‘Scene’ on the Wensleydale Railway at Leeming Bar on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Leeming Bar station lies on what was the North Eastern Railway’s (NER) line from Northallerton on the East Coast Main Line to Garsdale on the West Coast Main Line.

 

Never more than a useful cross country link, the line was closed in 1982. There were the occasional excursion trains until 1990 when the Wensleydale Railway Assosciation was formed with the intention of restoring passenger services on the line.

 

Today a preserved railway, the Wensleydale Railway (WR) operates between Northallerton West and Redmire a distance of 22 miles.

 

Running started in 2003 between Leeming Bar and Leyburn eventially extending eastward to Northallerton West and westward to Redmire from where the Ministry of Defence uses the line to transport Armoured Fighting Vehicles to and from Catterick Camp.

 

What was the station yard is now ‘home’ to a variety of stock.

 

69023 ‘British Railways’ 0-6-0T shunter Class J72 ‘Joem’

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Built to an ‘NER’ design, dating from 1898, Class E1 as it was then known was built across a period of 54 years by the NER, the LNER and BR who between them built 113 examples.

 

69023 was one of a batch of 20 built by BR in the period between 1949 and 1951.

 

Preserved in the1960’s 69023 has been around many of the heritage railways before coming to the ‘WR’.

 

 

 

92219 ‘British Railways’ 2-10-0 Class 9F

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Preservation beckons but there is a long way to go.

 

Built at Swindon in 1960.

 

 

 

47715 ‘Haymarket’ ‘British Rail’ Network Southeast liveried Class 47

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

One of 512 loco’s built by Brush Traction at Loughborough.

 

Formerly appearing in the black and red livery of the defunct FM Rail by whom it was nemed ‘Poseidon’.

 

 

 

37674 ‘British Rail’ Railfreight liveried Class 37

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Built in 1963 as D6869 at English Electric’s Vulcan Foundry, one of 309. 

 

Initially working in South Wales, It was re numbered 37169 in 1974 and again in 1977 when it became 37674. 

 

Withdrawn in December 1995 after which it spent some time in storage at Kirkby Stephen East.

 

 

 

26007 ‘British Rail’ Class 26

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

One of 47 built by The Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company between 1958 and 1959.

 

Originally numbered D5300, it spent most of its life in Scotland

 

 

 

20020 ‘British Rail’ Class 20

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

One of 228 built by English Electric between 1957 and 1968.

 

 

 

03144 ‘British Rail’ Class 03

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

One of 230 built at Swindon works in 1961with the original number of D2144.

 

03144 has been resident at Leeming Bar since since around 2004.

 

01545 ‘Ministry of Defence’ Class 01

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Built by Thomas Hill.

 

Ex military and lettered for ‘Defence Logistics Organisation’.

 

 

WR 5307 ‘Wensleydale Railway’ Madison

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Built at Derby, this former British Rail’ Mark 2a coach being classified as a TSO (Tourist Second Open).

 

All the operational coaches on the day I was there were carrying this red and cream livery which approximates to the old BR ‘Carmine and Cream’ livery dating back to the 1950’s.

 

In addition, they all carried girls names.

 

 

 

‘Scene’ at Heritage Shunters Trust (HST) at Rowsley, Derbyshire.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

A bit about the ‘HST’ if I may.

Founded in 1989, the ‘HST’ is a trading name of ‘The South Yorkshire Railway Co. Ltd’ and is the only preservation society to specialise in the preservation of diesel shunters in the UK.

 

At one time located at Meadowhall in Sheffield the society now occupies a site alongside the ‘Peak Rail’ facility at Rowsley.

 

The Rowsley site in earlier days was a motive power depot of initially the 

‘Midland Railway’, then the ‘LMS’ and finally ‘British Rail(ways’) (BR)’ closing in 1968.

 

I was fortunate to go on a private visit to the ‘HST’ organised by ‘Sheffield Transport Study Group’ and I would recommend to anyone interested in ‘heritage shunters’ that it is a worthwhile outing.

 

BR Class 03

 

The 03 class were built at both Doncaster and Swindon. 

 

When the question 

 “What is the difference between the two workshops production”, was asked

 

the answer was

 “the hinges on the cab doors are slightly different in shape”. 

 

03027

 

Built at Swindon in 1958, it worked for ‘BR’ until 1976 when it was sold to Queenborough Rolling Mills in Kent.

 

Finally withdrawn and preserved in 1991. It passed through a number of owners before coming to ‘HST’.

 

A long term project which is still in need of much work.

 

03099

Built at Doncaster in 1960, it spent its ‘BR’ life in the North East being retired from Thornaby in 1976.

 

Sold to National Coal Products in 1976 for use at a number of coking plants before being cannibalised to keep D2139 operational.

 

Eventually cut down  to provide clearance whilst working in coke ovens, it was bought as almost a wreck. 

 

It has taken 7 years and many new parts to bring it back to its current condition.

 

03113

Doncaster built in 1973, it worked for ‘BR’ at York until 1975.

 

Sold to Gulf Oil at Milford Haven (MH) in South Wales for use at their refinery.

 

Withdrawn and presented to the ‘MH’ Maritime Museum in 1991 it stayed there until 2004 when because of its poor condition, It was finally withdrawn coming to the ‘HST’ where it was restored to working order in 2012.

 

D2139

 

Built at Swindon in 1960 and based at Gloucester.

 

It remained on ‘BR’ Western Region being withdrawn in 1968 and sold to A.R. Adams of Newport ,a loco dealer. 

 

It was leased it to the National Coal Board (NCB) for work in a variety of collieries in South Wales.

 

Sold to Gwent Coal Distribution for use at a coking plant, it finally moved to Monkton coking plant in the North East of England in 1985.

 

Bought by the ‘HST’ in 1992 and restored to working order.

 

D2199

 

Built at Swindon in 1961 and allocated to Speke Junction at Liverpool. It stayed in the North West until being withdrawn from Workington in 1972.

 

Sold to the ‘NCB’ at Rockingham colliery it last worked at Royston Drift Mine before being stored at Monkton. 

 

Sold to ‘HST’ in 1987 it was restored to working order and sent toward on the Euro Tunnel site at Dollands Moor before moving to Hanson Aggregates.

 

03180

 

Built at Swindon in 1962. It worked across the South being withdrawn from Norwich Crown Point depot in 1983.

 

Sold to Mayer Newman for use in their scrapyard the loco was sold to the ‘HST’ in 1991.

 

Having spent some time at the ‘Battlefield Line’ it came back to the HST in 2012 where restoration is taking place.