2nd Jan 1993
Today marked the day that the Redmire branch officially closed, and to mark the occasion Hertfordshire Railtours ran a trip from London Kings Cross and back. The "Wensleydale Lament" ran as 1G24 07.40 London Kings Cross to Redmire to London Kings Cross. It started out from London behind Sulzer Class 47 no. 47820 and when it arrived at Northallerton Class 37s nos. 37714 and 37884 "Gartcosh" were attached to the rear of the train and they pulled it down the branch to Redmire, 47820 staying on the other end for the journey back. My photo here, taken in sub-zero temperatures and with a heavy freezing fog hanging in the air, is from a spot by the line just west of Leyburn.
A strange incident at this location where I'm standing remains engrained in my mind. Having got here early and being the only person to witness the train, or so I thought, before long others started to arrive, mostly locals I think. All of a sudden it was disappointingly crowded and noisy. Included in the gathering throng was a newly-arrived minibus full of kids, from a local youth club I presumed, and in the care of a "responsible adult", a guy who was obviously an enthusiast looking to see this last train for himself too. The fact that he had a bus full of uncontrollable and disinterested kids didn't seem to concern him. I shall never forget the sight of the minibus heavily laden with those rowdy kids being hastily driven away rapidly after the train had passed, as he was obviously keen to chase the train further along the line. Before all of the kids had settled in he had put his foot down and sped off back up the track in a cloud of dirt, the back doors flapping open and the kids yelling at him to stop! It was utter chaos and that no one fell out of the back was a miracle. It all rather spoilt the moment for me, but then again, I remember the day so clearly now because of this bizarre event!
A strange incident at this location where I'm standing remains engrained in my mind. Having got here early and being the only person to witness the train, or so I thought, before long others started to arrive, mostly locals I think. All of a sudden it was disappointingly crowded and noisy. Included in the gathering throng was a newly-arrived minibus full of kids, from a local youth club I presumed, and in the care of a "responsible adult", a guy who was obviously an enthusiast looking to see this last train for himself too. The fact that he had a bus full of uncontrollable and disinterested kids didn't seem to concern him. I shall never forget the sight of the minibus heavily laden with those rowdy kids being hastily driven away rapidly after the train had passed, as he was obviously keen to chase the train further along the line. Before all of the kids had settled in he had put his foot down and sped off back up the track in a cloud of dirt, the back doors flapping open and the kids yelling at him to stop! It was utter chaos and that no one fell out of the back was a miracle. It all rather spoilt the moment for me, but then again, I remember the day so clearly now because of this bizarre event!
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Also in: Northallerton & the Redmire Branch, North Yorkshire
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