Re-opening

Preparations to re-open on 25th July 2020 with appropriate COVID-19 precautions in place are at an advanced stage.

We expect to be running steam trains and Dales Dining services every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday from 25th July onwards.  All tickets must be pre-booked through our online ticketing system. Demand will be monitored carefully and the timetable may be subject to late additions or removals of trains.

Customers will be more spread out than usual to provide social distancing between groups.  Stringent cleaning procedures will be in place for the benefit or our customers and staff.  More details of the precautions that will be put in place will appear here shortly.

Regrettably, events other than our standard travel and our steam Dales Dining services are expected to be cancelled during this period.  Plans for the events and timetables beyond August are not yet confirmed.

Visitors must check the website immediately before travel to ensure you are familiar with any late changes to the planned operations.

Thank you for your support during these difficult times.

1916 built steam locomotive ‘Illingworth’ will be re-named ‘Nightingale’ and Seacole’

1916 built steam locomotive ‘Illingworth’ will be renamed 'Nightingale and Seacole’ to mark the courage of those in the front line tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.

It will be a lasting remembrance of this difficult time, honouring the frontline staff and others who have put their lives at risk. Mary Seacole was a half Jamaican nurse who, like Florence Nightingale advanced nursing in the Crimean war of 1854. Many believe that she did not get the recognition she deserved and this name can remind future generations of the sacrifice BAME and overseas healthcare staff have made. Florence Nightingale was a pioneer of nursing and changed the profession forever.

​Illingworth is resident at our railway, and is seen regularly on the Victorian passenger trains.  Currently, it carries two names, Illingworth and Mitchell of Bradford Corporation. It will soon carry the two names of the nursing care pioneers.

A naming ceremony will be held as soon as it is judged to be safe and it is hoped that the railway, along with others in the wider community will take the opportunity to remember this time for current and future generations.

Note, Illingworth served the country in both world wars and worked on several pioneering projects in the UK. The locomotive acquired six names under various owners so this latest change is not without historic precedent.

Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway’s appeal is in urgent need for donations, not just to survive but to adapt swiftly to new operating conditions as soon as it is practical.  This means rearranging our operations: coaches, cafes, platforms, station and shops to maintain social distancing without detracting from the enjoyable steam railway heritage attraction.  The railway is keen to benefit the wider community, with educational activities, heritage opportunities and an enhanced ‘Dales Dining’ offer in a safe, sensible way. 

In addition the railway wants to honour those fighting the Corona virus, particularly nursing staff.  To mark this resident 1916 built steam locomotive ‘Illingworth’ will be reamed ‘Nightingale’ and Seacole’ .  This recalls the two pioneering nurses who cared against the odds in the Crimean war and laid the foundation for modern nursing. Representatives of the Florence Nightingale Foundation and the Mary Seacole Trust will unveil the nameplates once travel restrictions are eased.  This is particularly appropriate as the Florence Nightingale Foundation is marking 200 years since Florence Nightingale’s birth with the White Rose appeal.  Further information  -  https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NightingaleSeacole

Mixed Traction Weekend...what might have been!

What might have been....this weekend gone would have seen one of the highlights of the year, with the railway showcasing it's full range of heritage traction, from steam locomotives, heritage diesels and our unique Edwardian electric autocar.

We always pray for good weather for these events...and good weather is what we got. 

Alas, we did not foresee the global pandemic and this event, like so many others, had to be cancelled.

Check out the video for what might have been, put together from a range of sources by one of our volunteers, Jordan Bell.

Facebook competition - win a cab ride!

We were busy trying to restore D5600 (the green class 31 that's sat at Bolton Abbey for many years) until the lockdown came along.  LIKE, SHARE & COMMENT this post on Facebook for the chance to win a cab ride in D5600 in 2021! 

Fundraising update

We've reached £9,000 with the fundraising initiative to ensure our future here at Embsay & Bolton Abbey.

Why do we need money if we are not running? 

We have significant fixed costs, such as insurance, basic building maintenance, business rates (although we've a 12 month break with the rates) water and energy costs, and professional fees.

These fixed costs amount to tens of thousands of pounds annually.

Right now, other than donations, our income for our charity has dropped to zero.

We are taking advantage of the initiatives on offer from the Government. We're hopeful to qualify for one of the grants, but even if (or when) that arrives, it will only stem our losses for a very short period of time and will not get anywhere near making up the shortfall in revenue from running our trains.

In reality, we expect to be affected significantly even after the lockdown restrictions are lifted, and so we've been working on reducing our fixed costs wherever possible, postponing restoration projects and looking carefully at how we can be sustainable going forward.

We're extremely grateful for the support which our members and visitors have offered us so far, in a variety of ways.  Mainly of course in the form of donations, but we've also had a dozens of new members join us in the last 10 days too.

If you are able to make a donation it will be gratefully received.  Maybe you can join the charity and enjoy the benefits of being a member too?

We hope that we can welcome you all back to our railway sometime soon.

Stay healthy and with best wishes,

Rob Shaw
CHAIRMAN
Yorkshire Dales Railway Museum Trust

Coronavirus update

**Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update**

In light of the current government advice, we have made the difficult decision to postpone services during March, and most likely postponements during April will take place too.

Please rest assured that like many businesses across the UK, we’re closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and are following UK Government guidelines, and while there have been no reported cases at the railway, the wellbeing of our visitors, staff and volunteers is our absolute priority.

We are currently making adjustments to our events programme and changes to these will be announced individually.

We will of course post any updates or changes to these plans across our communication channels, and on our website – ebar.org.uk – as the situation evolves.

As a registered charity we would strongly recommend that if you have a pre-booked ticket you move your booking to later in the 2020 season where possible, or we can refund your booking by Gift Card to use later.

When contacting our Customer Service Team, please quote your booking reference. Contact: office@ebar.org.uk.

For further information: ebar.org.uk/coronavirus