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�Tracking down� the railway developments on ...
England�s Highest Narrow Gauge Railway at Alston, Cumbria.
Updated on 30th March 2005
2005 Timetable and Operating Dates
The 2005 South Tynedale Railway timetable and information leaflet has now been published and copies are now available from Alston Station. The leaflet has now been enlarged to include a membership application form for joining the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society, that operates and maintains the railway.
There is an error that appears on the membership application form part of the leaflet, the full rate for membership should read �15 and not �18 as printed.
The operating dates for the South Tynedale Railway during 2005 are as follows:-
- March - Daily from Good Friday 25th to Thursday 31st.
- April - Daily from Friday 1st to Sunday 10th, then every Saturday and Sunday until Saturday 30th.
- May - Sunday 1st, Monday 2nd then every Saturday and Sunday, plus Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st.
- June - Daily from Wednesday 1st to Sunday 5th, then Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, plus Thursday 30th.
- July - Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays until 17th, then daily from Monday 18th to Sunday 31st.
- August - Daily.
- September - Daily from Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th, then Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- October - Every Saturday and Sunday, plus Tuesday 25th to Thursday 27th.
- December - Santa Special Trains operate on Saturdays 3rd, 10th and 17th, Sundays 4th, 11th and 18th, plus Thursday 22nd.
Special event days during 2005 are as follows:-
- 25th and 26th June: Teddy Bears� Picnic. Bring your bear for a Railway Picnic!
- Autumn Gala Weekend. Date and details not yet finalised. For further information telephone 01434 382828 (talking timetable) or visit our website www.strps.org.uk around mid-2005.
- 29th and 30th October: Halloween Specials. Witches, Wizards and Ghouls all welcome.
- 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th and 22nd December: Santa Specials. All aboard for a seasonal ride on a steam train, then onward to visit Father Christmas in his grotto.
Steam days in 2005. Steam trains will run on the following dates (subject to availability of steam locomotives):-
- March - Friday 25th to Monday 28th.
- April - Saturdays 2nd, 9th and 30th, plus Sundays 3rd and 10th.
- May - Saturday 28th, plus Sundays 1st and 29th, Mondays 2nd and 29th.
- June - Every Saturday and Sunday.
- July - Saturdays 2nd, 9th and 16th, Sundays 3rd, 10th and 17th.
- Summer Steam Season - Daily from 18th July to 4th September.
- September - Saturdays 10th, 17th and 24th and Sundays 11th, 18th and 25th.
- October - Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th.
- December - Saturdays 3rd, 10th and 17th, Sundays 4th, 11th and 18th, plus Thursday 22nd.
Trains depart Alston Station at the following times:-
- On the dates shown above between March and September - at 11.00 a.m., 12.00 noon, 1.45 p.m., 3.00 p.m. and 4.15 p.m.
- On the dates shown above during October - at 11.00 a.m., 12.00 noon, 1.45 p.m. and 3.00 p.m.
- Santa Specials during above dates in December - Trains approximately hourly from 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Special fares will apply.
Fares between Alston and Kirkhaugh during 2005 will be as follows:-
- Return: Adult �5.00, Child (3 to 15 years) �2.00, Dog 50p.
- Single: Adult �3.00, Child (3 to 15 years) �1.50, Dog 50p.
- All Day: Adult �8.00, Child (3 to 15 years) �3.00.
- Children under 3 years old travel free, except during some special events.
- Different fares may apply during some special events - please enquire for details.
- Discounts for pre-booked parties of ten or more passengers.
Other News In Brief
Photographs as credited.
- �Helen Kathryn� to be repainted in blue livery for 2005.
The German, Henschel built �Riesa� class 0-4-0 tank locomotive �Helen Kathryn� will reappear in dark blue livery with red buffer beams, after when its overhaul is complete, which has been delayed but should be finished by Easter 2005. This will recreate the livery it carried whilst it was based in Wales, prior to its move to Alston, which it carried at the Bala Lake Railway and Llanberis Lake Railway.
It is hoped that the locomotive will now re-enter service on passenger trains during 2005.
- Bright future for the railway during 2005 and change of railway personnel at the 2004 Annual General Meeting.
Despite a fall in passenger numbers during 2004, the future for the South Tynedale Railway looks bright for 2005. The railway has increased the number of operating dates in order to include more steam days and the future looks bright with several special events planned, including Teddy Bear�s Picnic, Halloween Specials, and an extra day has been added to the Santa Special dates, in order to accommodate the huge demand.
Apart from our popular shop on the station platform at Alston, the railway now has an operating buffet coach available on most of the trains, subject to availablity of catering staff. This carriage serving refreshments on the move, proved to be very successful during the previous year, 2004, increasing sales by almost 50%.
At the Annual General Meeting, which was held in November 2004, South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society members expressed their thanks to the retiring chairman, John Sutton. Who since his election in 2001 has overseen the continued development of the South Tynedale Railway, which has seen its finances remain in the black and projects to replace much of its track completed.
The new chairman, Mike Le Marie, looks forward to making a start on the long planned 2� miles extension of the line to Slaggyford and the return to steam of two locomotives Helen Kathryn and Thomas Edmondson during 2005.
- What colour was �Thomas Edmondson� originally painted?
As announced in �Narrow Gauge World & NG Modelling� magazine, No. 32 March/April 2004 issue, the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society is appealing for information on the livery that was once carried by its German built, Henschel 0-4-0 tank Thomas Edmondson steam locomotive, works No. 16047, which was built in 1918.
The locomotive was built as part of a second order for the Tigris Kreigsbahn, in Turkey, but the locomotive was never delivered and instead it was stored at the Field Eisenbahn, in Frankfurt, Germany, until its sale to the Spanish Military. It was used in Spanish Morocco in the Rif campaign in the 1920s, then later the locomotive finished its working days on a colliery railway in the Terael Region of Spain.
It was purchased by the South Tynedale Railway in 1984 and named three years later after the inventor of the railway ticket, who was employed on the nearby Newcastle and Carlisle Railway.
Thomas Edmondson was withdrawn from service in 1993, but is now being completely restored to working order. Hence the request for information on the livery worn by locomotives of the Tigris Kreigsbahn or the Spanish military during the Rif campaign.
Any reader who can help should contact: The South Tynedale Railway, The Railway Station, Alston, CA9 3JB.
The above photograph shows �Thomas Edmondson� in the green livery, in which it was painted by the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society, to operate passenger train services, as seen in operation at Alston Station during 1989. Photograph by Daniel McIntyre.
- Rare locomotive to be restored by South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society
An agreement between the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society and Leeds City Museums has been finalised for the loan, restoration and operation of the unique Thomas Green and Company of Leeds, 0-6-2 saddle tank steam locomotive �Barber�.
This locomotive has now been transported to Alston and it arrived on Thursday 29th April 2004 and was placed into the engine shed. Efforts are now being made to obtain funding to restore it to its �inter-war� condition.
�Barber� was built for the Harrogate Gasworks Company in 1908, and it is the only known locomotive which was built by Thomas Green that still survives. Both parties are keen to see the locomotive running again, especially as the centenary of the locomotive being in existance is not far off.
The South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society is proud to be entrusted with the restoration of this rare locomotive and with the opportunity to operate it at a northern base not far from its original home.
The locomotive is currently about 60% restored, including most of the boiler repairs and in conjunction with the Engineering staff at Armley Mills Museum, the Society will be restoring �Barber� to as close to its original working condition as possible. With the backing of Leeds Museum Services, it is now planned to transfer the locomotive to Alston by Easter 2004 and to raise the funds to complete the restoration of it, in a reasonable time, hopefully ready for its Centenary in 2008.
Briefly, �Barber� is 6 feet 5 inches wide and 18 feet 3 inches long, it weighs about 19 tons empty and has a tractive effort of 6,000 lbs at 75% boiler pressure. Its height was restricted due to the tunnel entrance to the gasworks, so it has a low, cut-out cab roof, which was typical of the three locomotives that worked at the site. In fact the tunnel was so restricted that �Barber�s� cab has an emergency rear exit in case of failure in the tunnel!.
The above photograph of �Barber� is taken from �Narrow Gauge Railways, England and the Fifteen Inch� by Humphrey Household, published in 1989.
- South Tynedale Railway Photo Gallery
Robin Alderson, who is the rostering officer for the South Tynedale Railway and the current editor of Tynedalesman magazine has set up a page on his own internet site, showing various photos he has taken of the South Tynedale Railway at Alston.
Robin has promised that the gallery of photos will be changed on a regular basis, to provide variety. To access his photographs,
click on the following link - go
to Robin Alderson's railway photo page.
- Alston and North Pennines Area On-Line
Alston and the surrounding area and now being linked up on-line with a new cybermoor community internet site. Although mainly for Alston and surrounding area residents, guests are invited to view the new internet site at www.cybermoor.org
- Important News for bus passengers to Alston
Wright Bros. Coaches will be delaying the start of the Newcastle to Keswick via Alston, bus service 888 during 2005. The journeys between Newcastle upon Tyne and Keswick will not start operating until July 2005 and a daily service is planned to operate from then until Saturday 24th September 2005.
The bus service 681, between Haltwhistle, Alston and Nenthead will be revised from Monday 4th April 2005 and will it no longer serve Alston or Nenthead, with journeys being cut back to Slaggyford. Passengers travelling towards Haltwhistle, should use Wright Bros bus service 680 (Nenthead - Alston - Carlisle) as far as Slaggyford and change there to service 681 to Haltwhistle on Carlisle College Days, during College Holidays a connecting taxi-bus service will operate between Nenthead and Slaggyford.
For passengers from Haltwhistle, to Alston and Nenthead, a taxi-feeder service will provide a connecting journey between Nenthead, Alston and Slaggyford, which will be provided.
Please note that on the taxi-feeder service, operated by Hendersons Taxis, passengers will need to book their seat on these journeys in advance, as this service will not run if no bookings are received.
The bus timetable pages of this internet site have been amended accordingly, but intending passengers are advised to check with either Wright Bros. Coaches, local Tourist Information Centres, or the public transport travel line on 0870 608 2608 for further details or visit the travel line web site at www.traveline.org.uk
December 2004 issue
- is now available on the Internet pages.
and the photographs are also now available.
The latest issue of Tynedalesman No. 141, dated December 2004. All of the articles in this latest issue have now been published on the Tynedalesman pages of this site, the photographs have also now been published.
The contents of issue No. 141 includes:-
- The 2004 Annual General Meeting and Informal Meeting report;
- The latest Council of Management meeting report;
- An amusing tale about Santa Claus and the Internet by Marian Ward;
- A short tale about Catching the 09-11 by Chris Shaw;
- Outdoor Week 2004 Report about work at Slaggyford Station;
- Health and Safety News;
- A report about the management of the Alston Station toilets;
- Photographs of the railway back in 1998 and recent pictures of the Halloween Specials 2004 event;
- Plus the jottings from the new Chairman, commerical and operating reports, membership news.
If you are not a member and you are interested in joining the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society, please print out a copy of the membership application form page on your printer and send it by Royal Mail post with payment to Mrs. Kathy Aveyard, Membership Secretary at 106 Commonside, Roberttown, Liversedge, West Yorkshire, WF15 7LW. Please enclose either a cheque or postal order made payable to South Tynedale RPS.
Full details of the benefits and cost of membership are shown on the STR membership page.
Remember, that the railway needs YOU, please come and join our friendly gang of workers on the railway and the beautiful North Pennines countryside scenery along the line, you will be made most welcome. Whether it�s operating trains, maintaining track or locomotives or rolling stock, helping with railway publicity or helping on the sales stalls at events, we really do need YOUR help! If you can spare us some of your time, please send an e-mail to rostering officer, Robin Alderson. You can come and see us at Alston Station at most weekends under no obligation, all men and women will be made very welcome.
- and second edition of �The Alston Branch� book are now available
The latest fourth edition of the �South Tynedale Railway Visitors Guide� book was published in mid-August 1999. Written by Thomas M. Bell, who is a member of the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society and qualified as a diesel driver and guard on the railway, it includes a brief history of the Alston branch line, details of the route between Alston and Kirkhaugh and beyond, details of current narrow gauge railway train operations, a list of locomotives and rolling stock and several colour photographs of trains and viaducts along the Alston branch line.
Copies of the visitors guide book are available for �2.00 each from Alston Station shop, or �2.20 each including postage by mail order to Alston Station, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3JB, make cheques payable to STR (Sales) Ltd.
Also now available is a second edition of �The Alston Branch� book, written by Stanley C. Jenkins, which has been recently published by The Oakwood Press. This book covers the history of the Haltwhistle to Alston branch line from its origins, to the building of the line and the operation of standard gauge trains until closure in 1976. It also includes details of the South Tynedale Railway from the planning of the scheme and reopening of part of the branch as a two foot narrow gauge line and the present day operations. Other past narrow gauge lines in the Alston and Coanwood areas are also included.
The Alston Branch book is available from Alston Station, cover price �8.95, postage extra.
A video tape entitled �All Change for Alston - The South Tynedale Railway� is currently on sale from Alston Station shop. The video filmed during August 2001 shows a journey along the railway, by a train hauled by the German built, Henschel steam locomotive �Helen Kathryn� from the lineside, from on board the train and at both stations - Alston and Kirkhaugh. There are short interviews with the guard, signalman and other members working on the railway during the day. It also includes footage of other places to be visited in the Alston area, including Nenthead Mines Heritage Centre and the Killhope Wheel Lead Mining Museum.
The video received a very good review in the May 2002 issue of �Narrow Gauge News� journal, which is published by the Narrow Gauge Railway Society. Copies of the video are available for �10.99 each from Alston Station shop, postage �1.00 extra.
For details of bus and coach services to and from Alston see the bus timetable pages
Full details of all public transport in Northern England can be obtained by telephoning the National Travel Enquiry Line on (0870) 6082608. All calls are charged at the National Rate.
Further information about the South Tynedale Railway can be obtained from Alston station, by telephone on (01434) 381696 (answerphone service available when Alston station shop is closed) or by writing to the South Tynedale Railway, at Alston Station, full postal address shown at bottom of page. Alternatively you can view and read the other South Tynedale Railway web pages.
A talking railway timetable and special event service can be obtained by telephone on (01434) 382828.
Enquiries about the railway can also be made by E-mail by clicking on the blue text e-mail links shown below and replies will be as soon as possible.
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 South Tynedale Railway
STRPS membership information only - Send e-mail to Kathy Aveyard
Tynedalesman information only - Send e-mail to Liesel von Metz
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 was last updated on 30th March 2005.
� South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society 2005.