Magazines

Cover Picture: On Wednesday March 21st a party of invited guests met at Settle station to remember W.R. (Bill) Mitchell M.B.E. and witness the unveiling of a plaque in his memory. Here Bill’s son David Mitchell addresses the party with his sister Janet to the right and, to the left, Bob Swallow and the Rev. Stephen Normington.

Photo: Stuart Petch Photography

Cover Picture: On page 10 Mark Rand comments that, after the plandampf and the Eden Brows closure “Our line re-opened with such great promise but what has happened? In three words next to nothing”.
Here is a memory of Tornado on the S&C.
Photo: David Skeldon

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On Monday October 2nd, a party of invited guests assembled at Ribblehead Station for an event to mark the refurbishment of the visitor centre.  The new Managing Director of Northern Railway, David Brown, unveiled a plaque to commemorate the opening.  Seen here (l-r) are David Brown, Bryan Gray (Chairman, S&C Trust), and Tim Viney (Managing Director of Atlantic Geomatics).

Photo: Mark Harvey

Cover photo:

On August 4th a party of invited guests, together with FoSCL members and committee members, celebrated the opening of the new waiting shelter at Settle Station.  Here Andy Savage, Executive Director of the Railway Heritage Trust, cuts the ribbon as FoSCL Chairman Douglas Hodgins looks on.

Photo: Nick Pearce

Cover picture: On March 31st, the first day on which passenger services had traversed the entire route of the S&C for over a year, 60103 Flying Scotsman, returning south, crosses the new structure at Eden Brows.

Photo: Peter Ainsworth

February 2017

Cover photo: A Northern Rail unit at Kirkby Stephen on January 5th 2010. At the time of writing this winter has been mild and thus a disappointment for those of us who enjoy scenes like this.  However it has been a boon to those working on the repairs at Eden Brows; and the Settle Carlisle will be fully open again on March 31st unless something unexpected occurs.

Photo: Andrew Griffiths/Imagerail

Cover picture: 6L62 Eden Brows-Kingmoor Yard spoil train approaches Howe & Co running wrong direction on the Up Line.  At Howe's it will use the crossover to get onto the Down line, and then exit the engineers possession.  66092 (furthest from camera) leads the train of 40 Coalfish wagons, conveying almost 1,600 tons of spoil, with 66108 dead on the rear.  This loco had brought the train on site the previous day.  Only about a dozen of these trains ran.  Time 07.45, date 24/08/16

Photo: Rachel Griffiths.  Loco driver Andrew Griffiths.

August 2016

Network Rail plan to complete the repairs to Eden Brows by March 2017 - winter weather permitting.  The image shows the extent of the work.

Image: NwR

May 2016

Cover picture: 'The S&C is still open for business!' - reports in the press are stating that the S&C is 'closed' due to the landslip at Eden Brows.  This is not correct.  Trains still run between Leeds & Appleby* with buses available at Appleby to take passengers on to Carlisle and beyond.  In a typical S&C scene, which can still be enjoyed , a 158 unit crosses Smardale Viaduct.

* Trains are now running as far as Armathwaite.

Cover photo: Pete Shaw

February 2016

'Breaking trail' - The 09.00 (Sundays only) Leeds-Carlisle service is the first train of the day on 17 Januaery after overnight snow.  So far this winter it is rain, rather than snow, which has caused problems on the S&C

Photo: Mike Farrington

November 2015

A general view of the approach curve between the S&C down line and the Arcow quarry.  The connection to the mainline will be at the top left in the picture.  To the bottom can be seen preparatory work for a Midland Railway footbridge over the new line which will carry the existing bridleway.

Photo: Mark Rand

August 2015

The Ride2stride walking festival was held this year from April 28th to May 4th.  Visitors from as far afield as Canada (Vancouver),the USA (Chicago, South Carolina and Texas), the Netherlands, Germany and Australia visited, rode on the S&C, stayed in local accommodation and patronised local businesses.  Here some walkers are seen at Crooke Gill, Pen-y-ghent on Monday May 4th.

Photo: John Wood