Stainmore Railway Company
54°28′16″N 2°20′53″W / 54.471°N 2.348°W
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Stainmore Railway Company is a volunteer run non-profit preservation company formed in 2000 with the aim of restoring Kirkby Stephen East railway station in Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, England. In 1997 a company called Stainmore Properties Ltd. was formed, with the intention to convert KSE into an authentic North Eastern Railway focused heritage centre representing the early 1950s. The Stainmore Railway Company was subsequently formed to restore the site. Since then essential repairs have been made to the roof and station, a number of rooms have been restored and a short section of track has been laid along the formation of the old Eden Valley Line, with some sidings and yard infrastructure within the station area and surroundings. A quantity of rolling stock that is authentic to the site has since been brought in and further arrivals are expected in 2015.
The station was formerly on the South Durham & Lancashire Union Railway and the company aims to relay a short section of track to allow train running. There is the eventual aim of joining up with the Heritage Eden Valley Railway (at Warcop), respectively. August 2011 marked the 150th anniversary of the railway. To commemorate this occasion a series of events were held during 2011, leading up to 'Stainmore 150', a large event, where Steve Davis, the then-head of the National Railway Museum, drove the first fare-paying passenger train from the station in over 50 years. In 2013 the Stainmore Railway Company began its first operating season, running Peckett 0-4-0 'F C Tingey' on selected weekends. In 2014 this was joined by Yorkshire Engine Company 'Stanton' which operates diesel hauled trains on weekends when there is no steam service.
Locomotives
| Class | Number (&Name) | Wheels | Image | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4-0ST |  |
Ex-Courtaulds, North Wales. Donated to the Llangollen Railway, but sold via a scrap merchant to Steamtown Carnforth where it was restored. Came to KSE in 2000, spent three years at the Caledonian Railway (Brechin), now back at KSE. Currently in South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway (SD &LUR) livery. Videos on Stainmore and Tring's Trains YouTube Channels. | |||
| 0-6-0ST |  |
Delivered to Betteshanger Colliery, Kent in 1954. Sold into preservation at the Great Central Railway in November 1981, sold to North Norfolk Railway 1993. Bought by KSE in 2004, but then spot-hired. Expected to be back in service as early as 2015. | |||
| 2-4-0 | .jpg)
|
Built in 1875 for use on passenger trains between Newcastle and York/Edinburgh. Originally preserved in the old York Railway Museum, it was later displayed at the National Railway Museum and its outpost Shildon Locomotion Museum. Currently on display in Kirkby Stephen East station. On loan from the National Collection. | |||
| 0-6-0 | 
|
J21 WILL ARRIVE AT Kirkby Stephen East AT SOME POINT DURING 2015. Donated to the Locomotive conservation and learning trust (LCLT) from the North Norfolk Railway. The locomotive has not steamed in preservation since the 1980s. The locomotive was cosmetically restored by volunteers at Shildon Locomotion Museum to appear in British Railways unlined black for the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Stainmore route in 2011 (Stainmore 150). The locomotive will arrive back at Kirkby Stephen to take residence in the new locomotive shed in 2015, where restoration work will eventually begin (along with 1902 NER Bogie tools birdcage van, which is already on site). | |||
| 0-4-0DM | 0-4-0DM "Elizabeth". Hartley quarry locomotive, sold into further industrial use, eventually ending up under the ownership of Harry Needle Railroad company. Sold in 2004 to Stainmore. Now used on rear of passenger steam trains, and at the front on diesel worked services. | ||||
| 0-6-0DE |  |
0-6-0DE "Stanton No50". Ex stanton steelworks locomotive, the only 'janus' type locomotive at the works, despite a successful career. sold into further industrial use. The loco was eventually donated to an abortive preservation scheme. The loco then passed from one railway to another for a number of years, eventually ending up at the Nene Valley Railway where she received a full overhaul to operational condition and fitting of both air and vacuum braking systems. The loco was sold privately and is now based at Stainmore Railway Company and is used on Diesel passenger services (the first out of Kirkby Stephen East since the line was closed to passengers in 1965). | |||
| 0-4-0DH |  |
Manufactured by YEC and donated for use at KSE by CorusRail at Workington in 2007. It is in full working order and work is ongoing to restore its bodywork and repaint it. |
Rolling stock
| Class | Number (&Name) | Wheels | Image | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bogie coach |  |
One of two operating BR MK1 coaches at Stainmore Railway Company, used on its own during the "Diamond Jubilee" running day during 2012, now works paired with TSO. Restoration is ongoing, with a certain amount of welding work required around the Guard's doors. Currently being painted into BR lined Maroon | |||
| bogie coach |  |
One of two operating BR MK1 coaches at Stainmore Railway Company, arrived on site during 2012/13, works in pair with BSK. Currently being painted into BR lined Maroon | |||
| bogie van |  |
owned by the Locomotive Conservation and Learning Trust (LCLT) and arrived at KSE in 2014. The van built in York in 1902 to diagram H2 was stored a Beamish Museum in Co Durham. Unfortunately it was subjected to an arson attack in the 1980s but it is restorable.5523 will be externally restored to its original specification and the interior will form the basis of an exhibition about the J21 locomotive 65033 which is owned by the LCLT. | |||
| 6 wheeled (currently on 4) |  |
6 wheel compartment brake van which is currently undergoing restoration. hoped to be returned to traffic (in 6-wheeled form) by 2016. | |||
| 4 wheeled |  |
fully restored and currently being painted as the final stage of its restoration. It does not carry a number as it was a box van body that was put onto new bogies. | |||
| 4 wheeled |  |
Sees little use as is still awaiting planking on frame | |||
| 4 wheeled |  |
Ex-LNER 5-plank 'pipe' wagon. Sees little use as it is very fragile in its current state. | |||
| 6 wheeled |  |
NER 6 wheeled brake van. This van was originally going to form the basis of passenger services (with fitting of vacuum brakes). This was suspended with the arrival of a BR MK1 BSK. The brakevan still sees use on track maintenance trains and footplate experience courses. | |||
| Gresley bogie |  |
LNER TTO No60505. Currently one of 6 Gresley teak coaches at Kirkby Stephen East. It is 98% complete, but cannot be launched into traffic until the Shed is completed, where the gangway connections, roof vents, and buffers will be fitted (something which cannot be done in its current cramped accommodation in the former Tebay platform | |||
| Gresley bogie |  |
LNER Gresley Brake First Corridor No4163. Will take residence in new shed (once complete) and will eventually be restored. Likely to be 3rd in the queue of Gresley coaches after LNER RB No1852 (also in the Tebay platform). |