It’s another day in sunny Yorkshire and we’re visiting the Embsay and Bolton Abbey railway. The line originally ran from Skipton but closed in 1965. Interestingly, the adjacted railway line which serves Swinden Quarry was never closed and is still in operation today with around 4 trains a day. The grand plan of the railway is to continue laying the track to the west and reinstate the point with the mainline which already exists to the quarry to allow trains to continue on to Skipton. You would think it’s a simple task but no. There is a huge amount of work that needs to be done to plug the signalling into the National Rail infrastructure and equal amounts of red tape to cut through. For now, we get to enjoy the restored 5 mile route and even better, in a restored Electric Autocar from 1903.
Just take in that image above. How gorgeous is that interior! The beauty of travelling in an Autocar is the ability to see quite clearly in all directions, including down the track. We travelled at a sedate pace which gave plenty of opportunity to soak up the views.
At the end of the line is Bolton Abbey. The silence when the Autocar switches off makes you appreciate the surroundings all the more.
Heading back to Embsay station, there is plenty around the yard to look at. There is also a great view across the site from the footbridge.
