Aln Valley Railway

Two national preservation organisations have decided that the Aln Valley Railway is to be their base.
The On Track Plant Preservation Group which owns various Matissa and Permaquip vehicles has already moved most of them to the Aln Valley. The second group, the UK Alco Group which owns the 1949 built American Locomotive Company, S1 switcher 801, originally owned by Port Talbot Steel Works, is to bring 801 and hopefully some more American locomotives to the railway for restoration and operation.

Saturday, 7th June 2008 saw South East Northumberland Rail Users Group (SENRUG) charter a promotional train tour from Morpeth. Passengers on each of the 3 pre-booked trips were taken in a Northern Rail 2 car unit from Morpeth to Newcastle Central then on to the Blyth & Tyne route to the former Ashington Station. Passengers weren’t allowed to disembark but the potential for a resumption of services was there for all to see. Once the train driver changed ends, the charter backtracked to slightly beyond the former Bedlington Station where once again the driver swapped ends and took the train on the final leg through Choppington and Hepscot to Morpeth where everyone disembarked. There were many speed restrictions on the Blyth/Ashington/Bedlington/Morpeth routes which did at least allow time for ‘taking in’ the scenery on a sunny warm day and it was surprising how difficult it can be to identify locations when seen from unfamiliar angles. The near 2 hour round trip was a bargain at £6 per ticket and will have done much to promote SENRUG’s cause.

AVRS Members are invited to take part in the RCTS Summer Outing on Sunday 29th June.
Itinerary attached.
Let Roger Jermy know (01665 606168) if you would like to take part.
He can fit three into his car if you’d like a lift from Alnwick or nearby.
Times are approximate!

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