Yorkshire railway receives industrial diesel locomotive on permanent loan

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Yorkshire railway receives industrial diesel locomotive on permanent loan

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The sentinel shunter at Wensleydale Railway’s Leeming Bar station. // Credit: Rob Williamson, Wensleydale Railway
The sentinel shunter at Wensleydale Railway’s Leeming Bar station. // Credit: Rob Williamson, Wensleydale Railway

The locomotive fleet at the in has been expanded with the addition of an industrial diesel locomotive.

The new member of the fleet is a Sentinel diesel locomotive built in 1964 and fitted with a Rolls Royce eight-cylinder engine.

During its industrial use, it was named Derwent and used to transfer cement wagons from the Hope Cement Works in along a private branch line to Earles Sidings on the main line for transfer to mainline freight services.

The sentinel shunter at Wensleydale Railway's Leeming Bar station. // Credit: Nick Keegan, Wensleydale Railway
The sentinel shunter at Wensleydale Railway’s Leeming Bar station. // Credit: Nick Keegan, Wensleydale Railway

Hope Cement Works in Derbyshire opened in 1929 and is now owned by Breedon Group.

It is the largest cement manufacturer in the UK and a major contributor to the economy of the National Park. Breedon Group has placed the locomotive on permanent loan with Wensleydale Railway.

Tthe Wensleydale Railway is one of the UK’s longest heritage lines and is situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Train services are operated by heritage diesels between near Northallerton and Leyburn, but is working to extend passenger services beyond Leyburn to Redmire.

To assist in the extension, it has opened a just giving page at /https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/returntoredmire.

Rob Williamson, Mechanical Engineering Manager at Wensleydale Railway PLC, inspects the locomotive at the Hope Cement Works site. // Credit: Hope Cement Works
Rob Williamson, Mechanical Engineering Manager at Wensleydale Railway PLC, inspects the locomotive at the Hope Cement Works site. // Credit: Hope Cement Works

Mainly led by volunteers, the railway serves the local community, as well as tourists, and transport enthusiasts. There is plenty to see and do along the 22 miles of the line, including historic stations that have won awards. Costumed living history interpreters offer free guided tours of the stations and visitors what railway life was like in the 1900s.

We are delighted and thankful that The Wensleydale Railway have agreed to support the preservation of this locomotive, which is part of our industrial heritage, we look forward to seeing Derwent being returned to its former glory at its new home

John Mulryan, Maintenance Manager at Hope Cement Works

We’re very grateful to the team at Hope Cement Works for the permanent loan of their locomotive. We’re planning an Industrial Diesel Weekend in August and look forward to showcasing the loco at this event.

Terry Larder, a member of the General Management Group at Wensleydale Railway PLC
Staff from the Hope Valley Cement Works and Wensleydale Railway PLC General Management Group at the Hope Valley Cement Works site. // Credit: Hope Valley Cement Works
Staff from Hope Cement Works and the General Management Group of the Wensleydale Railway at the Hope Valley Cement Works site. // Credit: Hope Cement Works

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