Member Article

Sir Gary Verity to open restored railway carriage

Official Opening by Sir Gary Verity, CEO, Welcome to Yorkshire of restored and transformed heritage Railway carriage.

When: Monday 19th October 2015 - Time: 9am for 9.30am

Where: Aysgarth Station, Aysgarth, Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

On Monday 19th October, guest of honour Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, will open the restored heritage carriage Coach 5345 at the Wensleydale Railway’s Aysgarth Station.

Coach 5345 was rescued from the siding at Redmire in March 2014 and moved to Aysgarth Station in April 2015. Volunteers from the Aysgarth Station Project (TASP), supported by the Wensleydale Railway Trust and Carperby Parish Council, successfully applied for a grant of £5000 from the Richmondshire Community Opportunities Fund to assist with the restoration. TASP volunteers, supported by local businesses, completed the restoration to a very tight deadline (to comply with funding conditions).

“We began this project with great enthusiasm and after four months of very hard and sometimes frustrating work, the results are impressive. We still have some minor jobs to do to complete the project, but will be ready to use 5345 as the Aysgarth meeting room/café for next season. The restoration work has been undertaken by TASP volunteers with the support of local people and businesses.” commented TASP chairman, Neil Barker.

“Thanks to them, to all those who came and helped at Open Days (regulars and occasional visitors, cake makers etc.) and finally, but not least, to our families for putting up with our obsession! We are a small, but effective, go-ahead team and have welcomed several new members this year. We work on most Wednesdays and Saturdays: come and join us; there will always be something that volunteers can make a contribution to, or even learn a new skill.” added Neil.

The Wensleydale Railway is one of the longest heritage railway routes in the country and operates and daily service in the main season between Leeming Bar and Redmire with Wednesday and Saturdays for the Northallerton-Leeming Bar section. The Railway is considering an extension of the line from Redmire to Aysgarth Falls, a return to the centre of Northallerton, and a general upgrade of the line, stations and trains.

“The carriage will be an asset to the Wensleydale Railway and shows our ongoing commitment to a presence in the Upper Dale” commented General manger Nigel Park.

Attendance at the event can be booked at: http://bit.ly/AysgarthCarriageOpening

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by John Gallery .