News

Wednesday 18th September was an amazing day at Ribblehead with clear skies and a fantastic group of visitors. Many arrived for our morning introduction to the history of the railway build at Ribblehead  The viaduct tour and fossil hunt was a big success before we headed over land in the afternoon. The shanty site is a discovery walk into the hard life of the railway builders. it was a tough place to live work and play: Many struggled and moved on whilst others became reluctantly homeless when the work completed. 

Wednesday 18th September

Shanty site tour and viaduct visit.

Don’t miss our very last free event this season at Ribblehead.  The team will be there from 10.45 to meet you in the visitor centre ; a stunning ‘Derby Gothic’  station building . After an introduction to the navvies, check out the original viaduct drawings from 1989 before seeing it for yourself as we set off on our shanty walk at 12.30. 

In a boost to tourism in the Yorkshire Dales, over 1,000 people have travelled on the Yorkshire Dales Explorer train service that started in June this year.

The service runs twice a day on Saturdays and started on 8th June. 

Running between Rochdale and Ribblehead, it allows time for hikers and ramblers to meet up and share tips before they get out to explore the iconic national park.

RIBBLEHEAD: Footsteps in Time

Free event on Wednesday August 21st

RIBBLEHEAD ROCKS

Walk, exhibits, cafe

An insight into the geology of the landscape including a fossil hunt at the viaduct and a 6 mile hike to Force Gill Waterfall at the foot of Whernside to discover the source of the building blocks for the iconic viaduct. Join us at Ribblehead visitor centre on the platform.

Lots going on at Horton-in-Ribblesdale Station:  first our lovely cafe/bar which opened in June, now a start has been made on the bridge to replace the foot crossing.

Photo courtesy Mike Farrington.

What a glorious weather day for our walk taking in Ingleborough Quarry;  now a nature reserve full of botanical wonders and an ancient settlement . The sun enhanced the limestone pavement and its features , some of the best in the country, before we descended to Chaoel le Dale . The peaceful historic church there is depicted in a painting by Turner hut we were more interested in the stories of the more famous railway workers buried there. The rich meadows and viaduct views were truly appreciated in our return.

A group of amazing and vibrant individuals living with autism and learning  differences took a train from Skipton to Kirkby Stephen  Station for a visit to Kirkby Stephen East Heritage Line. We were picked up from the Station in a Classic Coach, visited the Station  Workshop where we saw a wooden snow plough being renovated and had several trips on a diesel hauled train.  We were truly spoilt by the volunteers at the station.

On Tuesday 9th July we welcomed Settle Cubs to Settle Station for their second of four visits as they worked towards their new badge Platform for Change .

The Cubs were shown the Station Garden by Karl Graves, Station Adopter.  Karl talked about gardening at the station, seasonal planting , how to use gardening  tools and finally made garden labels for the herbs they planted. They also assisted in varnishing a train planter donated by a local Settle resident.

Despite the miserable weather they had a great time.

Settle Primary School visited Settle  Station and Ribblehead Viaduct on 8th July as part of their end of term activities.

34 children plus teachers and parent helpers visited Settle Signal Box ringing bells and pulling levers, listened to a rail safety talk given by the Fire Public Safety Officer and Community  Police and heard On Train Guide John Anderton talk about Settle Station History.  The children even  created their own heraldic coat of arms.

Free event Armathwaite station 

July 16th 10am to 4pm.

The team at the famous Armathwaite signal box invite you to a day of celebration for it’s 125th anniversary. 

This box is a striking feature to see as you take the spectacular train journey along the LSC line due to its original colours of chrome yellow and sienna brown. Make a visit.  It now holds an eclectic mix of interesting railway artefacts, photos and memorabilia. The friends of the Leeds settle Carlisle line are proud that it remains part of the line's rich heritage.

On Tuesday  2nd July Friends  of Settle-Carlisle  Line volunteers welcomed Settle Cubs to the first of four visits as apart of achieving their Platform  for Change Badge and local knowledge/gardening  badge.

Platforms for Change was created recently by the Scouts  Association and Community  Rail Network to raise awareness  and promote local engagement with  Scouting groups and local rail stations. 

Celebrating our Former Committee Members

On Thursday 13 June we celebrated a few hundred years’ of volunteering for the Friends. This event had been on the drawing board for several years, and finally we were able to invite 10 former Committee members for a lunch at Herriots Hotel, Skipton.

Former Committee members who attended included Edward Album, Mark Rand, Pat Rand, Margaret Hargreaves, Paul Kampen, Paul Levet, Colin Luckett, Rod Metcalfe, Martin Pearson and Rachel Pearson.

SPECIAL GEOLOGY EVENT 

Ribblehead: Footsteps in Time 

Wednesday 3rd July 

What a glorious day at Ribblehead on Wednesday 19th June  and a lot of interest in the viaduct talk, the treasures of the shanty site and of our exhibition in the visitor centre. The exhibition attracts a wide group of visitors and tourists of all ages. We look forward to welcoming you all on our next event, Ribblehead Rocks, on 3rd July when we visit the site of excavation of the limestone used in the viaduct build and learn about then geology of the area. We will have our guest geologist with us, Bill Frazer. This is a more strenuous walk. 

Join us at Armathwaite signal box on Tuesday 16th July for a day of celebration to mark its 125th anniversary.  

Signal box open 10 am to 4 pm with a lively talk given regularly throughout the day.  Safely enjoy the view of the line and its many exhibits and original features.  

There will also be a 7-mile guided walk at 10.30 am.  

Refreshments in the village hall.

Contact John Johnson 07759 593224 or [email protected].

The small gardens of Armathwaite are open again the weekend of 29-30 June 2024.  Come by train to Armathwaite station!

For details see http://www.opengardens.co.uk/open_gardens.php?id=750

The Friends of the Leeds - Settle - Carlisle Line, are proud to announce that following a major restoration project by our sister property company, there are now new facilities at our Horton In Ribblesdale station.

Our heritage station has been sensitively repaired and renovated and now has an operational Cafe Bar and holiday let.

Ribblehead Reborn was a limited publication following the viaduct repairs in 1988-1991.  In a recent visit to Suno in Italy , the book was spotted displayed in the railway museum there by the now retired project manager of the repairs , Tony Freschini, who features on the cover and in the book. The museum team were delighted to meet him and posed for a photo with him.  Many features are similar to those displayed at Ribblehead visitor centre. We hope to establish links between us. 

Northern Rail have announced from Saturday 8^th June, they will be running a twice-daily Saturday-only service from Greater Manchester through to the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle Line. Starting at Rochdale, the stations served includes Manchester Victoria, Bolton, Darwen, Blackburn and Clitheroe. The train will join the line at Hellifield and will terminate at Ribblehead. This new service will allow passengers to also catch a connecting train on the line from Ribblehead through to Carlisle.

Free events April to September, see https://www.foscl.org.uk/content/ribblehead-tours for details. 

Pick up your leaflet from stations along the Leeds Settle  Carlisle line.