Steam trains return to Wensleydale Railway for a month in August 2007.

Regular steam-hauled services will operate on the Wensleydale Railway between Leeming Bar (near the A1 road) and Redmire, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park for most of August.

Ex British Rail Standard class locomotive 80105 will haul the first train of the day from Leeming Bar to Redmire and bring the last train back.

During the day it will shuttle between Redmire and Leyburn, with extra passenger mileage for the locomotive to run round at Constable Burton (no alighting).

Diesel multiple units will provide a feeder service between Leeming Bar and Leyburn. Services are ‘turn up and go’ except for groups of 11 or more who should pre-book tickets.

80105 was rescued from Barry scrap yard in 1973 and returned to service in 2000 at Bo’Ness and Kinneil Railway.

Describing the return of steam services this summer, Steve Deane, WR’s mechanical engineering director, said: “The railway is an asset that should be fully utilised by every sort of traffic that can contribute to a viable business.”

WR chairman Ruth Annison added: "WR’s focus on tourism services is essential for the time being, until we are able to rebuild a half mile missing connection with Northallerton station and the East Coast main line.”

The timetable and fares for WR’s August services and events can be found on the railway company’s website at wensleydalerailway

The website for Wensleydale Railway Association gives information about membership, history and volunteering at http://www.WensleydaleRailwayAssociation.com|WensleydaleRailwayAssociation]
Mr Deane said: “Volunteers will be of crucial importance. Intending volunteers will be very welcome and should make their interest known through the WRA website if they are not already registered with the association.”

“The return of steam trains will bring back many memories for people who lived in Wensleydale before the line closed to passenger services in the 1950s,” said Mrs Annison.

Long-term WR proposals include rebuilding an 18-mile missing link between Redmire and Garsdale, to restore this connection, as well as the pressing need to restore the half-mile south curve track into Northallerton station.

Steam operating dates: 1-17 August and 21 August-2 September 2007.
Notes for editors:

The 22-mile line between Northallerton and Redmire is leased from Network Rail by Wensleydale Railway plc for 99 years.

Current passenger services run between Leeming Bar and Redmire (17 miles).

WR reopened the 12 miles from Leeming Bar to Leyburn in 2003 and the extra five miles from Leyburn to Redmire in 2005.

Bedale station was reopened in 2004, Finghall station in 2004

Diesel services run every weekend, daily from 6-31 July and 3-30 September plus Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in November.

Info from Ruth Annison.