Wensleydale Railway to host Spring Bank Holiday diesel gala

The Wensleydale Railway will host the three-day event at Leeming Bar Station from May 23 to 25, featuring heritage diesel services running to Scruton, Bedale, Finghall Lane, and Leyburn.

A special timetable will be in place throughout the weekend.

Wensleydale Railway will showcase its heritage diesel fleet and visiting locomotives at a three-day gala over the Spring Bank holiday (Image: Wensleydale Railway)

Nick Keegan, marketing and fundraising manager at Wensleydale Railway, said: “Our annual diesel gala is a great opportunity for us to operate a special timetable and showcase some of our heritage diesel locomotives, and stunning scenery, to the public. 3 of our home diesel fleet will take part in this event, alongwith a visiting guest locomotive, number 37421. We are very grateful to our friends at Colas Rail forallowing the use of their locomotive.”

The proposed roster includes Class 37 locomotives 37250 and 37421, Class 47 (47714), and a Class 121 ‘bubble car’ (55032).

All are subject to availability.

Passengers can purchase a ‘Ranger’ ticket for £25, which offers unlimited travel across the network for the entire day, with the flexibility to hop on and off at any station.

Standard return and single fares are also available, and children aged three to 15 can travel for just £1 when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.

Tickets can be booked online or purchased in person at station ticket offices on the day of travel.

Catering will be available at Leeming Bar, where a static buffet car will offer hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, snacks and souvenirs.

The Engine Shed Brewery will also be serving draught and bottled craft beers on the station platform.

Leyburn Station’s tearoom will be open throughout the event, offering drinks, snacks, confectionery and what organisers describe as Mandy’s “world-famous” cakes.

Visitors will also be able to browse the station’s gift shop, which stocks a variety of railway books and memorabilia.

Scruton Station will also be open for the duration of the gala.

Mr Keegan said: “In addition to Leeming Bar, Bedale and Leyburn, Scruton Station will be open during the weekend so don’t miss the opportunity to come and visit this beautifully restored Edwardian station.

“Step back in time at this delightful example of a small rural station, tour the beautifully restored station building and enjoy a living museum experience with our wonderful team of period-customed volunteers as you learn about railway life in the 1900s.”

Wensleydale Railway is a 22-mile volunteer-led heritage line running between Scruton, near Northallerton, and Leyburn on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The railway offers a family-friendly day out through scenic countryside, with the chance to explore restored historic stations and learn about early 20th-century railway life.

The railway is currently working to reopen the line from Leyburn to Redmire—a section closed since 2020 due to poor track and infrastructure conditions.

Efforts include fundraising and ongoing maintenance in hopes of restoring services by the end of 2027.

The Wensleydale Railway Trust, the organisation’s charitable branch, focuses on education and the conservation of railway heritage for public benefit.

It supports the railway’s operational needs and provides funding for key projects, including track repairs and infrastructure maintenance.

The trust also oversees a National Lottery-funded heritage education programme for schools and the broader community.

Full timetables, the locomotive roster and ticketing information can be found at : https://wensleydale-railway.co.uk/home-fleet-gala/