NRM photographic collection now at Wensleydale

THE Wensleydale Railway has been given custody of a National Railway Museum photographic archive and will use it as a unique resource for historians and enthusiasts.

More than 3000 pictures will be coupled with the heritage line's own collection to form the basis of the new Richard King Gallery in the former station waiting room at Finghall Lane Halt.

Wensleydale Railway plc chairman Guy Loveridge said the line was “delighted” to have been granted custody of the images.

He said: “Many of these images, some dating back into the early 1900s, have never been shown publicly in this way.

“There is a wealth of material, and we already have plans for an exhibition in 2022 themed Royalty on the Rails, which will utilise a selection of the newly-arrived collection.”

Two Teesside University history students who are joining the railway as interns will undertake cataloguing and digital scanning to allow the creation of a reference archive.

Enthusiasts will be able to purchase duplicate photographs of some images from the archive, with all the proceeds going to the railway.