About the Junior Club and the Weardale Railway
The Weardale Railway Junior Club (better known as WRjc) is part of our family of volunteers with members aged from 11 to 15. To become a member of the WRjc applicants must first become a member of the Weardale Railway Trust for which an annual membership fee is payable (currently £8.00), there is no further charge to join the WRjc, however, there is a 50p charge when attending training sessions to help cover the cost of training materials. Please see the Join Us section of our website for full details of how to join.
Junior Club Training
The WRjc normally meets on Friday evenings at Stanhope Station where members learn about railway operations, both on the Weardale Railway and the national network and also about the history of the line. In addition to the weekly training sessions, organised educational visits are also undertaken.
As from Friday 13th June 2008 a new format "5 week activity diary" will be introduced. Weeks 1 & 3 will be training sessions covering both railway and non-railway subjects, weeks 2 & 4 will be the model railway club and in week 5 there will be no meeting. See our activity/training diary for more information.
The current training program covers:- The Rule Book, Personal Track Safety, history of the Weardale Railway, Standard Operating Procedures, rolling stock, roles within the Weardale Railway, Diversity and an overview of the national network including geography and train companies. Other non-railway subjects are also covered.
During 2008 a number of educational visits are planned including:- National Railway Museum York & Shildon, Tanfield Railway, Wensleydale Railway and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
Working on the Railway
Members get the opportunity to be involved with the day-to-day running of the railway under the supervision of experienced members of staff, working alongside the Guard, Travelling Ticket Inspector, Controller, Crossing Keeper, Station Maintenance staff, in the depot, in the station cafe and gift shop and also at special events both on and off train.
WRjc members also get the opportunity to help with certain tasks that take place away from the operational railway, such as assisting at stands promoting the railway and other marketing initiatives.
History of the Weardale Railway
The Weardale Railway, situated in County Durham, U.K. was a mothballed branch line from Bishop Auckland following the River Wear westwards to Eastgate-in-Weardale, a distance of approximately 18.7 miles (30km).
The line was originally built by the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1847 to transport limestone to the ironwork of Teesside, and by 1895 had been extended to its final terminus of Wearhead. Although the passenger service was withdrawn in 1953, the line was retained for freight use transporting bulk cement from the Blue Circle works at Eastgate. This use also ceased in 1993, so the line was mothballed and threatened with lifting.
With support from Wear Valley District Council, 1993 saw the formation of The Weardale Railway Preservation Society. This was a group of supporters of the line whose aims were firstly to prevent its removal, and secondly to promote its future. This original support group is now registered charity number 1088897, The Weardale Railway Trust Ltd. This organisation helps to fund the work involved and provide the voluntary assistance, and its members receive a regular magazine to keep them informed of the project's progress.
Link to the main Weardale Railway Trust website here