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Preservation Society |
the South Tynedale Railway at Alston, Cumbria.
Registered Charity No. 514939 - Patron: Lord Inglewood.
Almost every aspect of maintaining and operating the South Tynedale Railway for the enjoyment of the public is done by those of the members of the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society, who are willing and able to offer some of their time as active volunteers.
The spread of tasks is many and varied, ranging from operating trains, maintaining track, buildings, locomotives and rolling stock, to gardening, painting, paperwork, through to the organising of special events.
If you would like to become part of the team - however much or little time you can spare - the information on this internet page gives the information you need in order to find out more about becoming a member and being an active volunteer on the railway.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Information for new members and volunteers
Welcome to the South Tynedale Railway. If you are reading this page, you may be interested in becoming a member of the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society, the organisation that includes the volunteers who run all aspects of the South Tynedale Railway.
Many members join the Society to find out more about the railway, keep in touch with progress and to give us their general support - all of which is welcomed. Of these, some members are able to support us in a more practical way be becoming active Society volunteers. If this appeals to you, then there are many areas in which you could choose to be involved.
The more obvious things include operating the train service, with opportunities to train as signalman, guard, diesel locomotive driver or steam locomotive crew. Other areas include trackwork, building maintenance, carriage maintenance and renovation, through painting (anything from carriages to signal posts) and gardening, to fundraising, assistance in the Alston Station shop or help in the catering or publicity areas. All options are open to both men and women, so whatever your talents and inclinations, there is always something that you can do!
You can spend as much or as little time volunteering as you wish. Both occasional help at events and regular help (either at Alston or at home with administration) is welcome.
We hope that you can come and join us, and extend a warm invitation for you to come and have a look around the Railway on an informal basis and to discuss what you might wish to do. If you do wish to do this, or just want more information, please contact South Tynedale Railway or e-mail [email protected]
On 26th August 1846 the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway Company was authorised to build a thirteen mile branch line southwards, along the valley of the River South Tyne, from Haltwhistle to Alston. In the early years the line served a thriving lead mining community and, although this industry declined towards the end of the century, the �Aalston Barra�, as the branch train was called, continued to serve the small communities of the South Tyne valley. The withdrawal of these passenger services had been considered even before the 1963 Beeching report, but, although the branch was initially reprieved on the grounds that closure would cause severe hardship, a 1970 public enquiry resulted in the building of a new �all weather road�. Formal consent to the closure of the Alston branch was given by the Department of the Environment in January 1973, subject to train services continuing at least until May 1975 to allow time for the necessary road improvements to be carried out and eventually on Saturday 1st May 1976, shortly after 9 o�clock on a very wet evening, the last British Rail train ran from Alston to Haltwhistle.
The South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society was formed on 3rd April 1973, with the aim of trying to purchase and retain the Alston branch. The original intention was to purchase the line intact from British Rail and the South Tynedale Railway Company was set up for this purpose, although negotiations between the board of the Company and B.R. continued, by September 1976 the track had been lifted between Haltwhistle and Lambley and a less ambitious scheme to retain the 1� miles from Alston to Gilderdale was then pursued. However, it proved impossible to raise the �40,800 required by B.R. before the deadline of 30th April 1977 was reached. Negotiations between the Company and B.R. were then terminated but the Society indicated its desire to acquire part of the trackbed, despite much hard work in campaigning and fundraising, the Society was unable to prevent closure.
The decision to build a narrow gauge line was taken at the Annual General Meeting of the Society at Haltwhistle on 2nd July 1977. As the County Councils had been given first option to purchase the trackbed, negotiations started with both Cumbria and Northumberland County Councils for agreements to enable the construction of a two foot gauge narrow gauge line northwards from Alston along the trackbed, this decision coincided with Government proposals to develop tourism in selected areas - including Alston and the South Tyne valley. Cumbria completed the purchase of all of the B.R. land within in the county on 16th February 1979 and set about redeveloping the station site with assistance from the Manpower Services Commission. Formal agreement to lease the trackbed from Alston to Gilderdale was obtained in June 1980, and in July Eden District Council granted planning permission for the railway. Finally in October, the English Tourist Board approved a grant of �17,500 towards the capital costs of the first section of the line and the Society was at last able to start laying permanent track.
Work began in earnest and an enthusiastic band of volunteers started the task of preparing the trackbed, renovating buildings, acquiring and renovating rolling stock and locomotives. It was hoped to start passenger services in 1982, but the viaduct over the River South Tyne required major repairs and delayed the opening, to a temporary halt just over a mile from Alston, until Saturday 30th July 1983. This work was rewarded with the sight of the first revenue earning train since 1976 pulling out of Alston Station. Regular services to the permanent Gilderdale station, close to the Northumberland/Cumbria county boundary, began in 1987.
Nearly 5,000 people were carried during the first short season in 1983 and the numbers have increased each year, reaching 25,647 in 1991 and passenger numbers have varied between 19,000 and 23,000 in the following years.
The original buildings of Alston station effectively divide the industrial eastern side of the redevelopment from the railway and tourist amenities on the west. A coal merchant operated from the yard until recently, while the old goods shed and part of the area formerly occupied by sidings was taken over by a building contractor, when this business ceased trading in the mid 1990s, new industrial units were built next to the goods shed and the goods shed building was renovated. An advance factory was built on the remainder of the former sidings accommodation, but it failed to attract a permanent industrial tenant, and was leased to the Society on 1st November 1989 and it is now used as a covered accommodation for railway locomotives and carriages as well as being a railway workshop.
Exactly two years later, a development programme, supported by the local authorities and the Development Commission was completed, consolidating the railway�s headquarters at Alston.
A redundant signal box was bought from Ainderby, on the former North Eastern Railway branch to Redmire, and re-erected on a new brick base a few yards north of the level crossing which gives access to the car park and picnic area at Alston Station. A set of manually operated lifting barriers, recovered from How Mill station on the Newcastle to Carlisle line, were installed to protect the crossing. The signalman is now able to control all train movements from Alston from a typical, pre-electronic, mechanical signal box. The original intention had been to build a new carriage shed to the north of the �advance factory�, but two years after the start of the programme the Society was able to lease the factory, which has been converted into a most useful carriage works. Although in the mid 1990s it was decided that to start work on a new carriage shed building to the north of the engine shed, which would accommodate the carriages more in a convenient way.
Also included in the development programme were the provision of a second steam locomotive, three coaches and a brake van, together with the construction of the first part of the extension of the line into Northumberland.
The Present Day and Future Plans for the South Tynedale Railway and the Preservation Society
The present narrow gauge line is 2� miles in length between Alston in Cumbria and Kirkhaugh in Northumberland. The Gilderdale to Kirkhaugh section was opened to passenger trains from Saturday 4th September 1999. Planning permission for the construction of a further 2� miles of line from Kirkhaugh to Slaggyford was granted in 1996, while negotiations with Northumberland County Council for the lease of this section of the trackbed are almost complete. Access to the land has been granted to which allowed work to be carried out on the Gilderdale to Kirkhaugh section and to tidy up the station site at Slaggyford. Although the plans to extend the line from Kirkhaugh to Slaggyford is the main objective in future years, a further extension towards Lambley remains a long term possibility.
The trains are hauled by preserved steam and diesel locomotives of both British and overseas origin through the scenery of the North Pennines, now designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and at Alston the railway tickets are sold from the original booking office in the restored station building. Alston station is 875 feet (267 metres) above sea level, leading to the South Tynedale Railway currently being England�s highest narrow gauge railway.
The railway, which is a member of the Heritage Railway Association (previously known as the Association of Independent Railways and Preservation Societies), is operated largely on a voluntary basis by Society members, after completing appropriate training for their duties, and these volunteers are essential to the continued success of this attractive line. New members are always welcome to assist with railway operation, restoration and construction work, fundraising and publicity. If you are able to give up some of your time to help you would be made most welcome - there are jobs to do throughout the year for all levels of interest and availability. Members are kept up to date with the progress of the railway through the �Tynedalesman�, a quarterly newsletter.
Membership Details
The current membership fees are as follows, including changes made at the Society�s Annual General Meeting which was held at Alston on Saturday 13th November 2004:-
- Annual subscription, full rate - �15.
- Annual subscription, reduced rate* - �10.
- Junior Associate Membership (Under 18 years)� - �10.
- Donations are also welcome to Society funds.
� * Reduced rate applies to members aged 60 or over and to all members (aged 18 and over) living at the same address as a member paying the equivalent full rate.
� � Junior Associate membership is available to those below the age of 18 years. They do not have the right to vote at the Society�s Annual General Meeting or at any Special General Meetings.
Membership forms can be obtained from the South Tynedale Railway shop at Alston Station, or can be obtained by printing out the information shown on the STRPS Membership Application Page and sent by Royal Mail post to Mrs K A Aveyard, STRPS Membership Secretary, 106 Commonside, Roberttown, LIVERSEDGE, West Yorkshire, WF15 7LW.
Please note: The membership year runs from 1st January to 31st December. New members joining after 1st October will be credited with membership to the end of the following year.
Data Protection Acts: You are advised that the details on the membership application form may be held on a computer file.
Gift Aid Scheme Donation
In part of the �Getting Britain Giving� measures announced by the Chancellor of the Exechequer, changes were recently made to the Gift Aid Scheme. These changes directly affect Deed of Covenant and Gift Aid payments made to charities such as the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society from 6th April 2000.
The main changes are:-
- No minimum level for Gift Aid donations.
- Each individual donor will only need to complete a simple Gift Aid Declaration.
- Declarations can cover any number of donations.
- Declarations can be made prior to the donation or up to six years afterwards.
- The Declaration can be cancelled at any time by the donor.
The only requirement is that the donor must have paid tax equal to the amount to be reclaimed by the charity. This can be income tax on your salary or pension, tax deducted from bank or building society savings, or capital gains tax.
At the current rates of tax this means that the S.T.R.P.S. will gain an extra 28p for every �1 paid to us. (�4.20 on a full rate subscription of �15).
If you have any queries about the scheme, please contact the Gift Aid Administrator, Norman Johnson by e-mail at [email protected].
Please consider helping the S.T.R.P.S. in this way - at no extra cost to yourself. Simply sign and date the Gift Aid Donations part of the membership application form.
Please send the completed membership application form to:-
the STRPS Membership Secretary, Mrs Kathy Aveyard, 106 Commonside, Roberttown, Liversedge, West Yorkshire, WF15 7LW.
For details of how to get to Alston, and other useful information about the South Tynedale Railway, the town of Alston and the surrounding area, please see the General Information page.
Links to other web pages about South Tynedale Railway at Alston, Cumbria or the surrounding area:-
- South Tynedale Railway timetable details at the railway timetable page
- For details about places to visit in the Alston and the surrounding North Pennines area see the North Pennines Tourism Partnership pages or the Edge Holiday Guide web site
- For details of other attractions in the county of Cumbria see the Cumbria Attractions web site or the Cumbria Tourist Board - Cumbria attractions pages
THE SOUTH TYNEDALE RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY,
Registered Office Address:-
The Railway Station, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3JB.
Telephone 01434 381696.
Talking timetable - Telephone 01434 382828.
Registered Charity No. 514939.
Limited by Guarantee: Company Registration No. 1850832 (England).
E-mail enquiries - please 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 Tynedalesman compilers
This page was last updated on 22nd December 2006.
� South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society 2007.