6th June 1982

Yorkshire Dales Railway Museum Trust
The Dalesrailwayman

Originally uploaded as being completely postponed to 08/08/82 due to flash flooding in area, later information received however confirms that the first shuttle run did actually take place, the subsequent two shuttles being cancelled.

Route : 1L13 throughout

Notes:
(1) Three return trips were scheduled to run during the day however the second and third shuttles had to be abandoned after a flash flood hit the area swamping Skipton, turning Embsay village into an island and causing a mudslide blocking the line in the cutting before Embsay Jn. On the rescheduled day (08/08/1982) trains ran to Embsay rather than Swinden Spencers Quarry.
(2) To just south of road overbridge.

Ian Umpleby comments: I was on the Invicta Invader the previous afternoon but, fortunately, decided to plump for the first shuttle of the day. The trips to Swinden Quarry (or Swindon as the Special Trains Notice had it) were the first by a passenger train since 1969. I joined the 09.00 Leeds to Morecambe via Bradford Forster Square train under heavy cloud but it was sunny by Skipton. The itinerary stated that the train was starting from Platform 5, the last rail served platform on the Grassington line, but this was not ready so departure was from Platform 3. This was a bonus of course, as it meant that with a reversal at Skipton Station North Junction the whole branch was done. We made a prompt departure and passed over the "newly installed point" (as given in the itinerary) at Embsay Jn which was to be used by a Skipton to Embsay shuttle in August. A stop was made in both directions at the Trainman Operated Level Crossing at Rylstone to operate the gates. The train stopped to reverse just short of the overbridge at the south end of Swinden Quarry Sidings. The return to Skipton was without incident but heavy thunderstorms broke out near the end. I returned to Leeds on the 12.50 train so it was only later that I learnt that the other two trains had been cancelled due to the weather. The £2 fare included admission and steam train rides at Embsay on the day.

Sources : Andy Pullar & Ian Umpleby

Times (Booked Only)
(from Ian Umpleby)

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