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The first extension to the running line took place in the early 1980s, and saw the line reaching Skibeden which was the
summit of the line. Here a run-round loop was installed, before future extensions took the line on to Holywell Halt,
Stoneacre and most recently Bolton Abbey. The loop remains now as only a siding with access controlled by a groundframe,
released by the section staff.
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Ruston 887 is seen here in Skibeden Loop with a ballast hopper engaged in the ballasting of the loop
in May 1982.
(c) Charles Boylan.
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Hard work by the P-Way department as they attempt to slew the track into a
better alignment on the Skibeden Extension, just to the Embsay side of the
loop. Embsay is to the left, with Skibeden to the right in this picture taken
in 1983.
(c) Charles Boylan.
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On the 5th of April, 1983, Monckton No. 1 is seen running round its train at Skibeden. This austerity
locomotive rejoined the railways operating fleet in 2001 after a long-delayed overhaul at Embsay.
(c) Charles Boylan.
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Unfortunately this photograph has not scanned very well, but it has been
included as it shows Darfield No. 1 operating the railway's 'Schools week'
services in late June, 1983. It is seen here approaching Skibeden with a Gresley
Open carriage and three blue/grey Mk 1s.
(c) Charles Boylan.
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69 and No.22 are seen about to
double head a train from Skibeden Loop back to Embsay in September 1984, as
part of the 'Harvest of Steam' event. Note the blue/grey Mk. 1.
(c) Charles Boylan.
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22 is seen here leaving Skibeden with a mixed train for
Embsay during the same event. The mixed traind were popular, but with most of
the fitted vehicles not being accessible for running such a train, it is unlikely
to be repeated for a few years yet.
(c) Charles Boylan.
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Another picture of the mixed train, clearly showing the make up of the train: SR brake van (in grey / black livery), BP tank
wagon, ex-Southern PMV in BR blue (now repainted in Southern green), ex-Southern BY in grey (now being refurbished and turned
out in dark Southern green) and finally a blue/grey Mk 1 coach - now in BR maroon.
(c) Charles Boylan.
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Primrose and Darfield are seen here in the loop on their
train, ready to head back to Embsay. The reason for doubleheading was that it
was the Harvest of Steam, and the idea was to have as many locos in steam as
possible.
(c) Charles Boylan.
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Skibeden was never seen as the 'end of the line' and so when the chance arose,
work was started on the extension towards Holywell Halt. Here the sleepers are
laid out ready to receive the rails from the end of the headshunt for the loop
(in the distance) to Skibeden Footbridge (from where the photo is taken).
(c) Charles Boylan.
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Visiting locomotives steal the show here as
Bellerophon is seen entering the loop ready to run round and propell the
carriages to Holywell Halt. The need for this operation arose as there was
not space at Holywell to construct a run-round loop.
(c) Charles Boylan.
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Joem is the visiting locomotive seen here running
around. The reason for having two visiting locomotives at the same time in 1988
was to celebrate the railway's centenary, and also as we had very few of our
own locos serviceable.
(c) Charles Boylan.
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The Class 107
DMU is seen from Skibeden footbridge having left Embsay on its way to
Bolton Abbey station. Just around the bend lies the site of Holywell Halt.
See our timetable for details of the DMU services.
(c) Pete Walker.
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The steam crane is employed to lift rails at Skibeden during a snowy spell. This photo was taken from
the top of the signalpost...
(c) John Furness.
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Whiston is seen here - another visiting loco, in
2000, having just passed Skibeden Loop as was. With the railway's expansion in
length, Skibeden was no longer needed, and has had one set of points removed
and is being used as a siding. At some stage the track may be removed and relaid
at Bolton Abbey to form part of the loco run-round.
(c) Simon Gott.
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Whiston is seen here again, just passing under Skibeden Footbridge with a
mixed goods trin during the Vintage Weekend
in June 2000. The day saw a lot of train movements, including...
(c) Wendy Anderson collection.
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...a triple header for operational purposes. This happened right at the start
of the day to make sure everything got to where it was supposed to before the
service started in earnest. The locos are: Annie,
68005 and Whiston with the mixed goods train. The
signal post to the left of the picture was the one that allowed trains to
proceed to Embsay when the line just ran to Holywell.
(c) Wendy Anderson collection.
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The nature of the flood damage is being inspected here by Davids Hutchinson (left, head of P-Way)
and Barlow (right, chairman). The ballast has been washed out from under the sleepers and some of
the sleepers have been damaged.
(c) William Lister.
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The repairs are underway here as the dead sleeper is drawn out from under the track, ready for
replacement. No. 36 (ex-MDHB diesel) is seen at the head of the train with
the cherry picker mounted on a flat wagon.
(c) William Lister.
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Repairs are being made to the flood damage which occurred in November 2000, which saw the stream
overflow and wash out some of the ballast (from the first picture of three). Volunteers from all
departments are seen here making good the damage so that trains could operate th following weekend.
Diesel No. 36 was used to haul the ballast hoppers, and is seen to the extreme
right of the photo. The weather still looks threatening, despite the sunshine.
(c) William Lister.
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2001's Harvest of Steam saw ex-L&Y Pug visiting from the
Worth Valley. The Pug has just passed under Skibeden footbridge, as viewed from the road, with the 6wheelers in tow. Behind
the Pug can be seen the former signal which showed trains from Holywell that the loop was set to run through towards Embsay.
This signal came originally from Embsay Junction. One day it may even make its way back there...!
(c) Tim Warner.
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With the quarry in the background, the Pug has passed over Skibeden Summit and
will now coast down to Embsay. This was the highest point on the old Skipton -
Ilkley line.
(c) Tim Warner.
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Monckton passes Skibeden with a passenger train from Embsay. The signal post remains from its days as a
run-round loop in the (then) middle of the line, and would show thta the line was set for trains to run through to Embsay from
Holywell Halt.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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For a while, Class 24 D.5054 visited the Railway, and proved very popular. Here it is seen
bursting under Skibeden footbridge with a passenger train in tow.
(c) Tim Warner
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The Worth Valley's Jinty has proved a popular visitor, returning several times since its
initial visit which included several photocharters for members. On one of these, 47279 pauses under the footbridge in Autumn
evening sunlight.
(c) Tim Warner.
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Several other stills were set up, here viewed looking back towards Embsay showing some of the stunning scenery the line runs
through.
(c) Tim Warner.
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Several runpasts were also cunducted, such as here, with boxvans in tow.
(c) Tim Warner.
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Preparations for the Harvest of Steam in 2004 saw 140 on test and shunting
to collect all the required wagons together for the goods train. Here she is seen with her crew at Skibeden siding, ready to
shunt the flat into the siding before proceeding on to Bolton Abbey.
(c) Tim Warner
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With the Toad on the main line, 140 shuffles the flat wagon (a cut down mineral wagon) into the siding.
(c) Tim Warner.
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Barclay No.22 (from the Bowes Railway, not our own No.22!) came to the
line in 2004 for the Harvest of Steam, and is seen here approaching Skibeden footbridge from
Embsay with the last goods train of the day.
(c) Tim Warner.
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On the return journey, with the wagons left at Bolton Abbey, No.22 heads for home with the Toad in tow.
(c) Tim Warner.
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