News

Footsteps in Time 

SPECIAL EVENT 

Sunday May 3rd

St Leonard’s church 

Chapel-le-Dale 

We celebrate 150 years of the Settle -Carlisle line by remembering the labourers of the railway workers who built  it ; men women and children. Many from Ribblehead are buried here at Saint Leonards but this is in memory of all those who were employed in providing the scenic line through the  dales, and on to Carlisle, that we still  love today. 

1.15 pm 

1st May 2026 is the 150th anniversary of the first passenger service from Leeds via Settle to Carlisle.  To mark this event The Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line, working with our partner organisations The Settle-Carlisle Railway Development Company and the Settle and Carlisle Railway Trust, and with train operator Northern Rail have organised various commemorative events starting on the day itself and continuing over the summer.  Please see the attached page for a full list.

The Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line are pleased to report that our railway will again be used for diverted Avanti West Coast passenger services during April 2026.

It's great to see the Settle and Carlisle line being used for diverted passenger and freight services and illustrates the strategic value of the line as a third route to Scotland.

The West Coast Main Line will be closed for engineering work between Preston and Carlisle on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 April and then Saturday 11 April through to Sunday 19 April inclusive.    

The Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line AGM will take place on Saturday 25th April in Leeds, full details in the attached document.

The last event this season for Footsteos in Time was to Thorns. A hamlet that was abandoned soon after the railway came to Ribblehead. It’s steeped in history and full of intrigue  The WI group from Barley and visitors from Settle soaked up the atmosphere whilst having lunch there in the autumn sun. Following  a walk along the shanty tramways on our return ,  passing the viaduct, we reached Batty Moss. Sitting on limestone blocks formed over 325 million years , we took part in an outdoor production of ‘Mischief in the Navvy Hut’ by the Settle Graveyard Project players.

Free event Saturday 11th October

The abandoned village of Thorns 

Theatre production on navvy family life  during the viaduct build.

Not only is this year the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Settle-Carlisle Line, it's also the 200th anniversary of the first railway journey in 1825, on the Stockton and Darlington Railway.  FoSCL volunteer Stuart Ford attended the celebrations.

Photo and text courtesy of Stuart.

On 27 September 1825 the world's first fare paying passenger train ran from Shildon to Stockton on-Tees. It was hauled by the engine Locomotion No. 1.

Here's all our 150th anniversary goodies on display together in our Settle shop, celebrating 150 years of freight this year and passenger services next year.  

Not likely to visit Settle any time soon?  Have a look at our online shop https://settlecarlislerailway.org.uk/shop/

If you haven't visited Horton-in-Ribblesdale station recently you're in for a pleasant surprise, it's changed out of all recognition.  The new bridge to replace the rather dangerous foot crossiing blends in remarkably well.  And if you're there on a Friday or Saturday, check out the new cafe/bar on the southbound platform, excellent coffee and tasty food as well.

September 10th

This free event starts at 11 .00  in the Ribblehead visitor centre on the platform with a talk on railway incidents over the 150 years of  train travel on the line. The cafe is open by 10.15 until 15.30 or later. There are photos and exhibits inside the visitor centre throughout the day.

Something for everyone .

The team provides a wide range of walks talks and exhibits along with an outdoor theatre production at several events. We aim to provide something for everyone. Please get in touch if you’re planning a visit that may need additional support. 

We have two more events this season 

Wednesday 27th August 

Shanty site, viaduct 4 miles followed by outdoor theatre with a new ‘Mischief in the Navvy Hut’. Limited parking nearby. 

Border TV showed a clip on 12 August 2025 featuring the story of Ruswarp, the border collie owned by Graham Nuttall and whose statue stands in gardens at Garsdale Station. The statue commemorates the part played by Ruswarp in the battle to save the line from closure in the 1980s, and his dedication in remaining by his master's side after Graham died whilst out walking in the Welsh mountains. Those on the clip include Les Gilpin, one of the FoSCL On Train Guides, all of whom tell the story to coachloads of travellers throughout the summer months.

Check out our fabulous revamped quarterly magazine.  Something for everyone, rail services, history, guided walks from trains, station gardens, in fact anything to do with the world-famous Settle-Carlisle Line.   See the August 2025 edition here 

Footsteps in Time 

Join our free heritage event

Navvy Hike Wednesday 13th August 

This 8 mile hike leaves at 11.00 from the station yard. Our exhibits are on display in the visitor centre and the theatre takes place approximately 12.30 . This is available to all with parking at the church. 

We explore the landscape between Ribblehead to Chapel le Dale stopping to hear about the Viking settlement area and Great Douk cave , one of many in the cave system underneath the area. 

The Cumbria in Bloom judges visited the northern stations on the S&C recently for our annual appraisal.  The Armathwaite station gardener reports that they were very positive and we live in hope of a result at least as good as last year when we were awarded 4 out of 5, thriving.  A written report is expected in September.

The West Coast Main Line will be closed for extended periods in early 2026. It seems likely that some Avanti services will be diverted along the S&C from Wigan to Carlisle.  Nothing is yet certain, but the signs are good and it's no doubt a case of watch this space!

Ribblehead Footsteps in Time: our next event is Limestone Botany on Wednesday 30th of July.

We explore the botany of the Ribblehead quarry with its stunning lily pond . Onto Gauber pasture taking in the Viking Long House and landscape features. All  shadowed by Ingleborough with a view of the viaduct as it gently curves to meet Blea moor tunnel.

Geoff Marshall visits every station on the Settle-Carlisle Line in just one glorious June day.  He departs from Leeds at crack of dawn and returns on the last train in the evening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGbtl3i5WBI  

This must surely become the definitive modern video of the line.

Unique new views of life on the Settle-Carlisle Railway available on webcam. 

Horton in Ribblesdale station has witnessed some fabulous new developments in the life of the famous Settle-Carlisle Railway line and now you can see firsthand the activity, live from your living room, with the introduction of three new webcams at the station. 

A 6 mile walk to Thorns  which returns over the shanty site tramways shadowed by the Ribblehead viaduct. Walk introduction at the visitor centre before leaving from the station yard at 11.30. Exhibitions , talks and cafe open 10.15 to 3.30.