Weardale, USA

[Spaceflower]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7658531.stm

For anyone who maybe interested. Iowa Pacific looking to complete the reinstatement of passenger and freight services to the full 18 miles of the Weardale railway, from Bishop Auckland to Eastgate, by the end of next year.

Proposals include a new interchange platform at Bishop Auckland, although it seems obvious to me they are aiming for direct services from Weardale to connect with the ECML at Darlington.

Mr Ellis, representing Iowa Pacific Holdings, was also speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle this morning.

 

[spoony]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7658531.stm

For anyone who maybe interested. Iowa Pacific looking to complete the reinstatement of passenger and freight services to the full 18 miles of the Weardale railway, from Bishop Auckland to Eastgate, by the end of next year.

Proposals include a new interchange platform at Bishop Auckland, although it seems obvious to me they are aiming for direct services from Weardale to connect with the ECML at Darlington.

Mr Ellis, representing Iowa Pacific Holdings, was also speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle this morning.

So it would actually become a working line again rather than being a heritage one?

 

[Spaceflower]

It would appear so!

 

[Darandio]

Would love for it to happen but cannot really see it to be honest, not by the timescale set anyway.
As many people will already know, Northern run the service from Saltburn-Darlington-Bishop Auckland and that doesn't have the best numbers between Darlington and Bishop Auckland, this would mean that there would be little point in duplicating the Northern service to Darlington with a private operator.
There could be a solution though, I can't imagine that Northern would be too bothered about giving up the Darlington to Bishop Auckland portion if possible and then concentrating on the Darlington to Saltburn section because the Bishop Auckland section must run at a loss at most times of the day anyway.
Can't also see the point of spending any money on Bishop Auckland station considering there is only one service around every two hours anyway so the platform has plenty of capacity.

 

[Spaceflower]

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/b/bishop_auckland/index8.shtml

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/b/bishop_auckland/index1.shtml

Bishop Auckland in it's heyday.

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/b/bishop_auckland/index21.shtml

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/b/bishop_auckland/index20.shtml

the run-down.

I have tried to find an up to date picture of the station, showing the current Weardale platforms, but have been unable to do so (yet). Anyway, another platform will be required at Bishop Auckland in my opinion for two or three reasons;

1. the current platform cannot be accessed from the Weardale branch. (It would involve a train running past the station and then reversing into the platform from the Darlington direction).
2. It would be used as an interchange point, therefore it would be required for both Darlington and Weardale trains to be present in the station more or less similtaneously
3 Also, the Weardale train may be locomotive hauled and required to run around at Bishop Auckland (Currently is loco hauled by a class 73).

 

[Darandio]

Excellent find William, good shots and it just shows how good of a station it was for such a smalll(ish) place.

Has to be noted, it looks nothing like that now, a one track "terminus" but with plenty of potential to run through to Eastgate.

Sorry I can't provide a bigger picture.

 

[Spaceflower]

Has to be noted, it looks nothing like that now, a one track "terminus" but with plenty of potential to run through to Eastgate.

Yeah, theres plenty of space at the station, unfortunately your picture doesnt do it justice. Ideally I was after a picture which showed a view from the same bridge, but looking along the Weardale line towards the bridge on Etherley Lane, but thanks anyway.

Anyway, I'm glad you liked that website, I was chuffed when I found it

 

[Darandio]

Yeah, theres plenty of space at the station, unfortunately your picture doesnt do it justice. Ideally I was after a picture which showed a view from the same bridge, but looking along the Weardale line towards the bridge on Etherley Lane, but thanks anyway.

Anyway, I'm glad you liked that website, I was chuffed when I found it

To be honest William, I will probably go and do the photo myself now that I have realised there isn't really one out there, not one that I can find anyway.

 

[Spaceflower]

Don't be mistaken, I have seen one. I thought it was on that website, but having thought about it, I'm pretty sure I saw it in RAIL, when it was doing a feature on the line.

 

[Darandio]

Have been looking on the site that you found and there was an excellent picture by Roy Lambeth. I have put it on here, not sure what my rights are regarding this but the excellent site is at http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/

 

[Spaceflower]

Where was that hiding?!
DOH! I didn't realise Bishop Auckland was split into two sub headings!

 

[spoony]

What a cracking little site that disused stations is, Im particularly interested in Gainford as my girl friends parents house is built on the track bed next to the station house. It took me to look the please up on google earth to realise it was on the route of an abandoned line

 

[Spaceflower]

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/3737231.Railway___s_new_owner_reveals_plans_for_line/

 

[Darandio]

Still not convinced about the plans for the Wuuurrrrr Valley as he puts it.
Why go through the considerable expense of building a new platform when there is only 1 train every two hours that uses the existing one, even then for no more than 20 minutes. There is room for a set of points at the West end of the platform. That would also enable freight to pass on the "loop" if needed while the passenger service was making the turnaround.

 

[Spaceflower]

Perhaps it is an access issue with Network Rail? Don't most heritage lines have a separate platform, e.g. Blaenau Ffesttinoig (spelling), Keighley and Grosmont?
Also, for optimimum transfer, wont both trains (northern and weardale trains) need to be present in the station at the same time, i.e. to feed travel onto the national network and from it onto the Weardale line, rather than having the situation where passengers are left with rather a long wait in between?

The line from Weardale (west) doesn't currently run into the platform, but joined the line east of the station, beyond/under the bridge. I say 'joined' because from the video it looks to have been disconnected since the last time I was there.

 

[yorkie]

Perhaps it is an access issue with Network Rail? Don't most heritage lines have a separate platform, e.g. Blaenau Ffesttinoig (spelling), ...

Ffestiniog. But surely that's not a valid example! How would you share one platform for trains of different gauges anyway? They have to be completely seperate!

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Also, for optimimum transfer, wont both trains (northern and weardale trains) need to be present in the station at the same time, i.e. to feed travel onto the national network and from it onto the Weardale line, rather than having the situation where passengers are left with rather a long wait in between?

Yes, the success of the venture would be on providing those passenger transfers in a reliable and efficient manner. Ideally under cover of a station canopy at least. It wouldn't have to be a separate line though, not if the platform was extended so that the 2 services could sit facing each other?

From the recent forum jaunt on the line I didn't see any kind of signalling at all - and that doesn't come cheaply. I also recall the conductor explaining that there are issues with the embankments and track bed - from erosion which is doubtless aggravated by running next to a river. All the level crossings on the line are manually operated by volunteers - its hard to see how these could be operated with adequate safety for commercial services - either a lot of staff or a lot of signalling and automation?

His budget for all this seems very low to me - but lets hope he manages to make some success out of it. At least he's not proposing to buy some old HSTs for refurbishment and running open access services with them from Kings Cross straight up to Stanhope ! ! !

 

[Spaceflower]

Ffestiniog. But surely that's not a valid example! How would you share one platform for trains of different gauges anyway? They have to be completely seperate!

Look, it was late, ok

It wouldn't have to be a separate line though, not if the platform was extended so that the 2 services could sit facing each other

?

I could agree with that, would still involve considerable expense though, i.e. platform building, track laying, etc.

From the recent forum jaunt on the line I didn't see any kind of signalling at all - and that doesn't come cheaply. I also recall the conductor explaining that there are issues with the embankments and track bed - from erosion which is doubtless aggravated by running next to a river. All the level crossings on the line are manually operated by volunteers - its hard to see how these could be operated with adequate safety for commercial services - either a lot of staff or a lot of signalling and automation?

I have walked the 18 mile from Eastgate to Bishop (when it was mothballed a few years ago) (don't ask) and it is in pretty good nick in the main. It isn't close enough to the river for the majority of the length to be affected imo, structures seem sound, even the station at Witton Park looked in good nick. I think theres an issue with biological weathering to the track and sleepers, crossing gate issue at Witton-le-Wear, a landslide at one point and the 'Bishop Auckland solution'. As for signalling, bare minimum i reckon, bearing in mind the max line speed of 20mph or so. I read in one of the articles, Iowa Pacific was looking to make the money first from heritage and freight traffic before it saw regular passenger trains running up to 60mph on the line. That's were the big costs will come in! Also looks as if it's only going to be freight running to Bishop next year?

At least he's not proposing to buy some old HSTs for refurbishment and running open access services with them from Kings Cross straight up to Stanhope ! ! !

Now theres an idea!

 

[Craig]

Have been looking on the site that you found and there was an excellent picture by Roy Lambeth. I have put it on here, not sure what my rights are regarding this but the excellent site is at http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/

I've just found a more up to date photo showing the Weardale line a bit more overgrown.

 

[spoony]

I've just found a more up to date photo showing the Weardale line a bit more overgrown.

Went there last week. My girlfriend used to park in that car park, she didnt even realise its a railway station:roll:

 

[Phoenix]

Ffestiniog. But surely that's not a valid example! How would you share one platform for trains of different gauges anyway? They have to be completely seperate!

Could do what they do in Germany in the Harzt mountain railway Translator bogies.