Bishop Auckland District Pipe and Drum Band plays on the platform at Alston - Date? Photographer?

Nostalgic memories of a bygone era were stirred as South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society commemorated 40 years since the closure by British Rail of the Haltwhistle to Alston branch line.
 
As on 1 May 1976, the weather was inclement, but the staff and volunteers were delighted to see so many people brave the wind and rain to join in.
 
Bishop Auckland District Pipe and Drum Band, in full regalia, played throughout the day heralding each train as it arrived and left Alston station.
 
Alston resident Simon Danby said, "On a personal level, I was reminded of the first time I came to Alston. It was the late 1960s and I remember the train journey well, especially the very, very, slow crossing of the Lambley viaduct followed by magical stretches of what felt like natural, wild woodland, glimpses of the South Tyne below, but most of all, deer idly hopping across the line."
 
Over the weekend, "Barber" the steam loco, was decorated with a floral wreath to pay tribute to that final journey.
 
The wreath scattered a few flowers along the track which added to the reflective note of the occasion.
 
South Tynedale Railway volunteers on the platform shared reminiscences with visitors, some of whom had been present in 1976 to make that final journey and who remembered both the closure of the line and the birth of the society, which was created to re-establish contact with the Haltwhistle main line.
 
As well as travelling along the first part of the line, visitors were able to view the exhibition and videos about the old line in the discovery centre.
 
The South Tynedale Railway "futures coach" rolled into the platform each time the passenger train departed to inform visitors about the future development of the railway enabled by the Heritage Lottery Fund project.
 
The information included plans and detailed what will be happening in the next 12 months when the society opens at Slaggyford in April, 2017.
 
General manager Heather Palmer said, "This was a very special weekend for the society as it is our final year with Alston as our only station of the original five that closed in 1976. Easter, 2017, will see us opening Slaggyford, the second station down the old Haltwhistle to Alston branch line. To have so many memories from people who were present at the closure was extremely moving and we are most grateful for their input to this event."
 
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