New Midland Railway Company "timetable finding aid"

The National Railway Museum and the Midland Railway Study Centre have recently launched a timetable finding aid for the Midland Railway and its constituent companies. This takes the form of a comprehensive listing of the printed timetables currently available for public viewing by visiting the Midland Railway Study Centre in Derby, the National Railway Museum in York, and the National Archives in Kew. The timetable finding aid covers the period 1848 to 1922 and takes the form of a 36-page (2.1Mb) pdf document. For further information - and to download the document - see:

New Attraction at Ribblehead

‘ExploreMore’ goes live at Ribblehead Visitor Centre.

A new way of looking at the Settle Carlisle line has gone live at the refurbished Ribblehead Visitor Centre. Using a touch screen you can now view the line between Settle and Blea Moor tunnel using aerial photography and 3D models. By clicking on the main features of the line (Ribblehead, Horton and Settle stations, Blea Moor and Settle signal boxes, Helwith Bridge quarry etc) you can explore further. Each feature has a gallery of images and stories including personal reminisences.

Northern train refurbishment

Northern have informed us that the refurbishment of their fleet continues apace and at the present time there can be as many as six units in works undergoing refurbishment.

The refurbishment of each unit will be done in two stages and as such work will be spread over several months ahead.

With so many units out of traffic this may lead to some services being formed of a lesser number of carriages than normal.

New frontage for Ribblehead waiting shelter

The front panels of the northbound waiting shelter at Ribblehead station have been replaced by volunteers from the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line and the Settle and Carlisle Railway Trust working in partnership with Network Rail.  Although the shelter Is only some 20 years old, dating from the building of a new northbound platform to replace the one demolished to make way for the quarry siding, it had seriously deteriorated and the timber decayed.

Hot Property on the S&C!

Popular as ever, our three holiday lets, the Station Master’s House at Ribblehead and cottages in Kirkby Stephen Station are booking up fast for 2017.

Book with us today to enjoy the sun and steam of a Settle-Carlisle summer

Our wonderful self-catering accommodation on the S&C means you can step right onto the train from your chosen cottage/house and explore this beautiful line.

Don’t forget your FoSCL discount - just let Rachel know your membership number when booking.

Carlisle Railway Heritage consultation

Tullie House Museum and the Settle-Carlisle Line are jointly working on a project to promote Carlisle's railway heritage.  This may lead to a bid for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund,

On Saturday 8th July at 1.45 pm there is a public consultation meeting at Tullie House Museum, chaired by Eric Robson, presenter of BBC Radio 4 Gardeners' Question Time. All welcome.

See http://www.foscl.org.uk/content/carlisle-railway-heritage-poster

 

6th Ride 2 stride festival a resounding success

The 6th annual Ride 2 Stride festival of walks, talks and music has been declared a resounding success with over 800 people joining the walks and attending the walks.  The festival, organised jointly by Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line, Friends of Dalesrail, Friends of a Dales Highway and other organisations was held during the last week of April culminating on May Day Bank Holiday Monday.  Despite some uncertainty on the Friday due to planned industrial action by some rail staff all the events were well supported.  This year film makers David Halsall and Bridget Izod brou

Vinyl wraps to go from S&C trains

After weeks of social media pestering of Northern by FoSCL, spearheaded by former Chairman Mark Rand and supported by an increasing number of others, including RAIL's editor Nigel Harris we have had a top level response from Northern's interim MD Alan Chaplin today.

The offending material is being removed from the 158 windows 'immediately'.   They had tried to remove the entire wrap but found that paint was coming off as well so decided to reveal the windows only at this stage.