The Rail Trolley Trust continue its efforts to rescue and restore former Permanent Way (P-way) assets that were once part of the national railway network.

Having since saved a Bance two-seater trolley from the Nene Valley Railway, The Rail Trolley trust have provided an update to its Wickham Trolley assets.

Since their last Wickham Trolley update in May, the dismantled remains of a Type 17, or Type 17A Wickham Trolley, which had been in storage at a service station near Whitby since 2016, has been moved to Kirby Stephen East on the Stainmore Railway.

This was moved by one of the trust’s directors Tim Warner, using a road trailer attached to the back of a car on October 8th.

While on the same trip, Tim visited the North Yorkshire Moors New Bridge Permanent Way Yard, where a pair of Run Off Rails for a Rail Trolley were also awaiting collection by the Rail Trolley Trust.

While there, Tim also inspected items of the trust that are currently on loan to the NYMR, including his own 17A Wickham trolly No.7610, which he personally restored.

A few weeks later, on October 29th, the Rail Trolley Trust acquired a Wickham Trailer through a purchase on eBay and a corresponding phone call. This necessitated another trip across North Yorkshire to pick up the trolley trailer from Pickering.

In collaboration with the Stainmore Railway, the Rail Trolley Trust is a key player in the Kirkby Stephen East Signalling Project, which aims to showcase and demonstrate p-way Trolley signalling, off-tracking, and associated operating procedures.

Two original trolley sheds, salvaged from the local area, have been undergoing restoration. One was previously utilized as a domestic garage.

After years of meticulous refurbishment, they are now being reconstructed to run in preservation.

The Trust is committed to preserving original Wickham items, even if they are only viable for spare parts. This effort aims to establish a collection of components to support not only their fleet but also those who use Wickham trolleys on other heritage railways across the country. Securing items such as original wheels and axles is vital, as Wickhams stopped trading in the 1990s.

Looking forward to 2025, the Rail Trolley Trust will be launching a new appeal to develop its facilities at various locations to provide secure covered storage for as much of its collection as possible.
The appeal will also provide suitable facilities for restoration activities.

Any items that have been donated or brought by the trust which currently remain at other locations will be moved to Kirby Stephen East to begin restoration in line with their long-term plans.

The support shown to the Rail Trolley Trust, either via donations or by the sourcing and securing of trolley parts, is greatly appreciated. This enables them to preserve this often overlooked but very important part of railway maintenance rolling stock.