Railways, Rain and Yorkshire

The Pictures of Simon King

4th September 2008 to 5th September 2008

My father and I went up to Yorkshire for a couple of days as one last get away before I go back to college.

We travelled up to Northallerton on the Grand Central London Kings Cross - Sunderland HST service, then by bus onto Leeming Bar to travel on the Wensleydale Railway. All did not go to plan from then on...

A special steam service was supposed to be running with Standard 4 tank No. 80105 from the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway, but the fireman was admitted to hospital with an eye injury so steam services were suspended.

After a chat with a less than helpful duty manager, then a more than helpful operations manager we were given a lift to Leyburn to catch a DMU to Redmire (a part we hadn't travelled on previously) then all the way back to Leeming Bar.

Then we had to use two buses. One from Leeming Bar to Northallerton, then another to Stokesley before getting a taxi to Castleton to stop over for the night.

The morning after (Friday) we caught a train on the Esk Valley line from Castleton to Whitby. Here we planned to have a trip on Elizabeth, the only regular operating steam bus in the UK (possibly the world), but owing to bad weather she was not running. This was the second time we have been to Whitby and she hasn't been running!

So we had to kill 1 1/2 hours. This somehow went by rather quickly, so we then travelled on the Whitby-Pickering train which the NYMR have so succesfully set up. Our engine was LNER K4 No. 61994 (BR Number) 'The Great Marquess', owned by John Cameron. She is a superb engine, and one of my favourites.

At Grosmont, the train diverges onto the North Yorkshire Moors Railway so the train can proceed on to Pickering.

As usual, the NYMR has some beautiful scenery and is one of the UK's premier preserved lines.

After another three bus journies, we arrived at York to get the Grand Central Sunderland - London King's Cross service to arrive safely home at 2340.

DMU Class 101, 101678, stands at Leyburn ready for the off to Redmire.	The cab controls of 101678.	And taken from inside.	A view across the valley from Redmire. This is the most scenic part of the line, as the line between Leyburn and Leeming Bar is heavily wooded.
More of the valley can be seen by turning to the left.	This part of the line continues on to Hawes Junction (if you haven't been to Hawes, I highly recommend you do), the ultimate aim of the Wensleydale Railway is to reach it.	At the other end of the train this time.	As with most of the stations along the line, the station building has been transformed for private residential use.
We stayed at Castleton on the Thursday night in The Downe Arms. This was the view from the bedroom.		The Downe Arms comes highly recommended. Great people, great food and great atmosphere. Oh, and great views!	LNER K4 No. 61994 'The Great Marquess' soon after arrival at Whitby.
		61994 has to propel the train out of Whitby into the run round loop, before pushing it back into the platform ready for the departure to Pickering.	61994, having run round, makes ready for the departure to Pickering.
Looking down the fireman's side at Whitby.	The cold weather makes for some nice, atmospheric shots.
61994 stands at Pickering, having just arrived.		Not a great shot, but I thought it was worthy of inclusion. 61994 runs round at Pickering.