Local Branches

Leyburn                                           
(incorporating the Friends of Leyburn Station-FOLS)

Meets at Leyburn Station, Harmby Road, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 5ET
Date of Next Committee Meeting   Wednesday 14 May at 2.00pm         
Contact        Betty Ackrill (Branch Secretary / FOLS Coordinator)
Telephone   01969 625182 (Leyburn Station Shop)         

A Brief History
The Branch was established in March 2005. Our full title is Wensleydale Railway Association, Leyburn Branch (incorporating the Friends of Leyburn Station). We are generally referred to as FOLS. 

Our aim in those early days was simply to raise a few pounds to spend on minor improvements around the station and generally to improve the appearance around the site.

Where we are now
We have grown. Our membership has more than doubled and so have our responsibilities and bank balance.  Successful fund raising initiatives have enabled us to provide improved facilities for visitors and staff.

Our dedicated team now runs the shop and the tea bar, sells tickets, cleans, decorates and much more.

Branch Committee meetings are held monthly on the second Wednesday. 

The standard 4MT tank is about to be shedded at Leeming Bar and
 is seen passing the 'Thunderbird' loco, a Class 31 diesel.  (Barry Wetherell)

London & South East    UPDATED

Meets at   New Offices of Eversheds, 1 Wood Street, London EC2V 7WS
                 Nearest tube St Pauls.
Date of Next Meeting   Tuesday 28 October 2008      7.00pm
     with Dave Baker : "Restoring the Severn Valley Railway after the recent flood"
Contact                         Peter Williams
Proposed Branch Trip   Isle of Wight Steam Railway - Sat 28 June 2008
                                      See Diary of Events Page for more details and contact

All WRA members within the area bounded approximately by the towns of Stowmarket, Cambridge, Banbury and Salisbury are deemed to be members of the Branch. The majority reside within Greater London and the Home Counties. The present number  is about 750 in total. There is no extra subscription to be a member of the Branch. We operate on voluntary contributions and any profit we can generate from Branch activities.

Our reason for existence is simple - to support and encourage the promotion of the Wensleydale Railway by all possible means. We are developing our tools to achieve this aim and welcome practical new ideas and active contributions from the membership and elsewhere. We aim to enable and assist any member to contribute to the maximum that they wish.

Branch activities include :

• Regular Branch Members' meetings in Central London
• Speakers available to attend meetings to present and promote the Wensleydale Railway
• A Presentation Stand for display at exhibitions and meetings in the Branch area
• Trips of special interest to the Branch Members
• Occasional meetings outside Central London
• WR training courses in Central London to promote volunteering by Branch Members

Such activities require support from the members and this is always needed.

Originally formed in 1999 the Branch has no formal structure but operates in accordance with the WRA's Branch Guidelines. There is no formalised committee but the Branch Convenor is nominated by the WRA and is helped by a small team that meet on an ad-hoc basis, usually about five times a year. We maintain very close contacts with the WRA Committee. The regular meetings for Members are held three times a year in Central London in February, May and September and feature an update on the situation in Wensleydale plus a presentation on a railway related topic. We aim to have a mix of subjects a little different to normal. We also like to feature "home-grown" talent from within the membership. Recent successful presentations have been from Crossrail and The Railway Mission. Normal attendance is 25-30 members but all are welcome and we aim to raise a collection to cover meeting costs.

The usual means of communication is through the WRA's magazine "Relay" or this website. However you can register to receive email updates or, by sending a book of 12 second class stamps, can be updated by periodic letter. Please contact Peter Williams to register for either of these additional communication methods.

                                                   
                                         Class 47 at Leyburn    (Sandra Ward)

Northallerton                                        (incorporating the Friends of Leeming Bar Station)

Meets at  RAFA Club, High Street (North), Northallerton, North Yorkshire                  Date of Next Meeting   Monday 12 May 2008 at 7.30pm
                                      Annual Meeting & Members' Slides
Contact     Colin Cooper (Chairman)                                                              Telephone 01609 777006

Meetings are held monthly (except June to August inclusive) when an invited speaker gives a presentation usually with a railway theme. During the summer there is an outing to another railway location or a place connected with transport. See Diary of Events for full programme.

As part of the Northallerton Branch the Friends of Leeming Bar Station (now more generally known as the Minor Works Group) is a team which, since 2003, has carried out the internal refurbishment and decoration of Leeming Bar Station, Bedale Signal Box and four rooms at Finghall Station. Help has also been given to colleagues at Leyburn Station. The Group is currently engaged in the redecoration and repair of Bedale Station.

York/Knaresborough

Meets at   RAFA Club, 6 East Parade, Harrogate, North Yorkshire                        And at       Railway Institute, York (between York Station and Micklegate Bar)     Date of Next Meeting  To be confirmed
Contact     Eric Hall
Telephone 01937 583511

At the moment the Branch holds meetings at six monthly intervals in Harrogate. It is hoped to extend this to three monthly intervals, alternating between Harrogate and York. The meetings include an update on current developments on the Railway and an illustrated talk by a guest speaker. Past subjects have included Tornado, Electrification of the East Coast Main Line and Railway Charter Photography.

Members are encouraged to support the Railway as volunteers and a number regularly travel up to work on the Railway. Help is given with publicity for events in Wensleydale by circulating leaflets/posters and by helping at the Great Yorkshire Show, Countryside Live and the Charity Coffee Shop in St Crux's, York and at various local shows and events.

The Branch is in need of a Secretary and offers to fill this post will be very welcome.