Green dragon could breathe fire on old Kielder line

25/10/2006

Almost 50 years to the day, since the final passengers travelled along the Border Counties Railway to Kielder and Riccarton Junction, the Kielder Partnership is looking into the possibility of some of the old track bed and viaduct being brought back to life, this time, as part of a new narrow gauge railway.

The proposal is part of the Kielder Partnership’s ‘Big Picture’ initiative to enhance and improve Kielder Water and Forest Park, bringing more ways for visitors to enjoy the areas many aspects, without damaging the unique character of the area. The railway project, named ‘The Green Dragon’, after one of the two narrow gauge steam engines acquired for the project, would mean that trains could once more cross the beautiful Kielder Viaduct of 1862.

The project has been developed for Kielder by Kate and Jim Rees of Stanhope, who are passionate believers in both sustainable transport and environmentally friendly tourism.

Jim, who has worked in museums and tourism for over twenty years, says:
“The Project is centred on a steam hauled narrow gauge railway powered by wood fired steam locomotives. It will be an environmentally friendly tourist attraction with an educational aspect, which comprises Europe’s only carbon-cycle railway.

Locating Europe’s first carbon-cycle railway at Kielder, within one of its largest forests, and running alongside its greatest man-made lake, offers so many exciting connections and possibilities, that the pairing seems obvious.”

It is proposed that the Railway will connect the centre of Kielder Village with a new water ferry calling point, near Gowanburn, on the north shore of Kielder Water.

Starting near Kielder Castle, the railway would follow some 750 metres of new track bed climbing through the wood alongside Wood Road, before joining the track bed of the old Border Counties Railway. It would then cross the iconic Kielder Viaduct, and follow the old route along the north shore of Bakethin, down to its lowest surviving point near Gowanburn. Part of the work would involve the construction of a new timber bridge over the road to Butteryhaugh.

Jim added:
“The pair of locomotives already held are survivors of standard designs built for use in widely varying conditions worldwide. For this reason they were built to burn wood, biomass, or even peat, in parts of the world without coal.
The maximum speed would not exceed 6 -12mph, giving a likely one way journey time of 20 – 25 minutes. Wood and water are at the core of Kielder and symbolic of it, coming together, they bring these old engines to life.”

There will be three 26 foot long bogie carriages, one of which will contain a guards compartment with small wood stove to offer simple refreshment facilities. Another will incorporate a wheelchair lift to give the train full DDA compliance. Given the integration with local cycle routes, a bike carrier would run with all passenger trains, to carry any bicycles separately from the passengers.

Jim says:
“There is scope for regular events throughout the year; including the winter period. It is the case that most steam railways enjoy peak visitor numbers over the Christmas period. In addition, the railway would expect to complement and enter into wider community events such as craft fairs, forest festivals etc. All of which would add to the attraction of Kielder, the village and the castle and therefore increase visitor numbers for all parties.”

The Green Dragon railway is just one scheme which is currently being considered by the Kielder Partnership as part of its “Big Picture” initiative which aims to raise Kielder Water and Forest Park’s profile as one of Europe’s premier water and forest experiences. The first phase of development, which benefits from funding support from Northern Rock Foundation, DEFRA, Northumberland Strategic Partnership and One NorthEast, will see a series of public access improvements including the completion of the south shore stretch of the Lakeside Way which will include a landmark bridge at Lewisburn, a series of new pontoons and jetties to facilitate access to Kielder Water and a water taxi service, mountain bike routes in the area of Deadwater Fell which will herald Kielder’s arrival as major mountain biking centre and the construction of an observatory to provide both professional and amateur astronomers with the opportunity to take advantage of Kielder’s dark skies.

Paul Nichol, Kielder Partnership Officer said:
“Kate and Jim Rees have provided us with a fantastic opportunity and a sound business case but clearly, there is a lot of work to be done before a passenger railway can once again, become part of the Kielder landscape. In the coming months, there will be survey work carried out on the proposed route and the Kielder viaduct, the economic viability will be studied and the likely impact on the environment will be assessed. We will also need to get the views of local residents and the visitors who already enjoy Kielder.”

Such is the enthusiasm for the project and the belief that Kielder will once again have a railway in the foreseeable future, that the construction of one of the bespoke passenger carriages is already almost complete. The carriage will be transported from its current location in Shropshire to Leaplish Waterside Park, during December, where it will showcase information on the Green Dragon Project and the Kielder “Big Picture”, giving an exciting “hands on” preview of Kielder’s future.

Paul Nichol added:
“We thought the carriage would provide a unique location for a 'consultation place' where local residents and visitors can register their comments, giving their reactions to this or any of the Partnership proposals.”

Editors Note

The Kielder Partnership is a public/private sector collaboration, which started life in 1994, in the belief that appropriately and sensitively developed tourism can contribute to the economic expansion of the North Tyne Valley and Redesdale, as well as enabling local people and visitors to appreciate and enjoy the areas qualities.

The partnership is currently based on a geographical area surrounding Kielder Water and Forest with Carter Bar and the Scottish Border as the Northern boundary and including Otterburn, Bellingham, Wark and Kielder Village.
The partnership has worked on a number of successful development and marketing projects, including the internationally acclaimed art and architecture programme and has attracted over £2 million in external funding awards to assist the delivery of its work.

The Kielder Partnership’s funding partners are Northumbrian Water, Forestry Commission, Tynedale Council, Northumberland County Council and The Calvert Trust. Northumberland National Park, Sustrans, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Kielder Limited, Wild Redesdale Tourism Association and the North Tyne & Redesdale Committee of Parish Councils also participate on a non – funding basis.  

For more information contact Paul Nichol on 01434 22 0643 or email kielder.partnership@tynedale.gov.uk.

Additional Media contacts: 
Jim Rees: Tel: 07967 509226 
Alex MacLennan: Recreation, Communities & Tourism Manager, Kielder Forest District. Tel: 01434 220 242