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[[Image:Ivatt tank Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.jpg|thumb|right|234px|Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T 41241 at Haworth station]]
{{Refimprove|date=April 2008}}
[[Image:227113 20f9b0cdThePlatformOxenhopeRailwayStationTerminusOfTheKeighley&WorthValleyRailway(NigelHomer)Aug2006.jpg|right|thumb|234px|The Platform, Oxenhope Railway Station, terminus of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (photo by Nigel Homer, 2006)]]
{{Infobox Bus transit
[[Image:Signal box and train.jpg|thumb|234px|right|Damems Junction signal box]]
| name = National Express Ltd.
| logo = National Express Logo.gif
| logo_size =
| image = National Express NXVP1 on Railair.JPG
| image_size = 300
| image_caption = A National Express coach in the new livery
| founded = 1972
| headquarters = [[Birmingham]]
| locale =
| service_area = [[England]], [[Wales]], [[Scotland]]
| service_type = Express Coach
| destinations =
| hubs = [[Birmingham]], [[London]], [[Manchester]], [[Glasgow]], [[London Gatwick Airport|Gatwick Airport]], [[London Heathrow Airport|Heathrow Airport]] [[Southampton]], [[Leeds]], [[Liverpool]]
| fleet =
| operator = [[National Express Group]]
| ceo = Randall E West
| website = [http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/index.cfm/ national express coach]
}}
[[Image:National Express coah at o2 centre.jpg|right|thumb|A [[Caetano Levante]] run by National Express.]]
[[Image:National Express route 561.jpg|right|thumb|The previous National Express livery on a coach on route 561]]
[[Image:National Express Coach.jpg|right|thumb|A [[Scania AB|Scania]] [[Scania K124|K124 EB]] Irizar of National Express in the previous livery, pictured in [[Cambridge]].]]
[[Image:National Express logo.PNG|right|thumb|Previous National Express logo.]]
[[Image:National Express old livery.jpg|right|thumb|The pre-2003 National Express livery (essentially as inherited from the National Bus Company) on a Volvo B10M / Plaxton Premiere coach]]


The '''Keighley and Worth Valley Railway''' is a five-mile (eight-km) long [[heritage railway]] line in [[West Yorkshire]], [[England]], that runs from [[Keighley]] to [[Oxenhope]]. It connects to the national rail network line at Keighley. It is currently the first and only Heritage Railway that operates a whole branch line in its original form.
:''This article is about the company responsible for most long distance bus and coach services in Great Britain and the brand it uses; for information on its parent company, see [[National Express Group]].''

'''National Express''' is the brand under which the majority of long distance [[bus]] and [[Coach (vehicle)|coach]] services in [[Great Britain]] are marketed, and also the company that manages this network and operates some of the services. Most services are subcontracted to local bus and coach companies throughout England, Scotland and Wales, as specified below. The National Express group recently won many admirers by acquiring the services of Phil, Bernadette and Sean. This coup is seen by many as the key to helping National Express develop into the leading company of anything in the world ever.

The brand and company are based in [[Birmingham]] and are owned by the [[National Express Group]], a group of diverse transport interests also including passenger rail operators and local bus operators.


==History==
==History==
The line was built in 1867 by local [[mill (factory)|mill]] owners, but operated by the [[Midland Railway]], which owned most of the rail network in the area, and was eventually bought by the Midland.
The ''National Express'' brand was created in 1972 by the state-owned ''[[National Bus Company (UK)|National Bus Company]]'' (''NBC'') to bring together the express bus and coach services operated by companies within the NBC group. The National Express network was largely a branding and management exercise, with services continuing to be operated by the individual companies.


After becoming part of the [[London, Midland and Scottish Railway]] in 1923, ownership passed to [[British Rail]]ways following nationalisation in 1948. As a part of the rail cutbacks in the [[1960s]], British Railways closed the line at the end of 1962.
With the [[privatisation]] of the NBC in the 1980s, National Express was subject to a management buy-out in 1988. In 1992, National Express Group plc was floated on the [[London Stock Exchange]] with a remit to acquire new businesses in the passenger transport market, with National Express as a subsidiary company.


However a preservation society was formed which bought the line from BR and reopened it in 1968 as a heritage railway. The line is now a major tourist attraction operated entirely by volunteers and carries more than 110,000 passengers every year. The KWVR is currently the only preserved railway that operates a complete branch line in its original form. It is celebrated among beer lovers for operating the only [[buffet car]] serving [[real ale]].
During 2001, National Express took a very unpopular{{Fact|date=February 2008}} decision to end the historic on-board steward/ess service, leaving many passengers on buses for up to six hours without food or drink. Phil White, their then MD had stated he felt they made the company look old fashioned and passengers did not need them. The ensuing campaign by the hundreds of sacked staff, and thousands{{Fact|date=February 2008}} of complaints from customers did not produce any result.


The line and its bridges and tunnels including a deviation were built as [[single track (rail)|single track]] but with provision for [[double track|duplication]], should the need arise.
For most of its existence National Express Coach Division had little, if any, competition in the long distance coach market. However, in 2003 [[Stagecoach Group]] introduced a "[[no-frills]]" service, [[Megabus]], whose [[Pound Sterling|GBP]] £1 fares sparked a [[price war]] with National Express in autumn 2004 which is still raging on many services in and out of London today. The competition has recently intensified when in 2007 Megabus transferred its London terminus from the Greenline Coach Station into National Express UK mega-terminus Victoria Coach Station.


==Stations and facilities==
Passenger numbers on core routes have also suffered severely due to cut-price rail fares, such as Virgin Trains' value tickets and the [[Megatrain]] (Stagecoach & Virgin) web fares.
*[[Keighley railway station|Keighley]]
**Mainline Connections to [[Leeds]], [[Bradford]], [[Skipton]], [[Carlisle]], [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]], [[Morecambe]] and [[London]] King's Cross
**Railway Shop and Buffet
**Turntable
**Picnic Area
**Station restored to BR 1950s condition complete with cast-iron platform canopy
*[[Ingrow (West) railway station|Ingrow West]]
**Access to the Vintage Carriages Trust's [[Museum of Rail Travel]]
**Access to the [[Bahamas Locomotive Society]] Museum "[[Ingrow Loco]]"
**Car parking
*[[Damems railway station|Damems]]
**The smallest standard-gauge railway station in Britain, complete with Waiting Room, Booking Office, Signal Box & Level Crossing
**Lit by [[gas lighting|gas]] and heated by coal stoves
**Featured as [["Ormston"]] in the [[BBC]]'s [[Born and Bred]]
*[[Oakworth railway station|Oakworth]]
**Famous as the location for the filming of the 1970 film ''[[The Railway Children (film)|The Railway Children]]'', starring [[Jenny Agutter]], [[Dinah Sheridan]], [[Bernard Cribbins]], [[Sally Thomsett]] and [[Gary Warren]]
**Restored to Edwardian condition, the station is lit by gas lamps
**Heated by up to four coal fires in winter (around eight months each year)
**Car Parking (for 'Horseless Carriages')
*[[Haworth railway station|Haworth]]
**Railway shop
**Picnic area and engine shed viewing area
**Access to Haworth Village and the [[Brontë]] Parsonage
**Gas lit platform
**An example of a 1950s country station
*[[Oxenhope railway station|Oxenhope]]
**New [[National Lottery|Heritage Lottery Fund]]-supported Exhibition Shed, contains locomotives and carriages not currently in use and explains their history and that of the line as a whole
**Railway shop and buffet
**Car parking
**Bus connections to [[Hebden Bridge]]
**Gas-lit platform, car park and waiting room


==Accidents==
==Special events==
*During Summer 2008, 45212 is expected to return for the final of its 3 visits permitted during its 10 year boiler certificate, to participate in an event to mark 40 years since the end of steam on BR.
On [[3 January]] [[2007]], a [[2007 National Express coach crash|National Express coach crashed]] near Heathrow Airport. The double-decker 77 seat vehicle overturned. Two passengers died shortly after and a third six months later. Several passengers were left with amputated limbs, either traumatically in the accident itself, or later surgically in hospital. The 67 passengers and the two drivers were all taken to hospital with injuries. The coach was operated by subcontractor [[Trathens Travel Services]], an arm of [[Parks Motor Group|Park’s of Hamilton]]. Early indications show the late-running coach failed to negotiate a slip road between the [[M4 motorway|M4]] and [[M25 motorway|M25]]. <ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6229719.stm Two dead after M-way coach crash, BBC News] </ref> It is regarded as the worst crash in National Express' history. The coach driver, Philip Rooney, 47, of Carluke, Lanarkshire, Scotland, was arrested, released on police bail and later charged with causing death by dangerous driving. Several of the passengers said the bus appeared to be going at 80mph when the accident occurred. However, by law, the vehicle was equipped with a device that restricts the bus' speed to 62mph.<ref>[http://www.nationalexpress.com/utilities/press16.cfm National Express press release regarding safety standards]</ref> All 12 of National Express' double deckers, which all belong to Trathens, were withdrawn for safety checks after the accident. They are now back in service from the [[21 May]] 2007.


==Operational steam locomotives==
On [[September 3]], [[2007]], a National Express coach on service 777 overturned on the southbound M1 as it turned into [[Newport Pagnell]] service areas. There were 30+ injuries, six of them serious, including the driver who had to be cut free. <ref>[http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=4329 Transport Briefing — UK transport news, data and jobs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Police arrested the coach driver on suspicion of drunk driving and dangerous driving.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/6976710.stm BBC NEWS | England | Beds/Bucks/Herts | Coach overturns in motorway crash<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
[[Image:80002-BRClass4.JPG|thumb|right|80002]]
*BR 2-6-4T [[BR standard class 4 tank|Class 4MT]] no. 80002 (Used regularly, especially in summer, boiler ticket expires in 2015)
*[[Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway|L&Y]] 0-6-0 [[L&YR Class 25|Class 25 "Ironclad"]] no. 957 (later BR Class 2F no. 52044, boiler ticket expires in 2011) (Used on summer vintage trains and during special events)
*[[London Midland and Scottish Railway|LMS]] 2-6-2T [[LMS Class 2MT 2-6-2T|Class 2MT]] no. 41241 (Used regularly)
*[[London Midland and Scottish Railway|LMS]] 0-6-0T [[LMS Class 3F "Jinty" 0-6-0T|Class 3F "Jinty"]] no. 47279 (Used regularly. boiler ticket expires in 2011)
*[[Taff Vale Railway]] 0-6-2T no. 85 (Used regularly, boiler ticket expires in June 2009)
*[[British Rail|BR]] 2-8-0 [[WD class 8F 2-8-0|Austerity]] no. 90733 (In regular use, boiler ticket expires in 2017)
*[[Hudswell Clarke]] 0-6-0T no. 1704 "Nunlow" steam tested and moved under its own power 6th June 2008. (Boiler ticket expires 2018)


==Steam Locomotives undergoing light repair==
==Service Brands==
*
===2007/8 rebranding===
As part of a [[National Express Group#December 2007 restructuring|group wide]] restructuring and rebranding exercise, the National Express coach fleet is set to receive a slightly different livery, retaining the red white and blue theme, but with "National Express" changing to "national express," with coaches appearing in the new livery from December 2007.


==Steam locomotives under overhaul or restoration==
===2003 brands===
*[[BR standard class 4 4-6-0]] no. 75078 (Undergoing a ten year overhaul. Boiler away for overhaul. Completion is due for 2014)
;Network
*[[Midland Railway 3835 Class]] 0-6-0 (LMS Class 4F) no. 43924 (Stripped down for restoration. Good progress is being made on the overhaul, which is focusing on the frames presently. Boiler away for overhaul. Completion is expected in 2012)
*[[London and North Eastern Railway|LNER]] 0-6-0ST [[LNER Class J94|Class J94]] no. 68077 (Undergoing overhaul at the [[Spa Valley Railway]] where the loco's dismantling is nearly done)
*SR 4-6-2 [[SR West Country Class|West Country Class]] no. 34092 [[Wells|"City of Wells"]] (The boiler cladding is now all on and the boiler is now being tackled. The engine is expected to steam in 2009)
*[[USATC S160 Class]] 2-8-0 no. 5820 "Big Jim" (Under restoration; the frames are making good progress. Driving wheels re-tyred. Most brake and suspension parts have been overhauled or renewed. Refitting has begun. New tender bogies require some modification.)
*[[LNWR Webb Coal Tank]] 0-6-2T no. 1054 (Undergoing restoration at Ingrow Workshops with work on the frames and boiler going well)
*[[LMS]] 0-6-0ST [[L&YR Class 23]] No 752. Undergoing restoration, the frames, smokebox and saddle tank are just about finished and the boiler has been steam tested, a few more jobs need to be done like putting the locomotive back together again, planned to be in traffic in 2008.


==Stored and static steam locomotives==
Most domestic National Express services fall into this category, with the exception of:
*BR 2-6-0 [[BR standard class 2 2-6-0|Class 2MT]] no. 78022. (Withdrawn for ten year overhaul in 2002 and is currently on display in the museum at Oxenhope. It is expected that the overhaul will begin in 2010)
*[[Great Western Railway|GWR]] 0-6-0PT [[GWR 5700 Class|5700 Class]] no. 5775. On display at Oxenhope. (Not expected to enter the workshops before 2019)
*[[Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway|L&Y]] 0-4-0ST [[L&YR Class 21|Class 21 "Pug"]] no. 68 (later BR Class 0F no. 51218). (Stored awaiting overhaul which is planned to start once 752 is finished)
*LMS 4-6-0 [[LMS Jubilee Class|Class 5XP Jubilee]] no. [[LMS Jubilee Class 5596 Bahamas|45596]] "Bahamas". (Awaiting overhaul. Funding is being arranged by the Bahamas Trust, and work will begin upon completion of the 'Coal Tank')
*LMS 2-8-0 [[LMS Class 8F 2-8-0|Class 8F]] no. 48431. (On display in the museum at Oxenhope)
*[[Southern Railway (UK)|SR]] 0-6-0T [[SR Class USA|Class USA]] no. 30072. (On display in the Oxenhope museum, requires extensive firebox repairs. Not expected to enter the workshops before 2019)
*[[MSC]] 0-6-0ST no. 31 Hamburg. (Requires a new inner firebox and a general overhaul)
*[[LMR]] 0-6-0ST no. 118 "Brussels". (Requires a general overhaul)
*[[Andrew Barclay]] 0-4-0ST no. 2258 "Tiny". (On display at Ingrow awaiting a general overhaul, owned by the Bahamas trust)
*[[Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns]] 0-4-0 [[crane tank]] no. 7069 "Southwick". (On display at Ingrow awaiting overhaul)
*[[Manning Wardle]] 0-4-0ST "Lord Mayor". (On display at Ingrow awaiting overhaul)


==Operational diesel locomotives==
;Shuttle
*BR 0-6-0 [[Hudswell Clarke]] ([[British Rail Class D2/12]]) [[shunter]] no. D2511. In use as the Works train shunter after a recent engine and cylinder liner repair.
*BR 0-6-0 [[British Rail Class 08|Class 08]] no. 13336 (ex-08266). In use but restricted to Haworth yard duties as the Locomotive is currently suffering from worn tyres. Appeared at 2008 Diesel Gala working shuttles between Keighley and Ingrow.
*[[Port of Bristol|Port of Bristol Authority]] Diesel Mechanical 0-6-0 no. 23 "Merlin". In use, currently at Oxenhope station as it is the carriage and wagon shunter.
*BR Bo-Bo [[British Rail Class 25|Class 25]] no. 25059 (ex-D5209). In service following repairs.


==Diesel locomotives under repair==
Frequent services from London operate as National Express Shuttle services. Most of these services operate at least once an hour and operate over direct routes - some other services deviate to serve smaller destinations. The London - Birmingham and London - Bristol services are marketed as NXL (National Express London) services and operate with Irizar PB / Scania K124 coaches. Unusually, the London - Birmingham service when upgraded was not franchised and was operated directly by the company and based at Birmingham's Digbeth coach station however during 2007 along with other Birmingham based services operated by [[Travel West Midlands]] and [[Go West Midlands]] these where franchised out to [[Veolia]] due to the lack of space available at Birmingham's temporary coach station. Also the 040 Bristol - London Shuttle defies National Express's norm by continuing to Burnham on Sea (a small westcountry seaside resort) once a day in each direction, usually early morning to London and late evening from, but still retains its NXL shuttle branding.
*BR 0-6-0 [[British Rail D0226|Prototype EE shunter]] no. D226 "Vulcan". Suffered a main generator failure in June 2006 and has also developed bearing problems. A group have now started the overhaul of the engine.
*[[Mersey Docks and Harbour Board]] Diesel Mechanical 0-6-0 no. 32 "Huskisson". Currently undergoing a long delayed axlebox overhaul.
*BR Bo-Bo [[British Rail Class 20|Class 20]] no. D8031 (ex-20031). Returned to traffic in July 2006 after a generator repair. Out of service again due to main generator bearing failure.


==Operational diesel multiple units==
Shuttle services:
*BR [[British Rail Class 108|Class 108]] unit 50928+51565. Both are in regular use but when the 101 set is in traffic this set will be withdrawn for overhaul.
From / To London
*BR [[British Rail Railbuses|Railbuses]] No 79964. In regular use on morning diesel services.
* 010 - Cambridge
* 025 - Gatwick Airport and Brighton (Accessible Coach Service)
* 032 - Southampton
* 035 - Bournemouth
* 040 - Bristol (Burnham on Sea and W-S-M, 1 Journey per day) (NXL Shuttle)
* 420 - Birmingham, Dudley and Wolverhampton (NXL Shuttle) (Telford, Shrewsbury and Wrexham, 2 journeys with one extending to Aberysthg) (The 420 interworks with services 570 and 545 in order to provide a frequent Birmingham - London service with these services then extending beyond Birmingham)


==Diesel multiple units under overhaul or restoration==
Non-London Shuttle services
*BR [[British Rail Class 101|Class 101]] unit 51803+51189. Under restoration. Both vehicle's mechanical restorations have been done and both are shortly going to be painted in BR blue. The unit is expected to start carrying passengers in 2007.
* 060 - [[Leeds]] - [[Manchester]] - [[Liverpool]] (evening services operate via [[Bradford]])
*BR [[British Rail Railbuses|Railbuses]] No 79962. Currently stored and sheeted over in Haworth yard, the engines restoration has been finished and once shed space is available the body, wheels and frames will be restored. It is expected to be finished in 2008 which is the railways 40th anniversery of when it was first preserved.
* 070 - [[Sheffield]] - [[Leeds]] - This service was introduced to replace the Yorkshire Traction, Yorkshire Rider and SYT joint operated X32 service Sheffield to Leeds (Known locally as the White Rose Express).


==Locomotive notes==
;Airport
*'Black Five' no.45212 is operational but currently based on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, as part of a deal which will see it running there until it has covered 70,000 miles. This could take the entire 10-year duration of the boiler ticket.
*'Coal Tank' no.1054 is currently undergoing overhaul at Ingrow. Once its owning group have completed the repairs, attention will be focused on returning "Bahamas" to traffic.
*Steam Engines in line for a return to steam before the end of the decade are no.34092 "City Of Wells", and no.43924, which was the first engine salvaged from Barry Scrapyard in South Wales to be returned to steam on a heritage line, back in the 1970s.
*Somerset & Dorset Railway 7F 2-8-0 no.53809, currently based at the Midland Railway Butterley, is due to visit the K&WVR in Autumn for their second steam gala of the year. This will be the locomotive's second visit, as it spent time on the railway during the 1980s.
*Class 101 vehicle No 51803 is operational but out of service awaiting a repaint in BR blue livery, 51189's interior and mechanical restoration is nearing completion and it to is awaiting a reapaint. The unit will hopefully be ready for service in 2007 allowing the 108 set to be withdrawn for repairs.


==Vintage carriages==
National Express Airport services operate to a variety of destinations from London Gatwick, Heathrow, East Midlands, Luton and Stansted. The Airport brand was created in 2003 when the National Express image brand was updated - it merged the former Airlink, Flightlink and Jetlink brands, which were confusing, especially to passengers travelling between Heathrow and Gatwick airport. Most coaches on these services operate with the National Express Airport brand, the airport being in white inside a red box below the 'National Express' name on the side of the coach. Vehicles on services 777 and 210 operate in standard National Express branding as these services are now operated by [[Veolia]] and use the same pool of coaches of that operators services based in Birmingham (namely the 325, 420 and 545).
The railway has a large collection of Vintage Carriages. Some are used to carry passengers on specially selected open days.
[[Image:Metropolitan 465 'Dreadnought' 9-compartment third built 1919.jpg|thumb|Metropolitan 465 'Dreadnought' 9-compartment third built 1919]]
[[Image:SR 3554 'Matchboard' Continental Brake third built 1924.jpg|thumb|SR 3554 'Matchboard' Continental Brake third built 1924]]
*[[Great Northern Railway]] 1867 (body only). Stored awaiting restoration.
*[[Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway|MSLR]] 4-wheeler Tricomposite 154 built in 1876. Operational.
*[[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]] 6-wheeler five compartment third 1507 built in 1882. In regular vintage train use.
*[[Midland Railway]] 6-wheeler Composite 258 built in 1886. On static display at Ingrow.
*[[Great Northern Railway]] 6-wheeler Brake Third 589 built in 1888. Used for filming use.
*[[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]] 6-wheeler 4 compartment first 279 built in 1894. In the restoration queue, could be worked on once 47 is completed.
*[[Great Northern Railway]] Composite Lavatory Brake 2856 built in 1896. In regular vintage train use.
*[[NER]] Clerestory Saloon 1661 built in 1904. In regular vintage train use.
*[[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]] Director's Saloon 135 built in 1908. On static display at Oxenhope.
*[[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]] Brake Third 1474 built in 1910. In regular vintage train use.
*[[Metropolitan Railway]] 'Dreadnought' Brake 427 built in 1910. In regular vintage train use.
*[[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]] Blackpool Club Car 47 built in 1912. Interior restoration progressing.
*[[Metropolitan Railway]] 'Dreadnought' 9 compartment third 465 built in 1919. Out of service.
*[[Metropolitan Railway]] 'Dreadnought' 7 compartment first 509. In regular vintage train use.
*[[Southern Railway (Great Britain)|Southern Railway]] 'Matchboard' Continental Brake Third built in 1924. In regular vintage train use.


==Use In film and television==
Selection of Airport services:
The line and its stations has been used numerous period film and television productions including films ''[[The Railway Children (film)|The Railway Children]]'' and ''[[Yanks]]'' & in an episode of the longest running sitcom [[Last of the Summer Wine]] in 1979.
* 200 Gatwick Airport - Heathrow Airport - Reading - Bristol
* 201 Gatwick Airport - Heathrow Airport - Bristol - Newport - Cardiff - Swansea
* 202 Heathrow Airport - Bristol - Newport - Cardiff - Swansea
* 205 Gatwick Airport - Heathrow Airport - Ringwood - Bournemouth - Poole
* 210 Gatwick Airport - Heathrow Airport - Banbury - Birmingham - Wolverhampton
* 230 Gatwick Airport - Heathrow Airport - Milton Keynes - Leicester - Nottingham
* 240 Bradford - Leeds - Sheffield - Chesterfield - [[Nottingham East Midlands Airport]] - Coventry - [[Warwick Parkway railway station|Warwick Parkway]] - Heathrow Airport - Gatwick Airport (Accessible Coach Service)
* 707 Gatwick Airport - Heathrow Airport - Hemel Hempstead - Luton Airport - Luton Bus Station - Milton Keynes - Northampton
* 777 Stansted Airport - Luton Airport - Birmingham (early morning and evening services extend to/from Wolverhampton)

==Accessible coach routes==

National Express is introducing a new generation of coaches onto the UK network that feature a wheelchair lift incorporated into the passenger entrance.

The easy access coach features a wider entrance and a completely flat floor throughout the coach to aid mobility for all. A streamlined NX Magic Floor Lift is incorporated into the passenger entrance and when deployed, the wheelchair is locked in place and the customer safely and securely uses the same standard three-point seat belt as other customers. Other features include reclining leather seats, air conditioning and a large toilet.

A programme of routes is currently being planned to roll-out the accessible coach across the network, with the whole network being fully accessible by 2012. The routes currently operating with the wheelchair accessible coaches are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Route
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|'''MK1'''
|'''[[Milton Keynes]]''' - [[Archway, London|Archway]] - [[Holloway, London|Holloway]] - [[Islington]] - [[Moorgate]] - [[Aldgate]] - '''[[Canary Wharf]]'''
|-
|'''007'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[Canterbury]] - '''[[Dover]]'''
|-
|'''022'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[Bluewater]] - [[Margate]] - [[Broadstairs]] - '''[[Ramsgate]]'''
|-
|'''025'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[Coulsdon]] - [[Hooley]] - [[London Gatwick Airport]] - '''[[Brighton]]'''
|-
|'''027'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[London Gatwick Airport]]] - [[Worthing]] - [[Littlehampton]] - '''[[Chichester]]'''
|-
|'''032'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[London Heathrow Airport]] - [[Basingstoke]] - [[Southampton]] - '''[[Salisbury]]'''
| Through journeys only
|-
|'''033'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[London Heathrow Airport]] - [[Andover, Hampshire|Andover]] - [[Amesbury]] - [[Salisbury]] - [[Wilton, Wiltshire|Wilton]] - [[Shaftesbury]] - [[Gillingham, Dorset|Gillingham]] - [[Henstridge]] - [[Milborne Port]] - [[Sherborne]] - '''[[Yeovil]]'''
|-
|'''035'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[Ringwood]] - [[Bournemouth]] - '''[[Poole]]'''
|-
|'''060'''
|'''[[Leeds]]''' - [[Bradford]] (evenings only) - [[Manchester]] - '''[[Liverpool]]'''
|-
|'''201/202'''
|'''[[London Gatwick Airport]]''' - [[London Heathrow Airport]] - [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]] - [[Bristol]] - [[Chepstow]] - [[Newport]] - [[Cardiff]] - [[Bridgend]] - [[Port Talbot]] - '''[[Swansea]]'''
|-
|'''240'''
|'''[[Bradford]]''' - [[Leeds]] - [[Wakefield]] - [[Meadowhall]] - [[Sheffield]] - [[Chesterfield]] - [[East Midlands Airport]] - [[Coventry]] - [[Warwick]] - [[London Heathrow Airport]] - '''[[London Gatwick Airport]]'''
|-
|'''314'''
|'''[[Liverpool]]''' - [[Stoke-on-Trent]] - [[Birmingham]] - [[Coventry]] - [[Northampton]] - [[Bedford]] - '''[[Cambridge]]'''
|-
|'''333'''
|'''[[Blackpool]]''' - [[Bolton]] - [[Manchester]] - [[Stoke-on-Trent]] - [[Bristol]] - [[Yeovil]] - [[Weymouth]] - [[Poole]] - '''[[Bournemouth]]'''
|-
|'''337'''
|'''[[Coventry]]''' - [[Leamington Spa]] - [[Stratford-upon-Avon]] - [[Cheltenham]] - [[Bristol]] - [[Exeter]] - [[Torquay]] - '''[[Paignton]]'''
|-
|'''341'''
|'''[[Burnley]]''' - [[Blackburn]] - [[Bolton]] - [[Manchester]] - [[Birmingham]] - [[Weston-super-Mare]] - [[Exeter]] - '''[[Torquay]]'''
|(not including night or seasonal services)
|-
|'''390'''
|'''[[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]]''' - [[Leeds]] - '''[[Manchester]]'''
|-
|'''402'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[London Heathrow Airport]] - '''[[Frome, Somerset|Frome]]'''
|(side-entry passenger lift)
|-
|'''403'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[London Heathrow Airport]] - [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]] - [[Swindon]] - [[Calne]] - [[Chippenham]] - [[Box, Wiltshire|Box]] - '''[[Bath, Somerset|Bath]]'''
|(side-entry passenger lift)
|-
|'''413'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[London Heathrow Airport]] - [[Chalford]] - [[Stroud, Gloucestershire|Stroud]] - [[Cheltenham]] - [[Gloucester]] - '''[[Hereford]]'''
|-
|'''425'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[Milton Keynes]] - [[Leeds]] - [[Moortown, Leeds|Moortown]] - [[Harewood]] - [[Harrogate]] - [[Darlington]] - [[Durham]] - '''[[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]]'''
|-
|'''426'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[Milton Keynes]] - [[Thirsk]] or [[York]] - [[Middlesbrough]] - [[Stockton-on-Tees]] - [[Billingham]] - [[Peterlee]] - [[Sunderland]] - '''[[South Shields]]'''
|-
|'''450'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[Milton Keynes]] - [[Nottingham]] - '''[[Mansfield]]'''
| one journey 15:30 dep London 09:00 dep Mansfield.
|-
|'''455'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[Milton Keynes]] - '''[[Northampton]]'''
|-
|'''508'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[Port Talbot]]- [[Sarn]] - '''[[Swansea]]'''
|-
|'''509'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[Newport]]- [[Cardiff]] - '''[[Swansea]]/[[Aberdare]]'''
|-
|'''528'''
|'''[[Birmingham]]''' - [[Sarn]]- [[Port Talbot]] - '''[[Swansea]]'''
|-
|'''538'''
|'''[[Coventry]]''' - [[Birmingham]] - [[Manchester Airport]] - [[Manchester]] - [[Preston]] - [[Carlisle]] - '''[[Scotland]]'''
|-
|'''539'''
|'''[[Bournemouth]]''' - [[Southampton]] - [[Oxford]] - [[Birmingham]] - [[Carlisle]] - [[Glasgow]] - '''[[Edinburgh]]'''
|-
|'''560'''
|'''[[Barnsley]]''' - [[Sheffield]] - '''[[London]]'''
|(not including night or seasonal services)
|-
|'''561'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[Leeds]] - [[Bradford]] - '''[[Skipton]]''''
|-
|'''562'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[Doncaster]] - [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] - [[Beverley]]
|-
|'''563'''
|'''[[London]]''' - [[York]] - [[Bridlington]] - [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]] - [[Whitby]]
|-
|'''591'''
|'''[[Edinburgh]]''' - [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] - '''[[London]]'''
|(not including night or seasonal services)
|-
|'''737'''
|'''[[Oxford]]''' - [[High Wycombe]] - [[Luton Airport]] - '''[[Stansted Airport]]'''
|-
|'''747'''
|'''[[Heathrow]]''' - [[Gatwick]] - '''[[Brighton]]'''
|-
|'''767'''
|'''[[Nottingham]]''' - [[Leicester]] - [[Luton Airport]] - '''[[Stansted Airport]]'''
|}

==Franchise operators==

Tha majority of National Express services are contracted to local bus and coach companies. As part of the contract, operators who run services every day are required to use coaches in full National Express livery, although there are a few exceptions for operators who operate irregular services (for example extras laid on at weekends). There are also some occasions where an operator will use a private-hire vehicle due to lack of availability.

In addition to this, coaches from outside companies can be hired in at anytime to work "Duplicate Coaches" which can run alongside a route for all or some of it - an extremely common practice during busy periods.

Recently some of the operators who are not contracted to provide National Express liveried coaches have begun to break away from this by using vehicles in plain white with a National Express logo on the side, and a few have also acquired coaches that are no longer in regular service on the network.

One such operator - Stagecoach - has created something of a quandary on many routes by being both a National Express franchisee and also operating Megabus services, the direct competitor to National coach services. Passengers watch with interest to see if this strange arrangement will have an impact on services and fares in time to come, or indeed competition laws.

''A current illustrated list of Coaches & their operators is available at:''[http://nationalexpresscoaches.fotopic.net/]

* Ace Travel, [[Chapelhall]]
* Ambassador Travel, [[Great Yarmouth]]
* Applegates International, [[Berkley]], [[Gloucester]]
* [[Arriva Midlands]]
* Atlantis Coach Travel, [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]
* [[Bebb Travel]], [[Llantwit Fardre]]
* Bennett's Travel, [[Stafford]]
* Berwyn Coaches, [[Trefor]]
* [[Bharat Coach Travel]], [[Birmingham]]
* Bruce's Coaches, [[Salsburgh]]
* Burton's Coaches, [[Haverhill, Suffolk|Haverhill]]
* Buzzlines Coaches, [[Lympne]]
* Castle Coaches, [[Waterlooville]]
* Chalfont Coaches, [[Southall]]
* Chenery, [[Dickleburgh]]
* Classic Buses, [[Annfield Plain]]
* Clynnog & Trefor, [[Trefor]]
* Coach Miles, [[Cheddington]]
* Country Travel, [[Saxmundham]]
* Dreamline Travel, [[Blackburn]]
* Dunn-Line Travel/[[Veolia Transport]]
* East Midlands Motor Services, [[Lincoln, Lincolnshire|Lincoln]]
* [[East Yorkshire Motor Services]], [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]]
* E.Stott and Son, [[Huddersfield]]
* Excelsior Coaches, [[Bournemouth]]
* First Coaches (various)
* [[First Cymru]], [[South Wales]]
* [[First Devon and Cornwall]]
* First Somerset & Avon, [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]]
* Flights-Hallmark Ltd, [[Birmingham]]
* Foursquare [[Barnsley]], [[Yorkshire]]
* Freebird Coaches, [[Bury]], [[Lancashire]]
* Galloway European Coachlines, [[Mendlesham]]
* [[Go North East]], [[Chester-Le-Street]]
* [[Go West Midlands]], [[Tividale]]
* Goodes Coaches, [[Wednesbury]], [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]
* Haytons Executive Travel, [[Burnage]]
* Hills Coaches, [[Wolverhampton]]
* John Pike Travel, [[Andover, Hampshire|Andover]], [[Hampshire]]
* K C Transport, [[Carluke]]
* Lee's Coaches, [[Langley Moor]]
* L.J. Edwards, [[Hailsham]]
* Martin's Coaches, [[London]]
* Moore's Coaches, [[Middlewich]]
* Park's, [[Hamilton, South Lanarkshire|Hamilton]]
* Peter Godward, [[South Woodham Ferrers]]
* P & M Coaches, [[Wickford]]
* Rapson's Coaches, [[Inverness]]
* Rowell's Coaches, [[Low Prudhoe]]
* Selwyns Travel, [[Runcorn]]
* Silverdale Tours, [[Nottingham]]
* Skyline Travel, [[Oldbury]]
* South Gloucestershire Bus & Coach Company, [[Patchway]], [[Bristol]]
* [[Stagecoach Cambridgeshire]], [[Peterborough]]
* [[Stagecoach South East]], [[Dover]]
* [[Stagecoach East Midlands]], [[Mansfield]]
* [[Stagecoach South Midlands]], [[Oxford]]
* [[Stagecoach Yorkshire]], [[Barnsley]]
* Stanley Gath, [[Dewsbury]]
* Stuarts Coaches, [[Carluke]]
* Swans Travel, [[Chadderton]], near [[Oldham]]
* [[Tellings-Golden Miller|Tellings Golden Miller]], [[Fratton]]
* Thomas Travel (Veolia Cymru), [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan|Barry]]
* Travelstar European, [[Walsall]]
* [[Turners Tours]], [[Chulmleigh]], [[Devon]]
* [[Transdev Yellow Buses]], [[Bournemouth]]
* Trathens Travel Services, [[Plymouth]]
* Travellers Choice, [[Carnforth]]
* [[Truronian]], [[Truro]]
* [[Ulsterbus]], [[Belfast]]
* [[Wilts & Dorset]], [[Salisbury]]
* Woottens Luxury Travel, [[Chesham]], [[Buckinghamshire]]
* Yeomans Canyon Travel, [[Hereford]]

For bus enthusiasts, transport manual publisher Transport Diversions Emporium publish a weekly fanzine/annual, entitled the ''National Express Handbook'', which details the latest official franchisees, along with detailed, up-to-date fleet information, and associated commercial developments in the scheduled coach operating field. This yearly publication is available in most bookstores, plus the internet.

==Discount Fare Brands==
;Coachcards
National Express offers a range of coachcards to customers which allows discounts on National Express tickets. At one point this consisted of a Student, Young Persons and Advantage 50 coachcards which allowed the holder up to 30% of the price of coach tickets. This has since been rationalised with the company only offering an NX2 card, offering the same discount to Students and Young Persons cards. Since the introduction in 2004 of half price fares for the over 60's the Advantage 50 card was scrapped, although cards are still valid until expiry. A Family coachcard is also offered and is cheaper than the NX2 card and allows the holder of the card to take one child free with them, in many cases the cost of the Family Coachcard is cheaper than the fare for a child.

;Brit Xplorer
This is a card valid for a set period of time which allows non-UK residents (a passport of another country is needed to purchase this) travel as a standby passenger on all National Express services, the holder can opt to pay a small fee in order to reserve a seat on a specific service.

;Funfares
Launched as a result of severe competition from [[easyBus]] and [[Megabus]], funfares are cheap single fares, purchased only on the internet as an 'e-ticket', similar to low-fare airlines, thus reducing overheads. Further restrictions are put on these tickets such as the inability to change the time on the ticket or to travel on a different coach. Funfares were launched on Shuttle services but have since been rolled out across the network. A percentage of seats on off-peak services can be booked in this way. For a long while Funfares were priced from a highly competitive £1 a ticket which undercut Megabus when taking into account booking charges. Recently though the price of Funfares has increased to a less attractive minimum of £5 a single ticket<ref>Funfares now from £5 http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/offers/funfares.cfm?CFID=24562222&CFTOKEN=40951340</ref> which means that they are often undercut by rival bus and on occasions train operators.

;Multirides
For frequent travellers, packs of ten separate journeys can be bought for a saving of ten percent on regular fares on a limited number of services. Tickets are valid for up to six months.

==Major destinations==
*[[Aberdeen]] (Guild Street Bus Station)
*[[Birmingham]] (Birmingham Central coach station (while [[Digbeth coach station]] is refurbished))
*[[Blackpool]] (Talbot Road bus station)
*[[Bolton]] (Moor Lane Bus Station)
*[[Bournemouth]] (Travel Interchange)
*[[Bradford]] (Bradford Interchange)
*[[Brighton]] (Pool Valley Coach Station)
*[[Bristol]] (Bristol Bus and Coach Station)
*[[Burnley]] (Burnley Bus Station)
*[[Cambridge]] (Drummer Street)
*[[Canterbury]] (Canterbury Bus Station)
*[[Cardiff]] ([[Cardiff central bus station|Cardiff Central Bus Station]])
*[[Carlisle]] (Carlisle Bus Station)
*[[Cheltenham]] (Royal Well Bus Station)
*[[Coventry]] (Pool Meadow Bus Station)
*[[Darlington]]
*[[Derby]]
*[[Doncaster]] ([[Frenchgate Centre|Frenchgate Interchange]])
*[[Dundee]] (Seagate Bus Station)
*[[Durham]] (Durham Bus Station)
*[[Edinburgh]] ([[Edinburgh Bus Station]])
*[[Exeter]] (Paris Street Bus & Coach Station)
*[[Glasgow]] ([[Buchanan bus station]])
*[[Huddersfield]] (Hudersfield Bus Station)
*[[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] ([[Hull Paragon Interchange|Paragon Interchange]])
*[[Inverness]] (Farraline Park)
*[[Leeds]] (Bus & Coach Station, Dyer Street)
*[[Leicester]] ([[St. Margaret's Bus Station]])
*[[Liverpool]] (Norton Street Coach Station)
*[[London]] [[Canary Wharf]]
*[[London]] [[Gatwick Airport]]
*[[London]] [[Golders Green]]
*[[London]] [[Heathrow Airport]]
*[[London]] [[Stansted Airport]]
*[[London]] [[Victoria Coach Station]]
*[[London]] [[Stratford]]
*[[London Luton Airport]]
*[[Manchester]] (Chorlton Street Central Coach Station)
*[[Manchester Airport]]
*[[Middlesbrough]] (Middlesbrough Bus Station)
*[[Milton Keynes]] (Coachway)
*[[Newcastle upon Tyne]] (Newcastle Coach Station)
*[[Newport]] (Newport Bus Station)
*[[Newquay]]
*[[Nottingham]] (Broad Marsh Bus Station)
*[[Oxford]] (Gloucester Green Bus Station)
*[[Peterborough]] (Queensgate Bus Station)
*[[Plymouth]] (Bretonside Bus Station)
*[[Portsmouth]] ([[The Hard Interchange|Hard Interchange]])
*[[Poole, Dorset]] (Dolphin Centre Bus Station)
*[[Preston]] ([[Preston Bus Station]])
*[[Sheffield]] (Interchange)
*[[Southampton]] (Harbour Parade Coach Station)
*[[Southend-on-Sea]]
*[[Stoke-on-Trent]] (Hanley Bus Station)
*[[Sunderland]] ([[Park Lane Interchange]])
*[[Swansea]] ([[Swansea bus station]])
*[[Swindon]] (Swindon Bus Station)
*[[Twickenham Stadium]]
*[[Wembley Stadium]]
*[[York]]

==See also==
*[[Scottish Citylink]] Scottish Express Coach services
*[[Coach services in the United Kingdom]]
*[[ALSA (bus company)|ALSA]] Spanish Operator part owned by National Express
*[[2007 National Express coach crash]]

New workers of National Express Call Centre - Birmingham include Phil, Sean and Bernadette


==External links==
==External links==
{{commonscat|Keighley and Worth Valley Railway}}
*[http://www.nationalexpress.com/ The main National Express homepage]
*[http://www.kwvr.co.uk/ Keighley and Worth Valley Railway website]
*[http://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/nx/oc/overview/history/ History of the National Express Group]
*[http://www.ingrowrailwaycentre.co.uk Ingrow Railway Centre website]
*[http://nationalexpresscoaches.fotopic.net/ National Express Gallery & Fleet lists (Unofficial site)]
*[http://www.thesectionalappendix.co.uk/NERS76.html British Railways in 1960 - Keighley to Oxenhope]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{NEXG}}
{{Bus operators in Scotland}}


{{Heritage railways in England}}
[[Category:Coach operators in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:National Express Group companies]]
[[Category:Former nationalised industries of the United Kingdom]]


[[Category:Heritage railways in England]]
[[fi:National Express]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in Bradford]]

Revision as of 17:54, 7 October 2008

File:Ivatt tank Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.jpg
Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T 41241 at Haworth station
The Platform, Oxenhope Railway Station, terminus of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (photo by Nigel Homer, 2006)
Damems Junction signal box

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway is a five-mile (eight-km) long heritage railway line in West Yorkshire, England, that runs from Keighley to Oxenhope. It connects to the national rail network line at Keighley. It is currently the first and only Heritage Railway that operates a whole branch line in its original form.

History

The line was built in 1867 by local mill owners, but operated by the Midland Railway, which owned most of the rail network in the area, and was eventually bought by the Midland.

After becoming part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923, ownership passed to British Railways following nationalisation in 1948. As a part of the rail cutbacks in the 1960s, British Railways closed the line at the end of 1962.

However a preservation society was formed which bought the line from BR and reopened it in 1968 as a heritage railway. The line is now a major tourist attraction operated entirely by volunteers and carries more than 110,000 passengers every year. The KWVR is currently the only preserved railway that operates a complete branch line in its original form. It is celebrated among beer lovers for operating the only buffet car serving real ale.

The line and its bridges and tunnels including a deviation were built as single track but with provision for duplication, should the need arise.

Stations and facilities

Special events

  • During Summer 2008, 45212 is expected to return for the final of its 3 visits permitted during its 10 year boiler certificate, to participate in an event to mark 40 years since the end of steam on BR.

Operational steam locomotives

80002
  • BR 2-6-4T Class 4MT no. 80002 (Used regularly, especially in summer, boiler ticket expires in 2015)
  • L&Y 0-6-0 Class 25 "Ironclad" no. 957 (later BR Class 2F no. 52044, boiler ticket expires in 2011) (Used on summer vintage trains and during special events)
  • LMS 2-6-2T Class 2MT no. 41241 (Used regularly)
  • LMS 0-6-0T Class 3F "Jinty" no. 47279 (Used regularly. boiler ticket expires in 2011)
  • Taff Vale Railway 0-6-2T no. 85 (Used regularly, boiler ticket expires in June 2009)
  • BR 2-8-0 Austerity no. 90733 (In regular use, boiler ticket expires in 2017)
  • Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T no. 1704 "Nunlow" steam tested and moved under its own power 6th June 2008. (Boiler ticket expires 2018)

Steam Locomotives undergoing light repair

Steam locomotives under overhaul or restoration

  • BR standard class 4 4-6-0 no. 75078 (Undergoing a ten year overhaul. Boiler away for overhaul. Completion is due for 2014)
  • Midland Railway 3835 Class 0-6-0 (LMS Class 4F) no. 43924 (Stripped down for restoration. Good progress is being made on the overhaul, which is focusing on the frames presently. Boiler away for overhaul. Completion is expected in 2012)
  • LNER 0-6-0ST Class J94 no. 68077 (Undergoing overhaul at the Spa Valley Railway where the loco's dismantling is nearly done)
  • SR 4-6-2 West Country Class no. 34092 "City of Wells" (The boiler cladding is now all on and the boiler is now being tackled. The engine is expected to steam in 2009)
  • USATC S160 Class 2-8-0 no. 5820 "Big Jim" (Under restoration; the frames are making good progress. Driving wheels re-tyred. Most brake and suspension parts have been overhauled or renewed. Refitting has begun. New tender bogies require some modification.)
  • LNWR Webb Coal Tank 0-6-2T no. 1054 (Undergoing restoration at Ingrow Workshops with work on the frames and boiler going well)
  • LMS 0-6-0ST L&YR Class 23 No 752. Undergoing restoration, the frames, smokebox and saddle tank are just about finished and the boiler has been steam tested, a few more jobs need to be done like putting the locomotive back together again, planned to be in traffic in 2008.

Stored and static steam locomotives

  • BR 2-6-0 Class 2MT no. 78022. (Withdrawn for ten year overhaul in 2002 and is currently on display in the museum at Oxenhope. It is expected that the overhaul will begin in 2010)
  • GWR 0-6-0PT 5700 Class no. 5775. On display at Oxenhope. (Not expected to enter the workshops before 2019)
  • L&Y 0-4-0ST Class 21 "Pug" no. 68 (later BR Class 0F no. 51218). (Stored awaiting overhaul which is planned to start once 752 is finished)
  • LMS 4-6-0 Class 5XP Jubilee no. 45596 "Bahamas". (Awaiting overhaul. Funding is being arranged by the Bahamas Trust, and work will begin upon completion of the 'Coal Tank')
  • LMS 2-8-0 Class 8F no. 48431. (On display in the museum at Oxenhope)
  • SR 0-6-0T Class USA no. 30072. (On display in the Oxenhope museum, requires extensive firebox repairs. Not expected to enter the workshops before 2019)
  • MSC 0-6-0ST no. 31 Hamburg. (Requires a new inner firebox and a general overhaul)
  • LMR 0-6-0ST no. 118 "Brussels". (Requires a general overhaul)
  • Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST no. 2258 "Tiny". (On display at Ingrow awaiting a general overhaul, owned by the Bahamas trust)
  • Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 0-4-0 crane tank no. 7069 "Southwick". (On display at Ingrow awaiting overhaul)
  • Manning Wardle 0-4-0ST "Lord Mayor". (On display at Ingrow awaiting overhaul)

Operational diesel locomotives

  • BR 0-6-0 Hudswell Clarke (British Rail Class D2/12) shunter no. D2511. In use as the Works train shunter after a recent engine and cylinder liner repair.
  • BR 0-6-0 Class 08 no. 13336 (ex-08266). In use but restricted to Haworth yard duties as the Locomotive is currently suffering from worn tyres. Appeared at 2008 Diesel Gala working shuttles between Keighley and Ingrow.
  • Port of Bristol Authority Diesel Mechanical 0-6-0 no. 23 "Merlin". In use, currently at Oxenhope station as it is the carriage and wagon shunter.
  • BR Bo-Bo Class 25 no. 25059 (ex-D5209). In service following repairs.

Diesel locomotives under repair

  • BR 0-6-0 Prototype EE shunter no. D226 "Vulcan". Suffered a main generator failure in June 2006 and has also developed bearing problems. A group have now started the overhaul of the engine.
  • Mersey Docks and Harbour Board Diesel Mechanical 0-6-0 no. 32 "Huskisson". Currently undergoing a long delayed axlebox overhaul.
  • BR Bo-Bo Class 20 no. D8031 (ex-20031). Returned to traffic in July 2006 after a generator repair. Out of service again due to main generator bearing failure.

Operational diesel multiple units

  • BR Class 108 unit 50928+51565. Both are in regular use but when the 101 set is in traffic this set will be withdrawn for overhaul.
  • BR Railbuses No 79964. In regular use on morning diesel services.

Diesel multiple units under overhaul or restoration

  • BR Class 101 unit 51803+51189. Under restoration. Both vehicle's mechanical restorations have been done and both are shortly going to be painted in BR blue. The unit is expected to start carrying passengers in 2007.
  • BR Railbuses No 79962. Currently stored and sheeted over in Haworth yard, the engines restoration has been finished and once shed space is available the body, wheels and frames will be restored. It is expected to be finished in 2008 which is the railways 40th anniversery of when it was first preserved.

Locomotive notes

  • 'Black Five' no.45212 is operational but currently based on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, as part of a deal which will see it running there until it has covered 70,000 miles. This could take the entire 10-year duration of the boiler ticket.
  • 'Coal Tank' no.1054 is currently undergoing overhaul at Ingrow. Once its owning group have completed the repairs, attention will be focused on returning "Bahamas" to traffic.
  • Steam Engines in line for a return to steam before the end of the decade are no.34092 "City Of Wells", and no.43924, which was the first engine salvaged from Barry Scrapyard in South Wales to be returned to steam on a heritage line, back in the 1970s.
  • Somerset & Dorset Railway 7F 2-8-0 no.53809, currently based at the Midland Railway Butterley, is due to visit the K&WVR in Autumn for their second steam gala of the year. This will be the locomotive's second visit, as it spent time on the railway during the 1980s.
  • Class 101 vehicle No 51803 is operational but out of service awaiting a repaint in BR blue livery, 51189's interior and mechanical restoration is nearing completion and it to is awaiting a reapaint. The unit will hopefully be ready for service in 2007 allowing the 108 set to be withdrawn for repairs.

Vintage carriages

The railway has a large collection of Vintage Carriages. Some are used to carry passengers on specially selected open days.

Metropolitan 465 'Dreadnought' 9-compartment third built 1919
SR 3554 'Matchboard' Continental Brake third built 1924

Use In film and television

The line and its stations has been used numerous period film and television productions including films The Railway Children and Yanks & in an episode of the longest running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine in 1979.

External links