The branchline between Skipton and Ilkley in the Yorkshire Dales was opened in 1888, running through the villages of Embsay, Bolton Abbey and Addingham en-route. For seventy-seven years, the link provided the people of Wharfdale with goods and services to the wider county and beyond, until 1965, when passenger and goods traffic ceased thanks to British Railways. Sixteen short years later, Embsay station reopened for trains, blossoming over many years into the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway we see today.
Following on from their ‘Mixed Traffic Gala’ last year celebrating twenty-five years since reconnecting to Bolton Abbey, the railway held their inaugural ‘Transport Festival’ over the late May bank holiday weekend. Whilst the line’s motive power department has often relied on a fleet of industrial tank engines, this event would have a strong British Railways theme reflected in the roster. L&YR Aspinall Class 27 52322 had arrived back for another extended stint of operation, joined by first-time visitor Hudswell Clarke ‘Austerity’ No.7 ‘Robert’ from the Great Central Railway. ‘Robert’ is presently bearing the guise of scrapped LNER J94 68067, rekindling memories of former Embsay resident 68005, another ‘Austerity’ restored in pseudo BR livery.
Several diesels came out to play, the most notable of which being BR Class 03 D2084 in BR brunswick green, having not long arrived on loan from West Coast Railways’ base at Carnforth. Also turning heads was the unique North Eastern Railway Petrol-Electric ‘Autocar’ 3170, paired with its ‘Autocoach’ trailer 3453 for the first time in operational condition. It’s amazing to think that with the exception of the A-Class, the ‘Autocar’ was the oldest engine in service over the event; an engine truly ahead of its time. Finally, BR Class 08 08773 provided Driver For A Fiver duties at Bolton Abbey, bearing the later British Rail corporate blue livery. All in all, five locomotives were in action over the four-mile line across the weekend.
I visited on the Saturday of the gala, which saw trains departing up to every thirty minutes from either end of the line. Three different consists could be seen out and about: a main set of MK1s, a freight rake and the ‘Autocoach’ and trailer. The weather was sunny to start, with cloud creeping in over the dales throughout the day.
The full lineup consisted of:
Visiting:
L&YR Aspinall Class 27 ‘A’ 0-6-0 52322 (from Andy Booth and the East Lancashire Railway)
Hudswell Clarke ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST 68067 (from Roger Hibbert and the Great Central Railway)
BR Class 03 0-6-0DM D2084 (from West Coast Railways)
Home Fleet:
NER Petrol-Electric ‘Autocar’ 3170
BR Class 08 0-6-0DM 08773*
*Does not feature in this video.
I hope you all enjoy the video. Despite missing out on a couple of shots, I had a great time in at the railway. Thanks to all at the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway for a very good event, particularly the crew of 68067, which in my mind was the star of the show. Check out our Instagram page at [ Ссылка ] for exclusive photos and behind-the-scenes updates. Feel free to comment and subscribe!
