Drax Digger Donation Keeps Yorkshire Wolds Railway’s expansion plans on track
Power generation company Drax are helping to keep the Yorkshire Wolds Railway’s expansion plans on track with the donation of a road-rail vehicle that was spotted by an eagle-eyed member of the heritage railway whilst he was on a tour of the North Yorkshire power station to mark its 50th anniversary.
The Yorkshire Wolds Railway’s site at Fimber Halt opened for the first time this season last Sunday (6th April) following a winter that has seen members work in all kinds of weather to give visitors an even better experience.
Changes include a new shop, located within a British Rail MK2 coach, and arguably the most noticeable difference at the site, the construction of a new visitor centre and working facility, which remains in its early stages of completion.
Track improvements have also been taking place and future enhancements to the line are set to be made even more efficient thanks to the gift of the road-rail vehicle.
When Yorkshire Wolds Railway member Phill Buckle spotted a Mecalac 14MXT
multipurpose digger during his tour of the biomass power station, he asked what it was being used for.
When Mr Buckle heard the vehicle had been used to move coal around the Drax site but was probably now redundant following the switch to biomass, he cheekily asked whether there was a chance it could be donated to Fimber Halt.
The railway enthusiast was encouraged when he was told his request would be considered but still surprised when Drax gave the thumbs-up to the vehicle being donated.
Recently, Mr Buckle was one of several Yorkshire Wolds Railway members on site to see the road rail vehicle being officially handed over by Drax representatives, including head of logistics, Mark Gibbens.
Simon Barraclough, Yorkshire Wolds Railway’s diesel traction and rolling stock director, told the Wolds Weekly how delighted the organisation is with the donation and how it will be used at the site.
“The road rail excavator is very versatile and is ideal for the work we do around the site and develop it,” he said.
“It will also help us get to the key pieces of track into our Visitor Centre and Working Facility, as well as assisting with laying the track and achieving our plans of extending the line to Wetwang.
“The road railer was used by Drax to clear coal from the sidings when wagons were dropped off.
“It also cleared the tracks and transferred coal into a store. However, since the switch to biomass, it has been laid up for five years.
“The road railer was spotted by one of our members during Drax’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
“He enquired about whether it could be donated and thought it was a joke when Drax said that we could have it a week later.
“We are extremely grateful for the donation and will definitely put the road railer to good use.”
Mr Buckle was joined by his two sons to officially accept the keys for the road-rail vehicle.
His story is a perfect reminder that you should never be afraid to ask any question!
“I was on the 50th anniversary tour and I looked to my left and saw the digger, which turned out to be the road railer,” he said.
“I asked the guide what it was and whether it was still being used. I was told there was a chance we could have it as a donation but when my son received a text with confirmation, I couldn’t believe it.
“It’s great for the lads from Drax to come down today and see how we are going to use it.”
Mr Gibbens was joined for the handover by Drax colleagues Elliot Day, road haulage and storage manager, Oliver Feeney, logistics officer, and Ian Broadhead, rail logistics officer, for the handover.
They joined Yorkshire Wolds Railway members for a ride on the loco, with Mr Gibbens, making his first visit to the site, looking forward to seeing how it develops with help from his company’s donation.
“Last year was our 50th anniversary and we held a number of events to celebrate the power station reaching that milestone,” he said.
“We invited some members of the Yorkshire Wolds Railway along to a charity event in aid of Martin House.
“One of the members noticed an old piece of machinery at the back of one of the sheds and that’s how this started.
“From our point of view, we had no great use for it moving forwards, as it had been used for our coal operations.
“We no longer use coal. We use sustainable biomass. Therefore, it made perfect sense to donate it and put it to good use, which is good to see.
“When you look at the history of the power station at Drax over the 50 years, there is a lot of heritage.
“But when we stop doing things, they can disappear fairly quickly. Things have to have a purpose so to see it being used, rather than being a museum piece, is fantastic.
“I only live 20 minutes down the road from here, so it’s nice to be able to pop out in the car and see it.
“I’ve never been to the Yorkshire Wolds Railway before but it’s good to see the site developing.”
The Yorkshire Wolds Railway will be running trains and opening the visitor centre every Sunday and bank holiday until the end of October and every Wednesday during school holidays from 10am to 4pm.
All trains run subject to availability. The visitor centre only will be open every Wednesday until the end of October from 10am-4pm.
Additionally, there are members on site most Saturdays who will be happy to show what is being done, subject to safety requirements.
The Yorkshire Wolds Railway still needs to raise over £80,000 to finish the fit out of the building and people can donate via www.givey.com/raisetheroof
