Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway

Diesel Weekend

The Next Diesel Weekend will take place on:

Diesel Weekend

A Saturday and Sunday in July 2012

There will be no Diesel Gala in 2011 as:
'It is with regret that this year's diesel gala will not be going ahead. There are a number of reasons, but the main reason is the diesel department have been unable to carry out sufficient repair and restoration work in time, this is due to other commitments relating to operating the railway, other reasons include frost damage and a shortage of shed space to carry out painting work. We feel this 'break' will enable us to get back on top of the fleet and provide gala atendees next year with a good show.'

Instead, a steam service will be operating, as detailsed from the Timetable page.

Travel details:

RAIL There are railway stations at both Skipton and Ilkley which are part of the national network. Check train times from Network Rail website
BUS Telephone 0871 200 22 33 for bus times and public transport links from Skipton and Ilkley to the railway.
There are several bus services providing convenient links to the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway:

To EMBSAY Station (bus stop opposite Brackenley Road, near station drive)

  • Pennine service 214 from Skipton (Mon - Sat)
  • Cravenlink Services 784 and 884 from Skipton, Ilkley and Bolton Abbey (Sun / Bank Hols)

    To BOLTON ABBEY Station

  • Pride of the Dales service 74 from Ilkley and Grassington (Sat)

    To BOLTON BRIDGE (Devonshire Arms Hotel - easy 20 minute walk to Bolton Abbey Station)

  • Harrogate & District service X59 from Harrogate and Skipton (Mon - Sat)
  • Pride of the Dales service 74 from Ilkley and Grassington (Mon - Sat)
  • Cravenlink services 784 and 884 from Skipton and Ilkley (Sun / Bank Hols)
  • DalesBus service 874 from Ilkley and Grassington (Sundays / Bank Holidays)

    See the Dalesbus website at www.dalesbus.org for details of all services.

    A connecting service bewtween Bolton Abbey Station and the Priory is being operated by Keighley Bus Museum on non-Thomas Sundays in August and September. FURTHER DETAILS.

  • TAXI There is also a taxi service available from Skipton: Star Taxis (01756) 794748.

    By Road

    A65, from the M6 (The West): Follow the A65 towards Skipton, and follow the brown signs for 'Embsay Steam Railway' to get to Embsay Station (this will involve turning left onto the A59). For Bolton Abbey Station, continue along the A59 towards Harrogate, and alongside part of the railway, until 'Bolton Abbey Station' is signposted.

    A65, from Ilkley and Otley (The East): Follow the A65 until you reach the junction with the A59. Turn left and follow the brown tourist signs for 'Embsay Steam Railway' to get to Embsay Station. For Bolton Abbey Station, turn right onto the A59 and follow this road (which runs alongside part of the railway) until the station is signposted as 'Bolton Abbey Station'.

    A59, from Liverpool, the M6 and Preston (The West): Follow the A59 towards Skipton, and then follow the signs for 'Embsay Steam Railway' to get to Embsay Station. If you want to get to Bolton Abbey Station, continue along the A59, towards Harrogate and alongside part of the railway, until it is signposted as 'Bolton Abbey Station'.

    A59, from York, the A1 and Harrogate (The East): Follow the A59 towards Skipton, following the signposts marked 'Bolton Abbey Station' for Bolton Abbey Station. For Embsay Station, continue past Bolton Abbey Station, and follow the road, alongside part of the railway, towards Skipton. Follow the signs for 'Embsay Steam Railway'.

    A659 / A629, from Bradford / Keighley: Follwo the A629 towards Skipton. At the first roundabout follow signs for 'Embsay Railway'. This will take you left, round Skipton on the bypass. At the next roundabout, follow the sign for 'Embsay Railway' once more, taking you straight over onto the A59 / A65. At the top of the hill at the Grassington roundabout, continue straight over, following signs for 'Embsay Railway'.
    To get to Embsay Station, turn right at the dual carriageway section, signposted Skipton, Embsay, 'Embsay Steam Railway', and continue to follow signs taking you to the station.
    For Bolton Abbey Station, keep on the A59 / A65, taking the A59 at the next roundabout, following signs to Harrogate. About 4 miles further along the road, following the railway after about 2 miles, 'Bolton Abbey Station' will be signposted to your right.

    Please contact the Railway on (01756) 710614 if you require any further details
    or e-mail: enquiries@embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk

    Photogalleries of Recent Events

    July 2009
    37 294 in full flight approaching Bolton Abbey. (c) Matthew Fisher July 2009 saw another very popular Diesel Gala which featured a Class 37 visiting the Railway, straight out of storage at Crewe.
  • 37 294 ran for the first time in preservation.
  • Class 14, D.9513, ran full line for the first time.
  • 31 119, D.5600 and D.1524 all took part in the gala.
  • No.36 made its debut following overhaul
  • D.2203, No.36 and 08 773 hauled the shuttles to Bow Bridge
  • July 2008
    31 119 and D.1524 at Embsay prior to the first train. (c) William Lister July 2008 saw another very popular Diesel Gala which featured Class 33, 33 109 which visited especially for the event. It also marked the preservation debut of 08 054 which had recently been donated from Swinden Limeworks and was repainted into BR blue in time for the event.
  • 08 054 ran for the first time in preservation.
  • 33 109 visited from the East Lancs.
  • Class 14, D.9513, ran on shuttles for the first time.
  • 31 119, D.5600 and D.1524 all took part in the gala.
  • D.2203, 08 054 and 08 773 hauled the shuttles to Bow Bridge

    Photos will be posted here when I receive those I've been promised!

  • March 2007
    31 119 and D.1524 at Embsay prior to the first train. (c) William Lister March 2007 saw the Railway host its Diesel Weekend. All the available serviceable locomotives on site were used and an evening BEEREX train was run.
  • D.1524 (47 004) ran for the Sunday following repair work.
  • 31 119 ran in its new livery (Railfreight Redstripe) for the first time
  • 20 189 and 08 773 all took part in the gala.
  • D.2203 and 08 773 hauled the 3-car DMU over the full length of the line and offered shuttles to Bow Bridge

    March 2007 - A gallery of photos from the March 2007 Diesel Weekend will appear here shortly. If you have any shots from this event and would like to see them here, please contact me via the e-mail address at the bottom of the page.

  • October 2006
    31 119 and D.1524 at Embsay prior to the first train. (c) William Lister October 2006 saw the Railway host its second Diesel Weekend. The Class 14 appeared outside for the first time in a long while, although was unable to run, a shuttle using shunters and the DMU was run, and 47 004 made its preservation debut.
  • D.1524 (47 004) ran for the first time in preservation.
  • 31 119, 20 189 and 08 773 all took part in the gala.
  • D.2203 and 08 773 hauled the 3-car DMU over the full length of the line and offered shuttles to Bow Bridge
  • An evening BEEREX train was run on the Saturday.

    October 2006 - A gallery of photos from the October 2006 Diesel Weekend will appear here shortly. If you have any shots from this event and would like to see them here, please contact me via the e-mail address at the bottom of the page.

  • March 2006
    31 119 entering Stoneacre Loop from Embsay. (c) William Lister March 2006 saw the Railway host its first Diesel Weekend. Mainline locos visited, shunters ran and the public seemed to enjoy the event.
  • 08773 ran for the first time in preservation.
  • 31119 ran for the first time in preservation.
  • 20189 visited in between contract work on the main line
  • D.2203 hauled passenger trains.
  • Other diesels (including the DMU) took part in an intensive timetable over the weekend.

    March 2006 - A gallery of photos from the March 2006 Diesel Weekend. If you have any shots from this event and would like to see them here, please contact me via the e-mail address at the bottom of the page.

  • Top Photogalleries

    Yorkshire Dales Railway Museum Trust (Holdings) Limited
    Registered Charity No. 1116386
    Bolton Abbey Station, Bolton Abbey, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 6AF
    General Enquiries: 01756 710614 - Talking Timetables & Fax: 01756 795189
    enquiries AT embsayboltonabbeyrailway DOT org.uk webmaster AT embsayboltonabbeyrailway DOT org.uk
    Yorkshire Tourist Board

    Disclaimer - website (c) YDRMT 2009 -