StoneRoad2013's photos with the keyword: Alston

The builder's plate on the South Tynedale Railway's No.18 aka "Old Rusty" which is an 0-6-0DM ... Hudswell Clarke of Leeds built it in 1961, works no DM1247.

Hudswell Clarke "Old Rusty" or South Tynedale Railway's No.18 is about to go over the level crossing and then set back onto the train in the other platform.

Dug posing for a picture - I did ask Kim to join in ... basically this was towards the end of their last Sunday running the Crossing Cafe. Very serious face there but as soon as he saw me lower the camera, he grinned from ear to ear ...

A busy Kitchen ...

Looking inside, after a very busy period, there's now a few tables free. We had had the soup - curried vegetable, which was a lovely, warming & very filling meal. Can't quite see into the "Bootneck's Corner" [at the back, on the left] where I've sat, in a comfy armchair, a few times with Ben de-Dog ... Note : the suspended cycle - Not only are Dug & Kim dog-friendly, they also accept cyclists !

Engraved stone block commemorating the official opening of the South Tynedale Railway, on 25th May 1984. This is in the wall of the station building at Alston.

A close-up of some early flowering daffodils in the car park at Alston Station [South Tynedale Railway].

A large patch of early flowering naturalised daffodils in the car park at Alston Station [South Tynedale Railway]. The close-up posted a couple of days ago was from this patch. The group of volunteers that look after this whole area will have plenty of work ahead of them this year.

Beech trees giving a splash of colour in the background, and a multitude of fences in the foreground. . The shed is actually the STR workshop, the main running line is separated from the public walking route [The South Tyne Trail] by a strained wire fence, which is so thin that it doesn't stop you taking good images of the trains - when they are running ! and the substantial wooden fence on the left protects you from a drop into the river or onto the flood / erosion protective rock armour (as seen in other images).

Crossing Cafe - aka Hickins - is in this end of the Station Building at Alston. This is the upper terminus of the South Tynedale Railway [STR]. Currently [2023] an extremely dog-friendly establishment, that also does a good range of drinks, cakes, snacks and light meals for humans. We are regular, if not frequent, customers.

The area around Alston Station [South Tynedale Railway's upper terminus] is well supplied with picnic tables, and there are more tables & seating under the station canopy. Plus there's the cafe - which is currently known as Hickins' as well as the Crossing Cafe since the outside seating overlooks the level crossing. 2023 - the current menu & standard of service is very good and as it is dog-friendly we go there at least once a month for a meal and drinks.

The formidable wall on the right is supporting the alignment of the South Tynedale Railway [formerly the standard gauge Alston to Haltwhistle branch line] and footpath that now shares the route. . The base of the wall has some extensive and heavy stone blockwork in place as flood defences, [aka "rock armour" - note the large metal "staples" securing the blocks]. The main stream here is the River South Tyne, just behind the camera there is a bend in the South Tyne and the confluence with the River Nent. Their combined flow, plus the bend, when in winter spate was a risk to the stability of the railway's supporting wall, and the sheds further to the right but out of view in this image. Note, the large boulder field by the left bank, dropped in the inside of the curve ...

A late flowering example of Rosebay Willowherb [Epilobium augustifolium], also known as "fireweed" from the frequency with which it colonises burnt and ashy areas, or disturbed ground. Very common on old WW2 bombsites which usually meant both burnt and disturbed ground.

Protective rock armour at the base of the wall where the River South Tyne executes a fairly sharp turn, just after the confluence with the River Nent, and continues north, towards Haltwhistle. Standing on the South Tyne Trail, just outside Alston Railway Station. The trail follows the track bed from Alston almost all the way into Haltwhistle, the only significant deviation is to cross the A69 [Haltwhistle Bypass - a major trunk road]. There is another wire fence separating the railway from the footpath, it is not very clear in this image.

This cartoon has appeared in several forms, usually aimed at a small, local railway having a problem with keeping to the timetable. I doubt if it is as old as it is meant to look. Not my image : fair use & comment

Peckett 0-6-0ST [works no 2050] built in 1944 for Harrogate Gas Works [was 'volunteer' at the Festiniog Railway, but never operated as her wheelbase was too long and her axle-load was far too heavy] Moved to Statfold Barn Railway, overhauled and operational in 2015 Harrogate is seen here under the new train shed roof at Alston on 15th October 2017 [the "tender" contains an air compressor and reservoir for the train brakes] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statfold_Barn_Railway & www.statfold.com The re-roofing project (& platform2) were part of the 2016 Railway Development Project, which received considerable grant aid. This is detailed in the following article on the STRPS website ... www.south-tynedale-railway.org.uk/the-south-tynedale-railway-development-project

Barber with passenger train almost ready to leave Alston (South Tynedale Railway) The Gas waggon contains the air compressor and reservoirs for the braking system, as Barber is not fitted with the necessary equipment for air brakes. E2A - During 2016/7 the South Tyndale Railway built another platform on the line of this fence, and equipped the Station with an overall roof. The trees have been felled in preparation for this work.

The recently restored Barber is hooked on ready for the next train to Lintley.