Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

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Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
River Irt approaches Miteside Loop, October 2007
Location
Place	Cumbria
Terminus	Ravenglass
Commercial Operations
Name	Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
Gauge	3 ft (914 mm)
Preserved Operations
Operated by	Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Co. Ltd.
Stations	9
Length	7 miles
Gauge	15 in (381 mm)
Commercial History
Opened	24 May 1875
Closed	1960
Preservation History
1960	Saved by the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Preservation Society and reopened owned by the R&ER Co. Ltd.
1977	New Radio Control System unveiled.

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway

Legend Ravenglass Ravenglass Main Street Black Bridge A595 Muncaster Mill Halt Muncaster Mill Farm Crossing Muncaster Mill Race Mill Wood Bank Miteside Halt Miteside Loop Katie Caddy Bridge Murthwaite Siding Murthwaite Halt Walk Mill Summit Irton Road Mere Beck Eskdale Green Level Crossing Eskdale Green Eskdale Valley Road Hollin How Bank Hollin How Bridge Hollin How Summit Fisherground Incline Fisherground Farm Crossing Fisherground Loop Fisherground Halt Ban Garth Incline Spout House Bridge Beckfoot Quarry Beckfoot Beckfoot Level Crossing Beckfoot Bank Boot Beckfoot Summit Dalegarth Cottages Whillan Beck Dalegarth for Boot Ghyll Force mines

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is a 15 in (381 mm) narrow gauge heritage railway in Cumbria, England. The 7 mile long line runs from Ravenglass to Dalegarth Station near Boot in the valley of Eskdale, in the Lake District. At Ravenglass the line connects with Ravenglass railway station on the Cumbrian Coast Line.

Intermediate stations and halts are located at Muncaster Mill, Miteside, Murthwaite, Irton Road, Eskdale Green, Fisherground and Beckfoot. The railway is owned by a private company and is supported by a Preservation Society. The oldest locomotive is the River Irt, parts of which date from 1894, while the youngest is the diesel-hydraulic Douglas Ferreira, built in 2005.

The line is affectionately known locally as La'al Ratty, Cumbrian dialect for "little narrow way".

Nearby attractions include: the Roman Bath House at Ravenglass; the Hardknott Roman Fort, known to the Romans as Mediobogdum, at the foot of Hardknott Pass; the watermills at Boot and Muncaster; and Muncaster Castle, the home of the Pennington family since 1208.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Original railway 1.2 Bassett-Lowke era 1.3 Keswick Granite 1.4 Preservation 2 Train operations 3 The line 4 Stock list 5 The line in fiction 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Original railway

The original Ravenglass and Eskdale Railways was a 3 ft (914 mm) gauge line was opened on 24 May 1875 for the transportation of hematite iron ore from mines around Boot village to the Furness Railway standard gauge line at Ravenglass.^[1] Passengers were permitted to be carried from 1876 and were carried until 1908.^[1] The railway had the distinction of being the first public narrow gauge railway in England.^[1]

The line was declared bankrupt in 1897 although it continued to operated for many years afterwards. It was eventually forced to close in April 1913, due to the decline in demand for iron ore and unsustainably small volumes of passenger traffic in the short summer season.^[1]

[edit] Bassett-Lowke era

In 1915 Wynne Bassett-Lowke and RP Mitchell, two well-known model makers of the day, took over the line and began converting it to the 15 in (381 mm) gauge that it is today. By 1917, the entire line had been converted and trains were running along the whole length again. Initially, services were operated using the Bassett-Lowke-built, to-scale 4-4-2 Sans Pareil. Rolling stock was augmented by additions from Sir Arthur Heywood's Duffield Bank line, following Sir Arthur's death in 1916. These additions included the 0-8-0 locomotive Muriel, whose frames and running gear were later rebuilt as River Irt. As well as passenger traffic, the line was used to transport granite between Beckfoot Quarry and the Murthwaite crushing plant. From Murthwaite to Ravenglass the track ran as dual gauge for a time, with standard gauge track straddling the far smaller 15 in (381 mm) gauge rails. The line also carried much of the goods and produce for the valley. By the mid-1920s, the line had been extended to its present terminus at Dalegarth Station. Passenger trains did not run during World War II.

[edit] Keswick Granite

Following the war, the line was purchased by Keswick Granite Company, but the quarries were closed in 1953. With the railway up for sale, 1960 was to be the last season that passenger traffic would run.

[edit] Preservation

Locals and railway enthusiasts formed The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society in a successful effort to save the line, with financial backing provided by others. The resulting structure, with the railway owned and operated by private company, with the continued backing of the Preservation Society, is still in place to this day.

Despite the construction of the 2-8-2 engine River Esk in 1923 and the rebuilding of Muriel into the 0-8-2 River Irt in 1927, following its salvation the line was chronically short of usable motive power. To allow for an expanded timetable, the Preservation Society raised funds for the construction of a third steam locomotive. River Mite (2-8-2) entered service in 1967 and, although still owned by the Society, has been on permanent loan to the Company ever since.

In the early 1970s it became apparent that, with passenger numbers ever rising, another locomotive was required. This time the Company decided to construct the new engine in-house. Northern Rock (2-6-2) was completed in time for the railway's centenery celebrations in 1976. A further addition to the stock roster was made in 1980 when the Company constructed the B-B diesel locomotive Lady Wakefield.

Other significant locomotives on the line today include: Bonnie Dundee, originally built in 1900 as a 2'-gauge tank engine before being donated to the R&ER by a Preservation Society member and then converted to 15"-gauge, later being converted again from tank to tender configuration; Synolda, a twin to the original 15in-gauge loco Sans Pareil, built in 1912, saved from the Belle View Zoo in 1978 and now resident in the railway museum; Shelagh of Eskdale, a 4-6-4 diesel locomotive built in 1969 incorporating some parts of the Heywood loco Ella; Perkins, a much rebuilt 0-4-4 diesel engine, which started life as a quarry shunter before being rebuilt into the steam-outlined Passenger Tractor and then again in 1984 into its current guise; Douglas Ferreira, a B-B diesel loco constructed in 2005 and named after the general manager of the R&ER from 1961 to 1994.

In the last forty years, the railway has significantly improved and visitor numbers have increased substantially. Between 1961 and 1994, Douglas Ferreira was the General Manager of the line, and he is thought to be one of the people who have left the biggest legacy on the Ratty. Today, there are over 120,000 passengers each year with up to 16 trains daily in the high summer season. Trains run throughout most of the year, with only January being a 'closed' month.

A significant benefit of membership of the Preservation Society is free travel on the railway (1/4 fare applies at special event and Public Holidays), membership is £16 and a link to their web site can be found below.

[edit] Train operations

The Railway utilises an innovative (in the UK) method of train operations, known as Radio Control Train Order. Outside of the environs of Ravenglass station, the line is single track with passing loops at Miteside, Irton Road and Fisherground. Trains on the line operate using a system based on the use of radio communication between drivers and control (based at Ravenglass signal box). At passing loops and the terminus station, drivers must contact the controller, using their unique "RANDER" reporting numbers (even numbers for Up trains ex-Ravenglass, and odd for Down) to confirm that the train is safely within the confines of the loop and is clear of the preceding single track section. To leave the loop, the driver must again contact control to leave the loop and re-enter the next single section. No fixed signals are used outside of Ravenglass station. Points at the passing loops are spring loaded with direction indicators, meaning that no human intervention (other than checking points are correctly set using the indicators before entering and after leaving the loop) is required.

Certain elements of the Ravenglass method of train operation were subsequently utilised by British Rail in their scheme to cut costs on remote lines. What eventually became known as Radio Electronic Token Block signalling shared several features with the "Ratty" system, such as centralised control, spring loaded points at loops, and reliance upon on-train equipment rather than expensive fixed equipment at remote locations.

[edit] The line

• Ravenglass: signal box, turntable, workshops, engine sheds, carriage shed, museum, café, booking office and shop, camping coaches, holiday bungalow, car park.

• Muncaster Mill: historic corn mill (now a private residence and no longer open to the public), car park (1 mile from Ravenglass). Formerly known simply as Muncaster.

• Miteside Halt (1¾ miles from Ravenglass)

• Murthwaite Halt (2¾ miles from Ravenglass)

• Irton Road: siding, loop, shed, car park (4¼ miles from Ravenglass). Formerly known as Hollowstones, after the adjacent farm.

• Eskdale Green: car park (4¾ miles from Ravenglass). Formerly known as King of Prussia after a local pub, then Eskdale Green, then The Green before reverting to its current name.

• Fisherground Halt: campsite (5½ miles from Ravenglass).

• Beckfoot (6½ miles from Ravenglass)

• Dalegarth for Boot: turntable, shop, café, car park (7 miles from Ravenglass). Formerly known as Eskdale (Dalegarth).

[edit] Stock list

See also: Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives

No.	Name	Livery	Arrival	Type	Wheels	Builder	Built	Status	Duty
3	River Irt	Mid Green	1917	Steam	0-8-2	Sir Arthur Heywood	1894	Undergoing overhaul	N/A
7	River Esk	Blackberry Black	1923	Steam	2-8-2	Davey Paxman & Co.	1923	In traffic	Passenger duties
9	River Mite	Indian Red	1966	Steam	2-8-2	Clarkson & Sons	1966	In traffic	Passenger duties
10	Northern Rock	Muscat Green	1976	Steam	2-6-2	R&ER	1976	Awaiting overhaul	N/A
BVR 1	Wroxham Broad	"Thomas" Blue	2008	Steam	2-6-4T	Winson Engineering	1992	In traffic (on loan from BVR)	Passenger duties
N/A	Siân	Maroon	2008	Steam	2-4-2	Guest Engineering	1963	Operational (on loan from WFR)	Passenger duties
11	Bonnie Dundee	Bronze Green	1976	Steam	0-4-2	Kerr Stuart	1900	Stored unserviceable at WFR	Static display
N/A	Synolda	NGR Blue	1978	Steam	4-4-2	Bassett-Lowke	1912	Stored operational	Static display
N/A	Flower of the Forest	NER Green	1992	Steam	0-2-2	R&ER	1985	Stored unserviceable	N/A
6	Katie	Heywood Green	1982	Steam	0-4-0T	Sir Arthur Heywood	1896	Undergoing reconstruction	N/A
ICL 1	Bunny	Green	1922	Petrol-Mechanical	B-2	Francis Theakston	1922	Undergoing restoration	N/A
ICL 5	Quarryman	Fordson Green	1927	Petrol-Mechanical	4w	Muir-Hill	1927	Stored operational	N/A
ICL 4	Perkins	Yellow	1929	Diesel-Mechanical	4w-4	Muir-Hill	1929	Awaiting overhaul	N/A
ICL 7	Shelagh of Eskdale	Two-tone Green	1969	Diesel-Mechanical	4-6-4	Severn-Lamb	1969	In service	Passenger duties
ICL 8	Lady Wakefield	Brunswick Green	1980	Diesel-Hydraulic	B-B	R&ER	1980	In service	Passenger duties
N/A	Greenbat	Dark Green	1982	Battery-Electric	4w	Greenwood & Batley	1957	Awaiting overhaul	N/A
ICL 9	Cyril	Unlined Green	1985	Diesel-Mechanical	4w	R.A. Lister	1932	Operational	Station pilot
N/A	Blacolvesley	Malachite Green	1994	Petrol-Mechanical	4-4-4	Bassett-Lowke	1909	Operational	N/A
ICL 10	Les	Dark Green	1999	Diesel-Mechanical	4w	R.A. Lister	1960	Operational	Workshops pilot
ICL 11	Douglas Ferreira	Indian Red	2005	Diesel-Hydraulic	B-B	TMA Engineering	2005	In service	Passenger duties

The operational passenger stock of the railway currently comprises the following -

• 7 20-seat heated saloons (102; 110; 111; 113-115; 136)
• 1 14-seat heated brake saloon (112)
• 3 20-seat saloons (119; 121; 122)
• 2 18-seat saloons (106; 107)
• 2 14-seat brake saloons (104; 120)
• 1 16-seat brake saloon (103)
• 4 26-seat maxi saloons (131; 132; 134; 135)
• 1 22-seat heated maxi brake saloon (133)
• 1 18-seat heated maxi special saloon (130)
• 1 17-seat heated disabled saloon (118)
• 1 19-seat disabled saloon (123)
• 8 20-seat semi-opens (101; 108; 109; 116; 117; 124-126)
• 3 20-seat disabled semi-opens (127-129)
• 8 20-seat opens (166; 169-469; 170-370)
• 4 18-seat brake opens (271; 371; 199; 287)

The permanent way department currently utilises nine four-wheeled flat wagons with removable tops for ballast carrying, a four-wheeled railbender wagon, a bogie man-rider wagon, a bogie flat wagon, an emergency and utilities van and a mess coach (number 105).^[2]

[edit] The line in fiction

The Arlesdale Railway in The Railway Series by Rev. W. Awdry is based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.^[3] In Small Railway Engines (1967), Awdry relates part of a holiday he spent visiting the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway with the Rev. E. R. Boston; the two appear in the book as the Thin Clergyman and the Fat Clergyman, respectively.^[4]

The fictional railway's locomotives are each based on Ravenglass engines: Bert, Rex, Mike and Jock are the steam engines River Irt, River Esk, River Mite and Northern Rock, while the Sudrian diesels Frank, Sigrid of Arlesdale and Blister 1 & 2 are the Cumbrians Perkins, Shelagh of Eskdale and Cyril.^[3] The Arlesdale Railway stations are also visibly based on the Ravenglass ones: Arlesburgh is Ravenglass, Ffarquhar Road is Muncaster Mill, Marthwaite is Irton Road, Arlesdale Green is Eskdale Green and Arlesdale is Dalegarth.^[3]

[edit] See also

• Duffield Bank Railway
• Eaton Hall Railway
• Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway
• Sand Hutton Miniature Railway
• Shuzenji Romney Railway in Japan
• Bush Mill Railway

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Company Ltd.
• Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Preservation Society
• Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Preservation Society webstore - Join the Society online.
• Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Fotopic Community

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