Trolley Train.....Or maybe not on this occasion.
A visit to the fledgling Aln Valley Railway was supposed to coincide with one of their high summer week day running days. Alas on arrival at Alnwick Lionheart we were met with a sign saying "staff shortage, no trains today". It's very difficult to criticize a purely volunteer run operation but a pretty fundamental fail to rely on one member of the team to provide the income for the line to flourish. Plenty of visitors ready to part with there money but sadly the "Wickham Train" stayed put.
For the record the ex BR trolley combination comprises type 17A (Wkm 4985/1949) delivered new to the BR Western Region at Shrewsbury and numbered B170 (PWM 2807). The other with tarpaulin sides is type 27 MkIV (Wkm 10648/1973) and numbered DB 965952 by BR when delivered new to the BR Eastern Region at Stanningley, Leeds. The older vehicle is un powered these days and operates purely as a passenger trailer to DB 965952.
Trolley Train.....Or maybe not on this occasion.
A visit to the fledgling Aln Valley Railway was supposed to coincide with one of their high summer week day running days. Alas on arrival at Alnwick Lionheart we were met with a sign saying "staff shortage, no trains today". It's very difficult to criticize a purely volunteer run operation but a pretty fundamental fail to rely on one member of the team to provide the income for the line to flourish. Plenty of visitors ready to part with there money but sadly the "Wickham Train" stayed put.
For the record the ex BR trolley combination comprises type 17A (Wkm 4985/1949) delivered new to the BR Western Region at Shrewsbury and numbered B170 (PWM 2807). The other with tarpaulin sides is type 27 MkIV (Wkm 10648/1973) and numbered DB 965952 by BR when delivered new to the BR Eastern Region at Stanningley, Leeds. The older vehicle is un powered these days and operates purely as a passenger trailer to DB 965952.