Aysgarth Station - Wensleydale Railway

[Data]

Some very interesting points have been made about Aysgarth and the proposed sale. I should like to make the following observations:

- What had happened to the £200,000 profit for the last 2 years shown in the accounts?
- Why has the holiday cottage at Aysgarth not been marketed more aggressively? More bookings would have helped to pay off the mortgage.
- There has been poor management, e.g. running diesel hauled locos which are expensive to run when a DMU is advertised.
- The socio-economic report on the extension by Arup has not been circulated to members and share-holders. This came out very positively in favour of the extension.

 

[Worf]

The Just Giving page with the full story is here:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/wensleydale-railway/aysgarth

I quote:
"Your funds will go to 5 key areas
Infrastructure
M.A.R.S (maintenance facility)
Station Improvements
Rolling stock
Aysgarth Extension"

So despite the title the appeal seems to be more general in nature.

Well, of those 5 "key areas", very few have been addressed in an efficient manner by the PLC. M.A.R.S has had loads of money, and has nothing to show for it. "Aysgarth Extension" has paid for the study that found that extending to Aysgarth would be beneficial, and is now being ignored. Money has been expended on stations that will probably never reopen. I would go on, but probably better if we just agree to differ as to whether WRA(T) Members have been misled.

 

[paul1609]

Well, of those 5 "key areas", very few have been addressed in an efficient manner by the PLC. M.A.R.S has had loads of money, and has nothing to show for it. "Aysgarth Extension" has paid for the study that found that extending to Aysgarth would be beneficial, and is now being ignored. Money has been expended on stations that will probably never reopen. I would go on, but probably better if we just agree to differ as to whether WRA(T) Members have been misled.

I dont criticise other heritage railways, this is just an observation.
On the Kent & East Sussex Railway we inherited what was basically a 13 mile Freight Branch from BR.
It quickly became apparent that using our volunteer workforce for PW it would not be possible to keep up with the renewal of wooden sleepers on the line and we made the decision that we would enter a long term program of relaying the line with concrete sleepers. This meant that we had to divert a higher proportion of our income in to the infrastructure compared to some other lines and it has not always been a popular policy with the volunteers, despite this we have suffered some acute financial difficulties in the past.
I had a ride in the front of the Wensleydales DMU earlier in the year and they would seem to have the same problems as the early K&ESR and then some, basically because of the length of the line.
I have no idea of the Wensleydale's accounts but it would seem to me that the infrastructure cost needed to maintain the line as it is without any extensions or improvements must currently exceed the lines income by some margin.
In these circumstances its all too easy to criticise the directors of the various organisations but there may simply be no easy answer.
I wish the Wensleydale all the best for the future.

 

[Pinza-C55]

I have mixed feelings about the WR having volunteered there from the opening day for a year and a half till I finally gave it up as a bad job. The volunteers were stalwarts but the directors had some very strange ideas - one of them wanted to lay double track from Leeming Bar to Northallerton !
The issue which led me to leave was the decision to pay contractors to lay three passing loops at Bedale, Constable Burton and Leyburn. They closed the line for several weekends in the height of the summer when it was easily possible to fill a 4 car DMU and replaced it with buses which made poor connections at Leeming Bar. When the loops were laid they had to consider a signalling system and they had the idea that the Driver should carry a "Point Zapper" which would remotely switch the points as they approached. Myself and a couple of other volunteers tried to convince them that HMRI would never allow this so they ploughed ahead. They bought some point motors then I was asked "Can you install these ?" to which I replied "Possibly but I am not qualified so I will not touch them".
It's a shame that this Aysgarth issue has come up because I think that properly managed the WR could rival the NYMR.
I think that Redmire to Aysgarth is achievable if properly managed but Aysgarth to Garsdale is virtually impossible due to the site at Askrigg and the condition of Mossdale Tunnel.
Having said all that they have done some superb work, such as Scruton station which is a credit to all concerned.

 

[sycamores]

It is been sold off. http://www.richmondshiretoday.co.uk...ers-vote-favour-selling-off-aysgarth-station/

Wensleydale Railway Plc shareholders have voted in favour of selling off Aysgarth Station to a private rail enthusiast to clear its debts and secure its survival.

The vote was taken today at the company’s annual general meeting held in Leyburn Methodist church hall, with shareholders come from across the country to attend.

The vote to sell the asset came despite concern among some supporters who felt the station should not be sold off as it could prevent the line’s eventual aim of running trains from Northallerton to Garsdale.

 

[IanD]

It is been sold off. http://www.richmondshiretoday.co.uk...ers-vote-favour-selling-off-aysgarth-station/

That's me not renewing my membership of the WRA.

 

[swissrailpassion]

I believe the buyer will try and take over the entire line soon

 

[ThetrackMaster]

It was a sad day for the WR yesterday. The sale of Aysgarth only puts the company on the slippery slope downwards I'm afraid. I hope I'm wrong but the bulk of the monies I understand are going towards propping up the operations!!!
What does that tell you? The railway is not performing and losing money!!
Today according to the WR Facebook page there are no trains running due to a shortage of drivers.
Is this a coincidence or have volunteers had enough and this was the final straw?
Only time will tell?
I think some other HR's are going to be seeing an influx of new members, because volunteers will leave.
A sad day indeed.
As others have said;
How long before this wealthy individual takes over the whole line?
What will all those shareholders and members who supported this have to say then??

 

[Pinza-C55]

If the wealthy individual was Richard Branson he could afford to extend it from Redmire to Garsdale by next year.

 

[Bevan Price]

Whilst I wish them well, I fear that Wensleydale Railway is always liable to struggle to attract visitors.

1. It lacks working, interesting steam locos. Like it or not, steam always attracts lots more "casual" / non-enthusiast visitors than diesel locos or dmus; fine scenery alone will not bring enough paying customers.

2. Access by public transport is very poor.

3. The local population is not huge.

 

[otto52]

The WR has managed to alienate a lot of volunteers lately, including an enthusiastic group at Leyburn Station as well as now at Aysgarth. The manner in which this sale has been enacted, in almost total secrecy and without any reference to the Aysgarth group or serious consideration of alternatives, is appalling. I believe it's only a matter of time before the WR in its current form fails, and the purchaser of Aysgarth takes over the whole enterprise as others here have suggested.

 

[otto52]

I think that Redmire to Aysgarth is achievable if properly managed but Aysgarth to Garsdale is virtually impossible due to the site at Askrigg and the condition of Mossdale Tunnel.

The Askrigg Station site was recently sold, with a condition that the trackbed was to be left clear for possible reinstatement of the railway. It's now occupied by a veterinary practice and a brewery.

 

[unslet]

The simple fact is,the Trust has been subsidising the PLC for years.This,as was stated at the Trust agm,cannot go on.The Trust does not have a massive pot of money to call on.
It is a fact that the public want steam,they see a grotty dmu and turn around and leave.
Steam owners will not bring their locos to the line without covered accommodation,they have stated this.We are told a shed would cost £57000,this amount was pledged by a supporter yesterday.
As things stand the Railway was running out of options,this is one last chance to give the Railway a chance,the Railway really does need all the support it can get now.
Yes,it is disappointing about Aysgarth.Without this opportunity,I am of the opinion that it would have been the end,anyway.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The simple fact is,the Trust has been subsidising the PLC for years.This,as was stated at the Trust agm,cannot go on.The Trust does not have a massive pot of money to call on.

I'm unfamiliar with the structure of preserved railways, but why do they have this kind of odd structure with two almost competing organisations? Why are they not simply a registered charity, perhaps with a wholly owned limited company trading arm that comes under the governance of the charity? Or just a PLC, if they prefer to fundraise via share offers?

 

[theblackwatch]

I'm unfamiliar with the structure of preserved railways, but why do they have this kind of odd structure with two almost competing organisations? Why are they not simply a registered charity, perhaps with a wholly owned limited company trading arm that comes under the governance of the charity? Or just a PLC, if they prefer to fundraise via share offers?

The Wensleydale has never been a preserved railway, but I suspect it is so they get the 'best of both' - a PLC enables fundraising via share offers, with the charity providing tax benefits and easier access grants etc.

 

[IanD]

The simple fact is,the Trust has been subsidising the PLC for years.This,as was stated at the Trust agm,cannot go on.The Trust does not have a massive pot of money to call on.
It is a fact that the public want steam,they see a grotty dmu and turn around and leave.
Steam owners will not bring their locos to the line without covered accommodation,they have stated this.We are told a shed would cost £57000,this amount was pledged by a supporter yesterday.
As things stand the Railway was running out of options,this is one last chance to give the Railway a chance,the Railway really does need all the support it can get now.
Yes,it is disappointing about Aysgarth.Without this opportunity,I am of the opinion that it would have been the end,anyway.

Support works both ways. I have been a supporter of the WR (from a distance mostly) since shortly after it was formed. The way both organisations that now exist have acted in recent times (the plc in particular) does nothing to show they deserve my support and it sounds like I'm not the only one to feel that way.

 

[Worf]

Support works both ways. I have been a supporter of the WR (from a distance mostly) since shortly after it was formed. The way both organisations that now exist have acted in recent times (the plc in particular) does nothing to show they deserve my support and it sounds like I'm not the only one to feel that way.

I totally agree. I wont be renewing my WRA membership, but my PLC share certificate may come in handy, hung on a nail in the outside bog.
I give the present setup another six months before it goes under, and the "private individual" (I think we all know who it is) picks up the bits he wants at a knockdown price.

There are plenty of other worthy setups out there that will be glad of support.

 

[unslet]

We all know that preserved railway share certificates are essentially worthless sheets of paper anyway.They simply act as donations to a particular cause.
All I can say is that both boards,many of whom are new,struck me as constructive and thoughful.
I may be an optimistic fool,many railway schemes have had the benefit of my finances,but I feel the WR is deserving of this last chance of survival.
The more covenants that were placed on the sale of Aysgarth,the lower the sale price would have been.Not ideal,I am as disappointed as anyone,but we are where we are.

 

[XDM]

It seems, only from reading the forum & not from any other information, that there are important questions to answer.

Why wasn't Aysgarth station put up for auction with a reasonable time for possible bidders to get their finances together? It is odd, & very unusual, that just one person, & I have no idea who it is, was allowed to bid for & buy the station.
A competitive auction with prepublicity could have increased the price & produced a buying group who was prepared to accept binding covenants.
People with a legitimate reason to enquire, shareholders, members or donors, should raise the station sale, whilst fund raising was continuing, with the Charity commission & other public bodies.
The short notice of the meeting to approve/reject the sale should be raised with Companies house & the charity commission.
What financial penalties have the railway suffered for reducing the mortgage early?

It may be all is perfectly in order. But if not, then the sale can be rerun & new buyers mobilised so more money can be raised & proper covenants put in place. Or the present buyer can be made to accept restrictive biding covenants.

If the railway members had known who the buyer was & it was someone who has proved to be a great friend of preserved railways, & I can think of names I can trust, then these queries are not needed. But the buyer's apparent desire for anonymity is worrying.

 

[Pinza-C55]

Sorry if it has already been linked to but I just found this rather nice aerial video of Redmire - Aysgarth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ9Wcaw9KF0

 

[Bevan Price]

It seems, only from reading the forum & not from any other information, that there are important questions to answer.

Why wasn't Aysgarth station put up for auction with a reasonable time for possible bidders to get their finances together? It is odd, & very unusual, that just one person, & I have no idea who it is, was allowed to bid for & buy the station.
A competitive auction with prepublicity could have increased the price & produced a buying group who was prepared to accept binding covenants.
.

In this case, I have no idea, but elsewhere, hurried sales often coincide with a critical shortage of funds.......

 

[Shenandoah]

The Askrigg Station site was recently sold, with a condition that the trackbed was to be left clear for possible reinstatement of the railway. It's now occupied by a veterinary practice and a brewery.

Does this mean the track bed is now built upon? Or is it still left clear?

Regarding the sale being put to auction then anyone, whether they had railway interests at heart or not, could have bid. If this is such a beautiful place then other interested (rather than railway orientated) developers could propose and possibly get permission to build other tourist attractions. Luxury chalets, retail and catering places come to mind. Hopefully the future owner will have railway heritage in his/her focus.

 

[Worf]

Does this mean the track bed is now built upon? Or is it still left clear?

Regarding the sale being put to auction then anyone, whether they had railway interests at heart or not, could have bid. If this is such a beautiful place then other interested (rather than railway orientated) developers could propose and possibly get permission to build other tourist attractions. Luxury chalets, retail and catering places come to mind. Hopefully the future owner will have railway heritage in his/her focus.

I am afraid that his only real focus is MONEY

 

[Skutter]

the "private individual" (I think we all know who it is)

Who do you think it is?

 

[Bletchleyite]

In this case, I have no idea, but elsewhere, hurried sales often coincide with a critical shortage of funds.......

I saw the Wensleydale train in early July (wanted to use it for public transport purposes but the timings didn't fit) and it was in a right state, so this would not surprise me.

(As an aside, a couple of weeks later I *did* use the Spa Valley from Groombridge to Eridge as public transport!)

 

[Worf]

Who do you think it is?

I know who it is, be he would probably find some excuse to sue me if I told you

 

[Pinza-C55]

Does this mean the track bed is now built upon? Or is it still left clear?

Regarding the sale being put to auction then anyone, whether they had railway interests at heart or not, could have bid. If this is such a beautiful place then other interested (rather than railway orientated) developers could propose and possibly get permission to build other tourist attractions. Luxury chalets, retail and catering places come to mind. Hopefully the future owner will have railway heritage in his/her focus.

If you look on Google Earth Askrigg station building still exists but a large warehouse has been built over most of the site. There appears to be enough room to squeeze a single track past it as long as nobody sticks their head out of the window as they pass.

 

[alexl92]

I know who it is, be he would probably find some excuse to sue me if I told you

Is it Waterman by any chance?

 

[Shenandoah]

If you look on Google Earth Askrigg station building still exists but a large warehouse has been built over most of the site. There appears to be enough room to squeeze a single track past it as long as nobody sticks their head out of the window as they pass.

Thank you for the clarification. I read elsewhere (I think) that much of Askrigg station was now built over.

 

[Worf]

Is it Waterman by any chance?

Nope, fraid not.