A Foot and Mouth disease warning sign - Date? Photographer?

The South Tynedale Railway at Alston will reopen for the 2001 season on Sunday, 1 Apr 2001, but it will be necessary to impose some restrictions due to the foot and mouth disease crisis.
 
The South Tyne Trail, which runs beside the railway, together with all other public footpaths, has been closed for the duration of the outbreak.
 
The South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society therefore regrets that, although passengers can alight from the train at Kirkhaugh, they cannot leave the area of the platform.
 
RETURN TICKETS
 
Meanwhile, only return train tickets will be sold to the public, while single journey tickets from Alston to Kirkhaugh, and from Kirkhaugh to Alston, will not be sold until all restrictions on movements have been lifted.
 
Although visitors cannot walk along the footpaths, or on the fells of the North Pennines, it is still possible to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the South Tyne Valley from the panoramic windows of the trains of the South Tynedale Railway.
 
After a train ride, visitors can also visit the permanent model railway exhibition, model shop, and the Alston Goods Shed Trust transport and local history exhibition which will be open from 7 Apr 2001 in the station yard.
 
Gossipgate Gallery and all the shops, cafes, and pubs in Alston will be open as usual.
 
SERVICES
 
Train services will operate in April on Sunday 1st, Saturday 7th, Sunday 8th, and daily from Good Friday (13th) to Sunday 22nd, and on Sunday 29th.
 
Trains will depart from Alston station at 11:00, 12:15, 13:45, 15:00, and 16:15 on each of the above dates.
 
A "Friends of Thomas" weekend will be held from 5 to 7 May 2001.
 
On these dates the first train will depart from Alston station at 10:30 and trains will then depart at approximately every hour until around 17:30.
 
Unless the foot and mouth crisis is over, and restrictions on movements have been lifted, passengers will be allowed only to alight from the train at Kirkhaugh station provided they do not leave the area of the platform.
 
For more information telephone 01325 352435 or 01434 381696.
 
Author unknown.