Wensleydale Railway has received free specialist engineering support from an Essex-based company to help deliver improvements to its track at Leeming Bar and Bedale.
Three members of staff from Track Engineering Construction Services (TECS) Ltd visited the heritage railway between October 12 and 14 to carry out detailed surveys of Leeming Bar yard and the curved section of track at Bedale station.
The company undertook the work free of charge and has also offered to complete the track designs needed for both projects.
The proposed improvements include remodelling the track layout at Leeming Bar, which serves as the railway’s engineering base, and renewing the track through Bedale station.
The work at Bedale presents a particular challenge because of the sharp curve alongside the station platform.
Mat Powroznyk, senior track design engineer at TECS, said he was pleased to be able to put his experience to use supporting the volunteer-led railway.
He said: “I’ll be assisting with the designs for a reconfigured layout at Leeming Bar yard and a renewal of the track through Bedale station, where a sharp curve alongside the platform makes for an interesting challenge.
“After 15 years as a track designer, it’s genuinely rewarding to put that experience towards a heritage line that depends on people giving their time and skills.
“It’s a reminder of why I enjoy this profession.”
John Seaton, land surveyor at TECS, who also visited the railway, added: “It was a great place to work and interesting to learn more about the Wensleydale Railway.”
Jon Trueman, industry partner manager at Wensleydale Railway, said the support would make an important contribution to maintaining and improving the line.
He said: “This collaboration between the Wensleydale Railway and TECS Ltd will support vital projects to improve safety and efficiency at our Leeming Bar engineering base, and to ensure that the tightly-curved platform interface at Bedale remains resilient and fit to use.
“We’re very grateful to TECS Ltd for their support.”
The work forms part of the railway’s Industry Partnership Programme, which encourages businesses to contribute expertise and resources to support the heritage line.
Wensleydale Railway operates heritage diesel services between Scruton, near Northallerton, and Leyburn.
The 22-mile railway is one of the longest heritage lines in the country and relies heavily on volunteers to maintain its infrastructure and operate services.
The railway is also working towards restoring passenger trains between Leyburn and Redmire, a five-mile section which has been closed to passengers since 2020 because of deteriorating track and infrastructure.
A fundraising appeal is supporting drainage improvements, vegetation clearance and track renewal, with the railway hoping to reopen the section to passenger services by 2028.
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