Return to Redmire Update:
2025 has seen much work going on behind the scenes to re-open the Leyburn to Redmire section of our railway to passenger services.
At the end of the Summer, our contractor, Lampitt Rail Services, cleared approximately ¼ mile of donated track and materials from the former Eggborough power station site in North Yorkshire. The rails, sleepers, track fittings, several turnouts, signals and location cabinets are now stored at our railway. We are pleased to announce that we have been offered a further ½ mile+ of track and 5 turnouts and this additional material is due to be delivered to Leeming Bar early next year.
Acquiring the donated track materials this year resulted in us altering our original goal of restoring passenger services to Redmire by September 2025. As a result of the timescales & logistics involved in removing the track from the site to our railway, it was necessary for us to adjust our existing Redmire programme of track repair work accordingly. However, as recent social media posts have shown, sleeper replacement and drainage work has been continuing between Leyburn and Redmire, with work particularly focused on the section of line close to Wensley Station.
At the recent AGM, the Board announced a revised goal to be back to Wensley by Christmas 2026 and Redmire by Christmas 2027.
In discussions with our rail contractor, it was estimated that there is approx. 5 months of track & infrastructure work required to get back to Wensley and a further 5 months (approx.) to get back to Redmire. There is also the question of signalling to consider. We will provide a further update in the New Year as plans develop.
We remain committed to restoring passenger services to Redmire as soon as possible.
Follow our progress in 2026 and please donate to this project if you can. Donations can be made online, by BACS, cheque or cash at our stations. We are making progress, and with your generosity and support, your railway will continue to flourish!
Contact Nick at fundraising@wensleydalerailway.com for more details.
