Aln Valley Railway

The Trust acts as the ‘figurehead’ to secure assets, free from risk, and to secure status and tax advantages for the railway. It leases its assets to the railway, acting as a ‘Company Limited by Guarantee’. The Trust Members are liable for the sum of £1 per head if the Trust needs to be wound up. At present the Trust has only six Members. Persons seeking to become Trust Members may applyif they are ‘fit and proper persons over the age of 18’. Existing Trustees are required to approve applications. An application form can be downloaded for completion and submission by post to:
Michael Smithson, Company Secretary, Aln Valley Railway Trust, 2nd Floor, Ward’s Building, 31-39 High Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1EW.
The full Trust Incorporation Document is available for inspection.

wagon No. 40299 Aln Valley Railway
wagon No. 40344 Aln Valley Railway
carriage - Mk 2 BR 1966 No. 5210 Aln Valley Railway
carriage - Mk 2c BR 1969 No. 35506 Aln Valley Railway

Meetings are held in the Waiting Room, Alnwick Station and start promptly at 7.15pm

Thursday 17th September 2009 : Former BR and NCB footplateman Ken Middlemist presents the second part of his local railway reminiscences when he relates to us some ‘Tales of the NCB Railway at Whittle Colliery’. If you enjoyed Ken’s ‘part 1’ talk then you won’t want to miss this!

Thursday 15th October 2009 : This evening we welcome Gordon Hodgson from Haughton, Carlisle. Gordon is a driver of steam locomotives on the main lines in the north and he will give us an illustrated talk entitled “Driving Preserved Stream on the Settle and Carlisle Line”.

Thursday 19th November 2009 : Graham Jellett makes a very welcome return to Alnwick to update our knowledge of the French Tramway and Light Railway situation in his latest talk: “Light Rail in France – The Current Scene.”

Thursday 17th December 2009 : “The Members Entertain: a Christmas Social Evening”. This evening is a chance for members, their guests & friends to give a short presentation on a railway-linked topic of their own choice. Please volunteer. Slide projector, DVD & video player are available.

Meetings are open to members, their guests and visitors for a small donation towards costs.

Refreshments will be available at 7.00pm.

In the event of severe weather please contact Roger Jermy by ‘phone on 01665 606168 or by email:

roger (at) jermy4648.freeserve.co.uk to check that a meeting is still ‘on’.

The Aln Valley Railway has been established to re-open the branch line from Alnmouth station on the main Edinburgh-London line up to Alnwick, firstly as a ‘heritage rail’ and, with luck, steam and vintage diesel powered tourist attraction and secondly, if plans go well, a 21st century sustainable transport link for Alnwick. The Alnwick Garden attracts some 600,000 and more visitors a year and with the Castle and Barter Books also as attractions the addition of a rail line will further enhance Alnwick’s tourist offering.

The plans for the railway were launched in 1997 with the intention of taking main-line steam back into Alnwick Station. However this would have involved the provision of a ‘heavy’ bridge over the dual carriageway A1 to the east of Alnwick and a further ‘heavy’ bridge over South Road in Alnwick – the old Great North Road. Much funding was obtained, but in the end not enough.

A further set-back occurred in 2002 when application was made to Northumberland County Council for a Modification Order to add a footpath along the trackbed east of the A1 to the Definitive Footpath map. The county council did make an order but after a public inquiry last November the Inspector refused to confirm the order.

In the meantime the committee rethought the plans and now proposes to site the main Alnwick station in the field adjacent to the trackbed to the east of the A1 near the Lionheart business park. This will provide ample space for parking and suitable buildings for the visitor experience, with good road access from the South Road/A1 interchange. From here steam trains will eventually run down to Alnmouth station, a scenic run of some 3 miles. We propose to proceed in stages. We begin with some 200-300 yards of track at Lionheart – this will enable us to show we have made a start. We will then lay some further mile and a half of track down to Greenrigg bridge, which is the first point where we encounter a public road or footpath. We only need planning permission for this bit. To go further we need a parliamentary piece of paper called a Transport and Works Order – which will be expensive. Once we have that, we can proceed down to the old branch platform at Alnmouth, with cross-platform transfer to the main line for passengers. Our plans include for the other side of the trackbed to be a permissive Sustrans cyclepath, which will connect the national coastal cycle route safely to Alnwick.

Looking further ahead, we may consider extending into Alnwick using an ‘ultra-light’ tramway approach, and also the possibility of a park-and ride operation. We could cross the A1 on a lightweight bridge shared with the Sustrans cycle track and the South Road would be crossed at street level with a light-controlled crossing. Thus we remove a large part of the civil costs of the original scheme.

However we have a problem with levels. The original track has a gradient of 1 in 75 prevailing. To get up the deviation to Lionheart we have to climb at 1 in 50 from the existing trackbed and to achieve this entails excavation at Lionheart and raising the embankment on the old trackbed. In short, we need quite a lot of earth-moving!

We received a grant from our local Strategic Partnership to commission a team from the International Centre at Manchester Metropolitan University to carry out a commercial feasibility study. This was completed last March and shows that our line could break even on as few as 10,000 trips/year. We have the great advantage that Northumberland Estates, who now own the trackbed, are prepared to lease it to us at a very reasonable rent, so our balance sheet will not be burdened with large land acquisition costs before we start.

Negotiation of a lease for the trackbed from Northumberland Estates is in hand as are discussions with Alnwick District Council for planning permission. We also need to ensure our plans are in line with ROGS regulations. On the practical front work is needed at our Longhoughton yard on overhauling our rail plant, and on sorting out rail material for our initial track laying. We are also working on rolling stock for our initial operation.

All volunteers welcome!!
Tom Spence

When the Newcastle & Berwick Railway received authorisation to build a railway between Gateshead and Berwick on 31st July, 1845, it also gained powers to build certain branches. One such branch was the Alnmouth to Alnwick line.

The company naturally concentrated on the main line and it was only after this was finished that consideration was given to the branch.The contract for construction was let in August 1884. Progress was rapid and the line was ready to be formally opened on the 5th August, 1850. The original station construction at the edge of the town, adjacent to Shilbottle Coal Company depot, which was served by a wagonway from Shilbottle Colliery (the route of this followed the present day Wagonway Road in Alnwick). The station was quite a modest affair, occupying the area now used as hard standing in front of the present day Tyre Services depot, and consisted of a stone built single storey building about 60 feet long, containing offices and waiting rooms. A single platform was provided, and it is quite possible that the short section of platform that survives behind the Station Masters’ house dates from this time. Other buildings provided at this time included a large stone built goods warehouse and assorted stables/stores. A signal box was built at the south end of the station yard. Services and traffic developed steadily and in 1885 Alnwick town council approached the North Eastern Railway asking for improved facilities as the existing station seemed inadequate. After initial reluctance to consider their request, the N.E.R. suddenly reversed their decision, possibly as a result of direct intervention by the Duke of Northumberland and authorised construction of the present magnificent building. The contract for construction was let to Messers Meakin and Dean of London for £11,500 with an additional £3,931 for engineering works, a new signal box was included in the price.Opening of the new station on 5th September, 1887 coincided with the opening of the Cornhill branch which had also been constructed by the same contractor but at a cost of £272,266 15s 3d (£272,266.76p). The first train to leave the new station was a train to Cornhill headed by a Fletcher B.T.P. tank locomotive No. 199. After the opening of the new station the original building was converted into a warehouse and an extension was built onto one end to provide stables and a mash house. This building survived until 1930 when it was demolished to provide room for a garage for the new motor parcels delivery van. Two pre-fabricated animal feed warehouses were also built on the site at this time, one of these still survives.

Hustle Bustle By the turn of the century the railway was very busy with about 60 trains a day using the station. In 1911 there were 45 passenger trains a day over the Alnwick to Alnmouth section and an additional 3 trains in each direction on the Cornhill branch. Goods traffic was very important and the 1911 returns show that 2,394 tons of building stone and 1,754 tons of grain were dispatched from Alnwick. 1,380 wagons of livestock were also loaded, which at an average load of 40 animals per wagon equates to over 45,000! This compares to total passenger ticket sales of 77,771. Incoming goods included livestock, building materials (all those slate rooves in Alnwick will have come by train), timber, lime, coal, agricultural machinery, animal feed steel and a vast variety of sundries. Road transport started to eat into revenue in the 1920’s and particularly affected the Cornhill branch where many of the stations were a long way from the communities they were supposed to serve. All passenger services to Wooler and Cornhill were withdrawn at the end of the summer timetable in September 1930 and the number of trains to Alnmouth and beyond had fallen to 14 each way. One of these was a through train to Kelso via Berwick presumably intended to replace one of the Cornhill branch trains. Services remained at this level for the next 35 years with about half the trains being through services to either Newcastle or Berwick.By the mid 1960s the line was said to be losing money and an attempt was made to save money by reducing the branch to single track and dispensing with all signalling equipment. The branch was worked on the “one engine in steam” principle and was operated from the Alnmouth end on the electric token block system, although no tokens were issued. Diesel multiple units had appeared by this time and most of the through trains to Newcastle were operated by Heaton based units. Surprisingly steam locomotives continued to work the Alnmouth trains and most of the goods trains until the 18th June, 1966 when Alnmouth shed closed. The last steam passenger train was hauled by a Tyne Dock based British Railways class 9f No. 92099 which was featured on the front cover of the first issue of the Aln Valley Railway Society magazine ‘The Link’.

Death Knell In March 1966 it was announced that it was proposed to close Alnwick and withdraw all services on 6th June, 1966. There was a great deal of opposition to this and an appeal was made to the Ministry of Transport. However, on 28th September 1967 consent to closure was given, subject to substitute bus services being provided. Passenger services were withdrawn from 29th January, 1968 but goods services lasted until 7th October that year. Following closure, the signal boxes were demolished along with the coal depot and weigh cabins but the remaining 1850s buildings survived until 1975. At this time the goods shed was removed and re-built at Beamish Museum, County Durham. The Station Master’s house still stands and is the home of Society member, Stuart Manley. The 1887 station building remains largely intact and in exceptionally good condition - ready to receive Aln Valley Railway Society trains in a few years time! Reasons for closure were given at the time as being purely financial, with ‘creative’ accounting producing a loss, but it appears that one of the deciding factors was that the Ministry of Transport realised they could substantially reduce the cost of the Alnwick by-pass, then under construction, by eliminating the need for an expensive bridge to carry the line over the deep cutting to the east of Alnwick. This is the bridge we will need to build.

Supermarket “Goods” Over the years a small industrial estate has been developed in the former goods yard, but this has not threatened the actual station in any way. However, a serious threat did arise in 1993 when plans to develop the site as a supermarket were announced. This would have involved the demolition of all buildings on the site.

It was only the timely intervention by the owners of Barter Books that prevented the development from going ahead. Owing to this threat, plans to protect the station from any future speculative development were made. This led to the formation of our Society.

With an ultimate aim of joining coast to castle, the Aln Valley Railway is to be built along the disused trackbed that runs from Alnmouth station to Alnwick. There are several obstacles that have worked against us since the fruition of the project, but we are finally getting under way.

Now that issues with the footpath are out of the way, we are designing our new station to be built at the Lionheart Business Park in Alnwick, planning our track laying and preparing our rolling stock at our Longhoughton Goods Yard site, whilst our planning expert is progressing our planning application.

Latest News:

The Link Magazine Spring 2009

Last modified on 2009-06-29 21:24:02 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

The Link Spring 2009

AVRS AGM Minutes 21.5.2009

Last modified on 2009-06-29 20:24:23 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

The well-attended meeting took place at the Pottergate Centre in Alnwick on 21st May.

The Committee Report was presented by the Chairman, Kay Seymour-Walker. He congratulated the AVRS team (William Stafford, Dave Shell and Craig Owen) that had retained the ‘Flat Bottom Trophy’ in the annual quiz against the Gunnerton Railway Circle. He then reported on the repurchase of the Alnmouth cottages by the Alnwick Council and the forthcoming creation of the new car park on the down side of the main line. The Society had been well represented at events held at Shildon, Brunton, Rothbury and the Chain Bridge Honey Farm. New plans had been drawn up for the proposed Lionheart Station and were available for inspection at the Meeting. Donations of a Portakabin and a caravan to the railway were welcomed. These would, in the first instance, serve as a station building and messroom respectively. (Other matters will be referred to in the Chairman’s Report elsewhere in The Link.)

Tom Spence presented his Treasurers Report for the accounts of both the Society and the Trust. These were adopted and Mrs Catherine Sanderson was appointed as Accounts Examiner for the next year.

An election took place for the vacancies on the Committee which arose as a result of ‘on rotation’ retirements and as a result of two persons indicating that they did not wish to continue in their present posts. Those elected, or re-elected, were Neil Brison, William Stafford, Chris Freeman and Mark Hayton.

Michael Smithson, the Aln Valley Trust Secretary, then made a presentation on the relationship between the Trust and the Society, and answered various questions from the floor. There was some lively debate! He referred specifically to the problems which had arisen in drawing up the Lease with the Northumberland Estates for the trackbed and proposed station site. He invited interested parties to put their names forward as new Trustees.

Before adjourning for refreshments, the Meeting recorded its thanks to various individuals who had worked hard on behalf of the Society in connection with the Society Magazine, the Sales Stand and refreshments at Meetings.

The Link Winter 2008/9

Last modified on 2009-05-16 09:39:48 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

The Link Winter 2008/9

The Link Autumn 2008

Last modified on 2008-12-05 10:09:33 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

The Link Autumn 2008

New Book on Alnwick-Alnmouth Branch

Last modified on 2008-12-05 10:14:11 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Bart Rippon’s latest book will be available for Christmas 2008.
It shows his fascination  with the line, where he
spent much of his early youth. Many years of
enjoyable research has culminated in a history
that revisits the old branch, commencing at
Alnmouth with its engine shed and goods yards,
and following the journey to Alnwick.
As well as personal accounts and recollections,
the book includes a selection of previously
unpublished photographs showing the several
types of steam locomotive to be found at
Alnmouth’s engine shed, the steam-hauled
passenger trains to and from Alnwick and the
railway’s infrastructure. Further details available from the ‘New Titles’ link at:

www.kestrelrailwaybooks.co.uk

Bart’s previous book on the Amble branch is also available from this site.

The Link Summer 2008

Last modified on 2008-10-06 17:47:42 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

The Link Summer 2008

Thursday 25th September - Change to indoor meeting

Last modified on 2008-12-05 10:15:06 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

CHANGE TO ADVERTISED PROGRAMME: first indoor meeting.
 
Please note that the advertised speaker, Professor Alan Earnshaw, is not sufficiently well to be able to come to speak to us at our meeting on Thursday.
 
Instead Gordon Hall will give a slide presentation entitled “So far, so good” and Roger Jermy will give a slide presentation entitled “Roland and Molli”.
 
It is hoped that Alan Earnshaw will be fit enough to visit us next winter season (2009-10).

Preservation groups trust the Aln Valley

Last modified on 2008-08-08 00:19:06 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Two national preservation organisations have decided that the Aln Valley Railway is to be their base.
The On Track Plant Preservation Group which owns various Matissa and Permaquip vehicles has already moved most of them to the Aln Valley. The second group, the UK Alco Group which owns the 1949 built American Locomotive Company, S1 switcher 801, originally owned by Port Talbot Steel Works, is to bring 801 and hopefully some more American locomotives to the railway for restoration and operation.

[Show as slideshow]

PRESIDENT
His Grace, The Duke of Northumberland

VICE PRESIDENT
The Right Honourable Alan Beith, M.P.

COMMITTEE
Chairman
Kay Seymour-Walker, Embleton Tower, Embleton, Alnwick, NE66 3UW. (01665 576274). e-mail: kay-s-w (at) clara.co.uk
Vice Chairman
Martin Robinson, Tofts Bank Cottage, Tofts Bank, Haydon Bridge, Hexham, NE47 6NB. (01434 684650). e-mail: toftsbank@btinternet.com
Secretary