Northallerton & the Redmire Branch, North Yorkshire

With the impending closure of what was at the time the longest freight only branch in the UK looming, I was drawn to this part of North Yorkshire in 1992 to capture the train operations before they ended. Limestone quarried locally was brought in by road to the railhead, for loading into wagons which were then taken daily to the steelworks at Redcar. My timing was perfect as this operation ended in December of that year. The future of the branch was then uncertain, but thanks to the Ministry of Defence the branch was secure, due to the occasional need for military trains servicing the nearby army base at Catterick Camp. Subsequently part of the line has been operated as the Wensleydale Railway heritage railway.

My first visit also brought two lucky events my way. First, a cab ride aboard the loaded limestone train between Redmire and Bedale, and secondly, meeting signalman Ray Allen at Bedale signal box, a friendship that lasted long after the last train left for Redcar!

Northallerton station is not that familiar to me, other than being the junction for the line to Redmire. It is a modern, rebuilt structure, much modernised since steam days.