Class 31 Event - Weardale Railway-County Durham April 21/22

[EvanDMU]

Featuring

31106
31190
31285
31459
31465

Celebrate the history of one of the most famous diesel locomotives ever to be used by British Railways with a visit to the Weardale Railway’s Class 31 Gala Weekend on 21st and 22nd April 2018.

The event will feature two locomotives which have not been seen on passenger trains for many years, namely 31106 and 31190, both of which are more than 60 years old.

To celebrate the occasion 31106 will be reunited with its old name of Spalding Town and there will be a naming ceremony held on the Saturday of the event.

Also provisionally booked to appear at the event will be 31459 and 31465 which both featured on our very successful ‘Trains to Christmas Town’ services and also Network Rail-liveried 31285 which has not worked a train since appearing at the Nene Valley in 2017.

The line-up of five operating Class 31s is likely to be the biggest for the class during 2018 and all the locomotives will be seen working on Inter-City liveried Mk2 stock. If possible other Class 31s which are out of service will be positioned where they can be photographed from passing trains.

Rover tickets will provide for unlimited travel on any train and there is a discount for rover tickets covering more than one day.

Tickets can be pre-booked by credit or debit card.

Adult weekend rovers £40 (child/concession £35), one day rovers £25 (child/concession £20)

01388 661394 option 3 to book or online at http://www.ba-rail.co.uk/weardale-railway

0900-1900 both days

 

[fireftrm]

good event which I will be trying to get to, but the ticket price is rather steep - considering that the railway has no crossing points and so there is a train there and back and that's it. Sorry Weardale but you might be pricing it too high to attract enough people

 

[EvanDMU]

Timetable due to be released tomorrow but can confirm that trains will be running up to Bishop Auckland (for the first time for a number of years) and that there will be connections with Northern Rail.
Not sure where the last poster gets his/her information but trains should cross each other at Scotch Isle Loop.

 

[theblackwatch]

Timetable due to be released tomorrow but can confirm that trains will be running up to Bishop Auckland (for the first time for a number of years) and that there will be connections with Northern Rail.
Not sure where the last poster gets his/her information but trains should cross each other at Scotch Isle Loop.

I think running to Bishop Auckland (West presumably) will be a great help to many and attract a good few more visitors. I presume there's no likelihood of any of the Class 08s based on the line getting a run out too? (I'm sure they'd draw in a good number of 'red pen' men!)

 

[EvanDMU]

As regards the arrangements at Bishop Auckland you'll be able to purchase tickets from the mainline station ticket office which is run by Bishop Trains, their staff will also direct you to the Weardale Railway platform, which is at the moment about a five minute walk as a permanent link between the two stations has not yet been built.
There won't be any 08s appearing as this is advertised as a Class 31 gala, but perhaps something for the future?
Timetable has appeared on FB at https://www.facebook.com/groups/218007578311439/ and should be available elsewhere later.

 

[electra27000]

I'm planning to drive up for it. What's the parking like at stations along the line?

 

[duffield]

Timetable due to be released tomorrow but can confirm that trains will be running up to Bishop Auckland (for the first time for a number of years) and that there will be connections with Northern Rail.
Not sure where the last poster gets his/her information but trains should cross each other at Scotch Isle Loop.

I missed the running to Bishop Auckland a few years ago. I'll try to make it this time!

 

[EvanDMU]

Suggest that if you are coming by car you are best parking at Wolsingham Station and paying on the train as Stanhope will soon fill up. Alternatively there are plenty of public car parks in Bishop Auckland, but watch out for the retail park ones near the station as they have time limits

 

[shredder1]

Accommodation in Wolsingham booked and tickets for the weekend booked, really looking forward to a ride to Bishops, new track for me, lovely railway, visited once before, driving up from the East Lancs, Friday night, will shed visits be arranged over the weekend?

 

[nat67]

I thought it was the 31's special birthday last year at the Nene Valley. 31465 and 31285 was both there and the Nene valley did have more 31's there last year.
From what fireftrm was saying the Weardale is pricing a little to step. I am surprised that 31452 ins't going up there and 31271.

 

[EvanDMU]

The Nene didn't have either 31106 or 31190 which are rare for haulage. 31452 is now based at Dartmoor Railway (but was at Nene) and 31271 isn't a Weardale/BARS/Dartmoor/RMS based loco.
Pricing is on a par with other lines of similar length (though there aren't many that are 15 miles long or indeed run through such beautiful countryside). Indications are that it will be a cracking weekend and very well attended.

 

[EvanDMU]

Accommodation in Wolsingham booked and tickets for the weekend booked, really looking forward to a ride to Bishops, new track for me, lovely railway, visited once before, driving up from the East Lancs, Friday night, will shed visits be arranged over the weekend?

Sorry shed visits won't be possible and the depot and yard will be locked up all weekend. The shed area is a commercial site and so insurance doesn't allow visits at the moment. You can see a lot of what is at the bottom of the yard from the public footpath that runs alongside the fence or better still from the train.

 

[xotGD]

Suggest that if you are coming by car you are best parking at Wolsingham Station and paying on the train as Stanhope will soon fill up. Alternatively there are plenty of public car parks in Bishop Auckland, but watch out for the retail park ones near the station as they have time limits

Also free on-street parking in Bish in the side streets across from the hospital - but popular with people not wanting to pay to park at the hospital!

 

[shredder1]

Sorry shed visits won't be possible and the depot and yard will be locked up all weekend. The shed area is a commercial site and so insurance doesn't allow visits at the moment. You can see a lot of what is at the bottom of the yard from the public footpath that runs alongside the fence or better still from the train.

Thanks for the reply, no problem, cheers.

 

[nat67]

The Nene didn't have either 31106 or 31190 which are rare for haulage. 31452 is now based at Dartmoor Railway (but was at Nene) and 31271 isn't a Weardale/BARS/Dartmoor/RMS based loco.
Pricing is on a par with other lines of similar length (though there aren't many that are 15 miles long or indeed run through such beautiful countryside). Indications are that it will be a cracking weekend and very well attended.

True compared to the Avon Valley with there diesel weekend one 31 and two shunters quite poor compared to recent years. Doesn't the Wenslydale have a Pedd based there.

 

[duffield]

Had it all planned, stay in Middlesborough tonight (Fri) and then NR to Bishop Auckland - and I was stuck down by 'mega-flu', 1 week coming up and still not well enough to travel, damnit!
Any more running to Bishop Auckland likely this year....
...ah, I see there's a notice saying re BA "Trains operating as part of some special events will operate from the station and later this year it is expected that the Heritage service will also be extended to the town."

Not so bad then. Would have liked to see the 31's but my main reason was track coverage

 

[shredder1]

An amazing gala, very friendly and helpful staff, a fantastic line and great weekend, loved every minute of it, well done to the Weardale Railway, awesome job guys and thank you for a fantastic weekend.

 

[E759]

An amazing gala, very friendly and helpful staff, a fantastic line and great weekend, loved every minute of it, well done to the Weardale Railway, awesome job guys and thank you for a fantastic weekend.

Absolutely agree, cracking event. My life Weardale you're gorgeous!

My thanks also to the Railway staff and the Bishop Trains lads who welcomed us at BIA and kept all informed of the departures to Stanhope and Darlo. But special thanks to EvanDMU for posting this event here: If you post it, we will come!

PS: And what a happy surprise to find a Beer Festival at the Back Bull Inn Frosterley. I wasn't the only one that hopped off the train to spend an hour supping local and guest ales. Titanic Plum Porter was available which for me was the cherry on the icing on the top of the cake

 

[DarloRich]

Glad to hear that lots of you had a great day and discovered a lovely corner of the world that many people don't know about. Weardale & Teesdale is just as lovely as the more famous Yorkshire dales slightly to the south

 

[E759]

Glad to hear that lots of you had a great day and discovered a lovely corner of the world that many people don't know about. Weardale & Teesdale is just as lovely as the more famous Yorkshire dales slightly to the south

I've now travelled on the NYMR through the North Yorkshire Moors so can make a comparison. If I was given a choice of returning to only one of the railways I would choose Weardale. That might be a bias driven by direct rail connectivity and is certainly not a negative bias towards The Chosen One (I have all his books and DVD). There was just something about Weardale I can't quite put my finger on. I'm sure there is a Black Bull Inn somewhere along the route of the NYMR, alas i never had time to find it.

I forgot to ask earlier if the Beer Festival at the Black Bull Inn Frosterley was merely a coincidence? Either way, please ensure there is one at the next Diesel Gala

 

[fireftrm]

I've now travelled on the NYMR through the North Yorkshire Moors so can make a comparison. If I was given a choice of returning to only one of the railways I would choose Weardale. That might be a bias driven by direct rail connectivity and is certainly not a negative bias towards The Chosen One (I have all his books and DVD). There was just something about Weardale I can't quite put my finger on. I'm sure there is a Black Bull Inn somewhere along the route of the NYMR, alas i never had time to find it.

I forgot to ask earlier if the Beer Festival at the Black Bull Inn Frosterley was merely a coincidence? Either way, please ensure there is one at the next Diesel Gala

There is the Waiting Room at Whitby - 6 real ales and 14 ciders always on, The Sun Inn, Pickering 6 real ales and a beer festival in September, Black Swan, Pickering up to 10 ales, most brewed on site and Goathland Station real ale and cider festival during the NYMR Steam Gala, last weekend in September - 35 ales and 4+ ciders. NYMR has rail connections at Whitby, or Pickering by train to York and bus - direct ticketing from LNER stations includes the bus to Pickering.

 

[E759]

There is the Waiting Room at Whitby - 6 real ales and 14 ciders always on, The Sun Inn, Pickering 6 real ales and a beer festival in September, Black Swan, Pickering up to 10 ales, most brewed on site and Goathland Station real ale and cider festival during the NYMR Steam Gala, last weekend in September - 35 ales and 4+ ciders. NYMR has rail connections at Whitby, or Pickering by train to York and bus - direct ticketing from LNER stations includes the bus to Pickering.

Thank you fire, sounds like I need another visit then! The Black Swan especially

 

[E759]

A short trip report for the Class 31 Gala back in April has now been posted:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/e769-heritage-trip-reports-2018.168772/

 

[BrunswickGreen]

There is the Waiting Room at Whitby - 6 real ales and 14 ciders always on, The Sun Inn, Pickering 6 real ales and a beer festival in September, Black Swan, Pickering up to 10 ales, most brewed on site and Goathland Station real ale and cider festival during the NYMR Steam Gala, last weekend in September - 35 ales and 4+ ciders. NYMR has rail connections at Whitby, or Pickering by train to York and bus - direct ticketing from LNER stations includes the bus to Pickering.

Plus the Birch Hall Inn at Beck Hole for somewhere off the beaten track.

 

[E759]

Plus the Birch Hall Inn at Beck Hole for somewhere off the beaten track.

1.3 miles from the station and uphill (240') on the way back