks to all who came, especially thanks to DaveNewcastle for taking the bikes in the van from Durham/Willington to Wolsingham.
The Weardale Railway looked as if it is completely abandoned at Wolsingham, but it did run! Shame they run a Pacer. But the staff were friendly on board.
The meet was a great success, and we are definitely going to cover the route again (I have made that promise already to Adam P and Paul1609 who were unable to make it today due to reasons out of their control) except going along the Derwent valley route instead, in 2009, and end the ride at Metrocentre on a Saturday.
I really would recommend it. Walking former lines would take an age, and cycling them is really enjoyable. It's the only way we'll ever be able to travel on these lines and see what they were like now that the trains and tracks are long gone, probably forever.
