The Wensleydale Railway is an authentic heritage railway serving the local community, offering tourists, families and transport enthusiasts a great value day out in the Yorkshire Dales with lots to see and do along the way. We are currently operating trains between the Georgian market town of Bedale, our hub at Leeming Bar and the picturesque village of Scruton where our visitors can step back in time and enjoy a living museum experience.
Following the closure of the line between Northallerton and Garsdale in 1954 the line was saved from demolition by the presence of stone traffic between Northallerton and Redmire. When stone traffic ceased The Wensleydale Railway Association (WRA) was formed with the main aim of restoring both passenger services and the line which was still occasionally used for military traffic. Passenger services restarted on 4th July 2003 between Leeming Bar and Leyburn with Bedale, Finghall and Redmire stations opening in 2004. A small team of dedicated staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly ever since to ensure that the heritage of the railway survives. Major achievements have been made over the years which has seen the addition of restored signal boxes, passing loops, station restorations and an award-winning heritage education programme. The Wensleydale Railway will this year reopen a further National Lottery Heritage Fund funded project which has seen the restoration of the station house at Leeming Bar which had fallen into disrepair in recent years. It is the aim of this project to create a further resource for educational visits and to share the heritage of the station with more people and in new ways.
Passion, interest in history, interest in community development.
We are a close group of people from all backgrounds with varying passions including those who love trains, are interested in heritage, education or perhaps just someone wanting to socialise and meet new people.