A heritage railway has launched a fundraising appeal to restore passenger train services to a village for the first time in three years.
Wensleydale Railway, based at Leeming Bar, near Northallerton, wants to be able to run trains on from Leyburn to Redmire.
The last passenger services on that stretch ran three years ago due to the deteriorating condition of the track and infrastructure. Some of the track dates back to before the First World War.
Launching its fundraising drive this week, the railway said passenger trains cannot safely be run over the Leyburn to Redmire section of line in its current state.
The railway is predominantly constructed on ash ballast, wooden sleepers and 90lb North Eastern Rail, which is heavily worn out and life-expired.
An image of the track issued with the appeal by Wensleydale Railway
There is considerable vegetation to be removed, re-ballasting done and drainage renewed. In addition, there is major infrastructure work to address such as second platform construction and footbridge replacement at Leyburn and signalling. It is estimated that the required track and infrastructure upgrade work will cost in excess of £1m.
The railway said the appeal’s purpose is primarily to raise essential "pump-priming" funds that will provide crucial support for future, larger grant applications. The funds will act as a match-funding resource that can be used as vital leverage when applying for the larger, often governmental, funding opportunities necessary to reopen this section of line.
Redmire Station, on the Wensleydale Railway
Nigel Park, chairman of the Wensleydale Railway Association (Trust) Limited, said: “The trust is pleased to launch our new appeal designed to raise funds for match-funding and the application processes for major grant-aid to upgrade the railway’s infrastructure and bring the standard of the whole route up to where we aspire it to be. This is probably the most important appeal we have ever made.”
Nick Keegan, fundraising manager, added: “This appeal is the next step in the railway's on-going plans to develop & improve its customer experience.”
Locomotive 37250 passing Penhill, near Redmire
Other recent developments for Wensleydale Railway include a £386,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore Leeming Bar Station House and develop the 1920s heritage programme.
Donations to the Return to Redmire campaign can be made online at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/returntoredmire.
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