The Weardale Railway: Bishop Auckland West to Stanhope

[railfan99]

It's welcome that the above is operating the full route on a limited number of Thursdays and Sundays, and one Monday (presumably Bank Holiday) in August/early September 2023.

Well done to all volunteers!

This was notified after I'd planned my overseas visit, and only covered one day of my trip, so unfortunately impractical.

It's vital for preserved railways to concentrate on the costs of operation.

However why when this railway has a Class 122 historic and attractive railcar does it insist on the limited (so far) days when the full route runs of operating what look to be (from the interior seating configuation) a terrible, suburban route-bus like, Pacer Class 142?

The line is on my list to 'bash' but it'd be much nicer to travel in a beautiful railcar or other rollingstock item.

 

[The exile]

It's welcome that the above is operating the full route on a limited number of Thursdays and Sundays, and one Monday (presumably Bank Holiday) in August/early September 2023.

Well done to all volunteers!

This was notified after I'd planned my overseas visit, and only covered one day of my trip, so unfortunately impractical.

It's vital for preserved railways to concentrate on the costs of operation.

However why when this railway has a Class 122 historic and attractive railcar does it insist on the limited (so far) days when the full route runs of operating what look to be (from the interior seating configuation) a terrible, suburban route-bus like, Pacer Class 142?

The line is on my list to 'bash' but it'd be much nicer to travel in a beautiful railcar or other rollingstock item.

The carrying capacity of a Pacer may not be brilliant, but it’ll be more than a bubble car.

 

[railfan99]

The carrying capacity of a Pacer may not be brilliant, but it’ll be more than a bubble car.

Thanks. I hadn't seen a YouTube video in 2023 of the 'bubble car', so had assumed it was a multiple unit railcar (i.e. two or three cars coupled together) but not so.

Your explanation tallies with the report of the Weardale Railway Trust tabled via Companies House in March 2023. I can't easily attach it here, but easy to search via the CH website.

 

[Peter749]

Thanks. I hadn't seen a YouTube video in 2023 of the 'bubble car', so had assumed it was a multiple unit railcar (i.e. two or three cars coupled together) but not so.

Your explanation tallies with the report of the Weardale Railway Trust tabled via Companies House in March 2023. I can't easily attach it here, but easy to search via the CH website.

The term "Bubble Car" normally refers to a Single Unit DMU - Like a Class 121 or 122 or Iris from the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway