The Wensleydale Branch - A New History |
Stanley C Jenkins £12.95
The Oakwood Press, PO Box 13, Usk, Mon.
NP15 1YS
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This is a timely release of a revised Second Edition of the Oakwood line history, which first appeared in 1993. From May 12 this year, Wensleydale Railway plc took over control of the 22-mile Northallerton-Redmire line from Network Rail. Their initial plans are to run DMU services for 12 miles between Leeming Bar and Leyburn, but the long-term aim is to re-establish the rail link between the East Coast Main Line at Northallerton with Garsdale on the Settle-Carlisle route. The author does a wonderful job of explaining the complicated history of this cross-country line and describing the different periods in its history with its initial rise and fall followed by a revival as a freight-only artery. The detailed text is well supported by a broad range of photographs, line drawings, station and track plans. Scale drawings of the station buildings at Crakehall and Hawes are of value to modellers as are the details on train operation. While the main section of the book deals with the line in its steam heyday, the later diesel operations are not ignored. Extensive appendices provide additional information including the facilities found at the Wensleydale branch stations. With 192-pages within a card cover, this is a very thorough introduction to a route which hopefully we will be able to enjoy travelling on again soon.
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