South Tynedale Railway News Page

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Press Release -
Surviving the Foot and Mouth Disease during 2001
and Celebrations to Come during 2002

��Passenger numbers on the South Tynedale Railway fell during 2001 as a result of the outbreak of the Foot and Mouth Disease, with footpaths along the line having to be closed between April and mid-June and again between late August and October, to restrict movement of people in the farmland area and to avoid the spread of the disease. This reduced the number of visitors to the railway, as people could not use the lineside footpaths during those periods and with only return tickets from Alston being sold and passengers not being able to stray from the station platform at Kirkhaugh.
�� With the removal of the former �blue box� area around the Hexham and Allendale area in mid-November, the restrictions have now been lifted and the railway and footpaths should open as usual during 2002.
�� Passenger numbers were down by only 36 passengers on 21st August 2001 when compared to the same period in 2000, and it was felt that the railway had done very well, considering that the numbers had been about 1,000 down after the Easter period. The recurrence of the Foot and Mouth Disease at the end of August cost the railway at least 600 passengers during that month. The total number of passengers carried fell from 22,433 in 2000 to 21,542 in 2001, a decrease of 891, but dispute some appalling weather during 2001, especially at Easter and during the second Thomas Weekend in October and the passengers lost during the foot and mouth disease the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society, which maintains and operates the railway ended the year in a remarkably good financial position.
�� The Santa Specials contributed greatly to this success with passenger numbers up from 2,275 during December 2000 to 2,781 during December 2001.

Full Details

�� Despite the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, the 2001 season has proved to be very satisfactory for the South Tynedale Railway. From the early days of the outbreak, every effort was made to inform people that, although the footpaths in the area were closed, the railway would be open to carry people into the countryside and allow them to get out of the train at the northern terminus of Kirkhaugh, although they could not be allowed to leave the station platform.
�� After a slow start, partly due to the poor weather at Easter 2001, passenger numbers were almost identical to 2000 at the end of the third weekend in August 2001. The first Friends of Thomas Weekend in May 2001 a similar number of passengers were carried to that of 2000, while the Late Spring Bank Holiday Weekend showed an increase in numbers compared to that during the same time in the previous year 2000.
�� The return of the Foot and Mouth epidemic to Northumberland with the enforcement of a �Blue Box Area� reaching to within four miles of Alston caused a major down-turn in business over the August Bank Holiday Weekend and throughout September. Despite heavy rain the number of visitors for the Friends of Thomas Weekend in October was only a little less than in 2000, whilst the Santa Specials in December, produced a record number of visitors, with an increase of over 20% of the 2000 total, again despite heavy falls of snow in Tyneside! The total number of passengers carried only fell from 22,433 in 2000 to 21,542 in 2001.
�� There has been a considerable improvement in the finances of the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society, with every prospect of the 2002 season starting with a positive balance in the Society�s current account, rather than the overdraft which has been the case for as long as members can remember.
�� 2001 has proved to be as successful a year in the engineering and infrastructure departments as it has been in the operating and commercial departments. The new carriage storage shed, situated north of the Water Authority Crossing, has been completed and is currently being used to store the majority of the Society�s wagons pending the relaying of the track connecting the Carriage Works ground frame to the engine shed and carriage storage shed, when the railway�s coaches will be transferred to it from their present home in the workshop facility at the southern end of the yard.
�� On the track, all of the rotten sleepers have been replaced on approximately three quarters of a mile of the main line north from Alston, which was originally laid between 1981 and 1983. Extra sleepers have also been inserted to improve the riding of the rolling stock, and it is expected that by the end of the winter months, the bulk of the main line which originally opened in 1983 will have been re-aligned, with the rail ends straightened and track levelled using new granite ballast.
�� On the locomotive and carriage front, the Society�s Polish 0-6-0 steam locomotive �Naklo� has been rebuilt including a full boiler re-tube. The boiler passed its hydraulic test in December 2001 and its steam test in January 2002. All that now remains is to re-assemble and to repaint the entire locomotive, which is expected to re-enter service in time for the main summer 2002 season. The cladding of coach No. 2, which was one of the original wooden-bodied vehicles which was converted to carry two wheel-chairs and up to 22 seated passengers, has been removed and will be replaced and the coach completely repainted for the start of the 2002 season.
�� The year 2002 is the 150th Anniversary of the opening of the Haltwhistle to Alston branch line by the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway Company during 1852. It was decided to hold a major celebration on 21st May, the date that the passenger service from Alston to Haltwhistle commenced. The Society has been awarded a grant from the Local Heritage Initiative. This grant will assist in the running of a special goods train on 21st May 2002, the preparation of an information leaflet dealing with the history and traffic on the line, the cost of transporting two locomotives for the Family Gala Weekend, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday (3rd and 4th August 2002) following the last Monday in July, when the first excursion from Newcastle to Alston took place in 1852, plus the production of a photographic and video record of the various events. A second grant has also been achieved from the Countryside Agency under their Contribution to Rural Recovery Programme, following the Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic, which will be used to install a new picnic area, improve the lineside footpath, level the car park and cut back many of the trees along the line, which currently threaten to damage the passenger coaches.

2001 from a financial view by Mike Ryan

�� As the Financial Administrator, I reacted to the news of the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in February 2001 with great alarm. The railway�s financial affairs are finely balanced at the best of times. The budget for 2001 was approved by the Council of Management on 24th February 2001. This included provision for between �9,000 and �13,000 to be spent on exceptional items over and above the ordinary daily running expenses, but I had visions of this expenditure having to be abandoned and worse still, emergency cutbacks being necessary in operating costs.
�� The Easter Weekend 2001 came along at a time when the national media were issuing messages of gloom, and the general public were convinced that virtually nothing in the countryside would be open. Passenger numbers were down 30% compared to the previous 2000 year, (1,029 as against 1,495), but this figure was actually better than I had expected. One reason for my optimism was that Easter Monday in 2000 had been a special event, namely Easter Bunny Day, whereas during 2001 it was just a normal bank holiday Monday.
�� The most important weekend though was going to be the Friends of Thomas Weekend event in May 2001. This would be crucial for the railway�s financial future. Good weather blessed the three days and along came the parents and children in tremendous numbers. Large numbers of volunteers turned up determined to make the event a success, and again the railway had to limit ticket sales for each train to ensure that everyone had a seat. Up to 8 return trains were run, and on the Monday the 27 volunteers were really needed to cope with almost a thousand passengers, which included babies and toddlers. So 2,129 paying passengers were carried over the three days as against 2,211 in the previous year 2000. This was a fall of only 4% and I knew that the fare increase would actually mean that the fare income would be above that in 2000.
�� As I studied the Excel spreadsheets on computer each week, I noticed that through May and June 2001, on ordinary weekends, that the data I was entering was often showing an increase on the previous year 2000. Obviously people were making day trips out into the country and even some holidaymakers were in evidence. Several Lake District attractions, those unaffected by footpath closures, were beginning to report good figures. The Late Spring Bank Holiday was the next significant weekend when the railway looks forward to far more passengers. 618 had turned up in the previous year 2000, but during 2001 - 748 travelled over the three days. This was really good news! This was an increase of no less than 21%. I should at this point pay tribute to the publicity team. This team includes everyone from the Chairman, to all of the many volunteers who distribute posters and leaflets about the South Tynedale Railway all over Cumbria and the neighbouring counties. The message was getting through.
�� In June 2001 was the Teddy Bears� Picnic event. This special event has a charm all of its own. Families with young children sitting on blankets all along Kirkhaugh station platform consuming the contents of their �goody bags� in the sunshine, with Bob Harmer, Marian Ward and Roland Johnson strolling along in their Teddy Bear costumes sweating profusely and trying not to faint under the fur. How many people shared in this fun? Well, there were 445 paying passengers in the previous year 2000, but in 2001 there were 553! This was an increase of 24%.
�� So, that at 25th June 2001, the passenger numbers for the 2001 year was 6,384 and compared with the previous millennium year 2000 was 6,524 the numbers are only 2% down. The actual fare income, however, has risen from �18,830 to �20,599, an increase of 9%.
�� The rescheduling of the Society�s loan has also been a great help during the 2001 season. From March to July, I have to balance the paying out of about 150 bills against the need to keep within the bank�s overdraft limit. On several occasions during April and May, the accounts were actually �in the black�! The overdraft did not rise sharply until mid June so this will greatly reduce that particular interest payment.
�� 2002 will be the third full year of train services between Alston, in Cumbria and Kirkhaugh, in Northumberland.
�� There is still some more good news. The railway shop has increased sales by 2% over the period to 24th June, from �7,526 to �7,682. This is a much better effort than it might seem, because the shop has not opened on non-operating days during the 2001 season. This causes some real problems with deliveries and telephone enquiries from the public, but there were economic benefits. Added to that, a few volunteer sales staff have been found to cover for days when Alan Blackburn (the Mk II version), who manages the shop on a self-employed basis is not able to work. Although our previous chairman, Ivan Ward, has somehow found time to do the majority of these duties. I estimate that already the railway has saved about �1,000 in wages.
�� Finally, I cannot forget those businesses and farms throughout Cumbria and all over Britain, who have suffered such terrible losses and a result of the Foot and Mouth epidemic. Fifteen cases were reported in the third week of June, even though media coverage had virtually ceased. The railway also depends heavily upon good weather for its special events. All of this is a salutary reminder that being in business, and yes the South Tynedale Railway is a business, always involves considerable risks. So far so good.
��At the Annual General Meeting in November 2001, my report was presented with figures up to 21st August 2001, which showed the situation to be generally much better than might have been expected. At that date, passenger numbers were down by only 36 when compared to the same period in 2000, which was felt to be a very good achievement considering the very poor start to the season.
�� The October 2001 �Friends of Thomas� Weekend event suffered from terrible weather, in view of which the passenger total of 1,530 was still quite an achievement. It was however, 17% down on the corresponding event in 2000, although the effect of this year�s higher fares meant that ticket sales income was only 7% down. The Santa Specials were a success with passenger numbers up from 2,275 during December 2000 to 2,781 during December 2001.

SOUTH TYNEDALE RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY
The Railway Station, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3JB.
Tel. 01434 381696.��Talking timetable tel. 01434 382828.
Registered Charity No. 514939.

E-mail addresses - click on links below:-
South Tynedale Railway information - Send e-mail to Daniel McIntyre
STRPS membership and Tynedalesman information only - Send e-mail to Phil Aveyard

Mission Statement for the South Tynedale Railway:-
“To provide satisfaction for our customers and volunteers by operating a friendly, safe and efficient narrow-gauge railway.”

This page has been created by Daniel McIntyre for the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society.
For information about him, please see Daniel McIntyre’s Home Page.
This page was last updated on 6th February 2002 by Daniel McIntyre.
� Daniel McIntyre and South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society 2002.

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