Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway
INFORMATION FOR THE VISITOR
RCD’s Overview
This heritage railway runs through very attractive Yorkshire dales countryside, running on part of the former Ilkley to Skipton railway closed by British Railways in 1968. Its headquarters is at Embsay station, the line running a 4-mile section between there and Bolton Abbey station, just a short walk to the ruins of the abbey from which it takes its name, a popular tourist spot. The railway runs a steam service, mostly using former industrial steam engines. A trip on this railway can readily be combined with a visit to this part of the Yorkshire Dales.
The support group is the 'Yorkshire Dales Railway Museum Trust' (see 'Information on the Suport Group' below).
Happening This Month:
Go to 'Homepage' and click into 'Railway Club Calendar'
Key Facts (where and when)
Extent of Railway (where to where):
Embsay to Bolton Abbey (North Yorkshire)
Principal Visitor Centre:
Embsay Station (BD23 6QX)
Period of Operation*
- March to November (Most Saturdays and/or Sundays)
- April to mid-July, and October (Also selected weekdays, typically Tuesdays and Fridays)
- Mid-July and August: (Near daily)
- September (Near daily, except Mondays and Thursdays)
[* This is a summary. Please go to the railway’s website for definitive operating days]
Key Facts (what you’ll see)
Services usually steam or diesel?
Steam
Type of Steam / Diesel Locomotives Used:
Small industrial steam locomotives
Length of Line:
4 miles
Time taken for a round trip:
1 hour
Number of trains per day:
4 in each direction
Number of Stations:
3 stations
Prices:
Adult Rover: £13.50 Senior Rover: £12.50. Child Rover: £7.50. Family: £35 (first class higher fares).
Time to allow for Visit:
2 hours
Museum:
No
Shop/Cafe:
Yes/Yes
Picnic/Play areas:
Yes
Special Features:
Bolton Abbey Priory is 1.5 miles away from station
Preservation Established:
1979
Car Park Facilities:
Parking at Embsay and Bolton Abbey stations.
Key Facts (Galas/Events/Dining)
Dining Trains:
- Carvery Express
- Pizza & Prosecco
- Afternoon Teas
- Fajita Fridays
- Winter Warmers
- Curry Express
- Fish And Chips Specials
- Ploughman’s Lunch
Event Trains:
- Santa Specials: Late November and December
Principal Galas:
- None currently advertised
Experiences:
- Steam Driving Experience / Diesel Driving Experience
- Signal Box Experience
- Diesel Days/ Cab Rides
Contacts
Email: Use Contact Box
Telephone: 01756 710614
Website: www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk
Social Media: www.facebook.com/embsayrailway
Also on Twitter/ Instagram/ YouTube/ Pinterest
INFORMATION FOR THE ENTHUSIAST
Brief History of the Railway and its Preservation
Two dales run from the approximate direction of Leeds west and north towards the town of Skipton, the Airedale which runs via Keighley, and the Wharfdale which runs via Ilkley before heading northwards. Airedale had seen a Leeds -Skipton railway by 1847. However it was not until 1865 that a line was built into Wharfdale from Leeds, terminating at Ilkley. The line was subsequently extended to Skipton in 1888. The Beeching Report proposed closing the entire line from Leeds to Skipton via Ilkley, but ultimately the Leeds - Ilkley section was reprieved. The Ilkley - Skipton section however was closed to passengers in 1965. Although a preservation group was established in 1968, it was not until 1979 that concrete plans to re-open a part of the former line were developed. In 1981 the society succeeded in re-opening Embsay station, and then rebuilding the railway, reaching Bolton Abbey in 1998.
Principal Aspiration
There are long-term aspirations to extend the railway east to Addingham and west to Skipton.
Steam Operational Locomotives:
(1) Hunslet 0-6-0 - No.2705 ‘Beatrice’
(2) Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 - No. 1208 ‘Illingworth’
(3) Hunslet 0-6-0 - No. 3794 ‘Cumbria’ [visiting]
Diesel Operational Locomotives/DMU:
(1) Heritage NER Railcar 1903 Petrol Electric Autocar - No. 3170
(2) BR Class 08 shunter - D3941 (08773)
(3) BR Class 14 - D9513
(4) BR Class 37 - 37294
(5) Ruston Hornsby shunter - 887
(6) Hudswell Clarke shunter - D1307
(7) Barclay shunter - ‘Meaford No 1’
(8) Pacer Class 141 - 142 094
Steam Locomotives Under Overhaul:
(1) Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST - No. 22
(2) Hunslet 0-6-0ST - No. S121 ‘Primrose’
(3) Hunslet 0-6-0ST - No. S134 ‘Wheldale’
Diesel Locomotives Under Overhaul:
- BR Class 31 - D5600
Stored/ Under Restoration/ Out of Service:
- Andrew Barclay - 2320 (No. 22)
- BR Class 04 - D2203
- BR Class 08 - 08 054 (D3067)
- BR Class 31 - 31 119 (D5537)
- BR Class 47 - 47 004 (D1524)
- Selby Fowler BOCM - 4200003
- Fowler HW Robinson - 4100003
INFORMATION ON THE SUPPORT GROUP
Name of Support Group:
Yorkshire Dales Railway Museum Trust
Annual membership fee:
Adult: £22. Senior: £18.Student: £18. Junior: £12. Life: £400
Own Website:
Benefits of membership:
- Two complimentary tickets per year (not valid on special event days).
- Thereafter, half fare travel
- In house magazine, ‘YDR News’
- Monthly e-newsletter ‘Newslines’
- Optional weekly e-newsletter ‘Embsay Express’ (aimed at working members)
- Full access to the volunteers’ website
How to Join: Go to www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk/aboutus/membership
What They Say About Volunteering:
The Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway is run by a dedicated team of volunteers – and we’d love you to join us. We have many varied roles available; clean, public facing roles selling tickets, working in the shops, cafes, assisting passengers, and also more physical roles such as working on the footplate as a driver or fireman or maintaining the track. The maintenance of our infrastructure – our historic carriages, locomotives and stations - much of which is over 100 years old, is a constant challenge. Our restoration work is only limited by the number of hours our volunteers can give and the funds which we have available.
How to Volunteer: Go to www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk/aboutus/volunteering
How to Donate: Go to www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk/fundraising
WHY JOIN: Help the railway achieve its extension aspirations.
INFORMATION ON OTHER SOCIETIES WITH RELATED INTEREST
Those interested in this railway may also be interested in the following railway societies also listed on this
website:
Traditional Railway Societies:
- Midland Railway Society
- Bradford Railway Circle
- Giggleswick Railway Circle
Model Railway Clubs:
- Aire Valley Railway Modellers Club
- Keighley Model Railway Club