Wensleydale Railway’s replacement level crossing gates at Crakehall station have won a National Railway Heritage Award at the ceremony held in London last Wednesday (6 December).

Long-term volunteer Bob Coombs donated the gates, which won The Hendy and Pendle Trust Volunteers Award.

Bob led the project to design, build and install the wooden gates, which are made to a design based on the North Eastern Railway Southern Division style. William Lambert of the Woodcraft Studio at Raygill House Farm, near Hawes, North Yorkshire, produced the gates.

Bob has volunteered with the Railway for eleven years, carrying out various jobs, including Crossing Keeper at Crakehall station. He is currently wearing period costume as a living history interpreter and as Leeming Bar’s Station Master. He plays the character of Mr Newton, the original station master in the 1920s, and leads informative tours around the 1920s restored station building.

Bedale and Leyburn Railway, which later became part of the London and North Eastern Railway, opened Crakehall railway station in 1856. The station became part of the British Railways Eastern Region in 1948. It closed to scheduled passenger traffic in 1954 and to goods traffic in 1992. Wensleydale Railway plc holds the lease of the station building.

More information about Wensleydale Railway is available here, and donations can be made here.

Bob Coombs said: “Having worked the old gates at Crakehall on a windy day, I know at first hand the problems that Crossing Keepers faced. It was clear that new gates were needed. I unexpectedly came into an inheritance that not only enabled me to fund new gates but also to have ones that reflected the heritage nature of the Wensleydale Railway.

“The work was mainly carried out by volunteers and is of an excellent standard. Replacing worn out metal gates with high quality wooden heritage style ones demonstrates the confidence that the Wensleydale Railway has going forward.”

Nick Keegan, Fundraising and Marketing Manager at Wensleydale Railway said: “As a volunteer-led and supported organisation, this award means a great deal to us. It recognises the incredible contribution that all our volunteers make to our railway and their dedication and commitment to preserving our vital railway history for generations to enjoy. We are very proud of Bob, everyone involved in this project and to our entire team of amazing volunteers.”