The R&ER Magazine Number 215 December 2014

The Journal of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society Published quarterly by the Martin Willey 1951-2014 The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Peter van Zeller R&ER Preservation Society Limited Member of the Heritage It was with disbelief that we learned of the unexpected sudden death of Martin Magazine Railway Association Willey who collapsed in apparent good health working in Whinney How Wood with a friend. He lived life to the full and was looking towards a gently No 215 December 2014 staged retirement to enjoy more travelling in the summer months and to keep up his railway involvement in winter maintenance, working with a shadow to Editorial Team: Keith Herbert, Di Chase, Opinions expressed by contributors and transfer his knowledge in due course. Bill Seddon, Mark Harrington, in editorial comment do not necessarily John Taylor reflect the collective views of the Society. Martin called himself ‘one of the Centenarians of the railway, aged over sixty with over forty years’ service!’ He had been a volunteer since 1967-8 when he Editorial Designer: Julie Hutchinson became such a feature of Skid Row that Doug Ferreira had to give this guard and Address for Magazine Correspondence: PRESS DEADLINE: Material for inclusion in summer diesel driver a full-time job. During the next four-and-a-half decades Keith Herbert the next issue of the Magazine must he worked out on the line, dug ditches, cut trees, sprayed weedkiller, serviced 7 Dalegarth Cottages reach the editors not later than the diesel fleet, and latterly did all the carriage running gear inspections, wheel Boot, Holmrook Thursday 15th January at noon. turning and maintenance, washed out loco boilers and kept the coal stage Cumbria CA19 1TF Please send material earlier if possible. tidy, while driving as needed on steam or diesel. He always warmed the loco [email protected] on Christmas Day for the holiday services that he ran with Bonnie Dundee The R&ER Magazine is always pleased to receive correspondence, photographs and articles for possible inclusion. until loadings became too great. So it was appropriate that Dundee stood in Most nowadays arrive via our e-mail address, but postal contributions are just as welcome. Please write your name and address on the back of any prints, and give at least the date and location of each Ravenglass station, outside his workshop, wearing a black ribbon in his memory. photograph where possible. We have scanning facilities for slides and negatives, and will endeavour to return any loaned photographic material. In ‘spare’ time throughout this period, Martin was a stalwart of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, a founder member, maintainer of team vehicles and frequently Society website: http://www.rerps.co.uk part of a search and rescue mission at a moment’s notice, at any hour and in Council Chairman: Sam Dixon, 15 Lyceum Close, Leighton, Crewe, Cheshire CW1 3YB. all weathers. To relax (!) he had a wide ranging interest in local railways and Email: [email protected] Hon. Secretary: Mungo Stacy, 52 Old York Street, Hulme, Manchester M15 5TH. Email: [email protected] Hon. Financial Secretary: Ian Leigh, 206B Crowfield House, North Row, Central Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK9 3LQ. Email: [email protected] Hon. Membership Secretary: Phil Taylor, 12 Wholehouse Road, Seascale, Cumbria CA20 1QY. Email: [email protected] (1-1299 and 2500-3999) Assistant Membership Secretary: Jim Wilcock, ‘Porthlow’, Neston Road, Ness, Neston CH64 4AZ. Email: [email protected] (1300-2499) Sales Officer: Terry Williams, 88 Bluestone Road, Moston, Manchester M40 9HY. Email: [email protected] Magazine Distributor: Cumbria Mailing Services Ltd. Penrith, CA11 9FQ. Heywood House Bookings: Mary Harding. Email: [email protected]. Tel: 01229 717080. Volunteers: Peter Mills. Email: [email protected] General Manager: Trevor Stockton, R&ER Co. Ltd. Ravenglass, Cumbria, CA18 1SW. Tel: 01229 717171. Martin Willey and Trevor Stockton service Black Prince at Dalegarth in 1982. Front Cover: A superb portrait of Martin Willey, 2007. Photo: Steven Feather Martin was a great admirer of this loco. Photo: R&ER Archive 2 3 industrial history across upland Britain, with almost encyclopaedic and on the With autumn setting in the engineering attention has turned to Perkins. With ground knowledge, following trackways up mountainsides to distant quarries the locomotive completely stripped back you can clearly see its Muir Hill or along tunnels into deep mine adits. origins, as the rear of the old chassis is exposed, showing the multi-height three- slot coupling. It will be the old frames again that remain; a new engine will be He was quietly larger than life and the legends were rarely exaggerated. He coupled to the existing transmission, a new bonnet and cab will be fabricated, did unwrap a well travelled Egremont Co-op pie on a narrow gauge train in and a complete rewire will hopefully give us a good permanent way loco and Colorado. He swam off the railway’s JCB digger when it stalled crossing the ford back up to the main operating fleet for some years to come. over the River Mite on a rising tide, then guarded a train. The Pennington Arms Hotel had a log for yachtsmen which commented ‘insufficient information There has been some delay in progress in the workshop rebuild, with a hold up about buoyancy given by the manufacturer’! He was clearing leaves blocking on the steel being delivered. It was a blessing in some respects, as there was no the Fisherground tank, having stopped to take water, when he fell in, but still major work on the site during the very busy high summer period. However, all completed his driving turn. When the Bure Valley Railway was barely two the main frame work is now up and the blockwork has started on the west side; seasons old, he went with River Irt in advance of their gala event and gave them the long wait to get our workshop facilities back will soon be over. the first weeks of reliable operating since the line had opened. The facility to book events online has seen a big surge in booking for the Eskdale He was kindness itself and will be sadly missed in every quarter. He spent Belle and our Cream Tea experiences; the recent Postman Pat event was operated most time doing something willingly, often unpaid, for someone else and for the first time as pre-booked seats only. The Santa event is a similar success. his unmarked memorial will be the two-foot gauge railway he laid with Ian As we enter the winter period attention will turn to maintenance, with much Hartland at Threlkeld Quarry. Our phones haven’t stopped ringing with old to do to the rolling stock: the dry weather has seen the open carriages out a lot friends shocked by the news and wanting to pass on deepest condolences to this year and some of them are showing signs of wear and tear; the saloons and his partner Carol, his wider family and his fellow workers on the railway that he semi-opens will need painting. was such a fundamental part of for so long. Again there is a big push on the permanent way; you will read elsewhere of the News from Ravenglass use of plastic sleepers for the first time and the replacement of the diamond crossing and allied pointwork outside the signal box. The new workshop will Trevor Stockton need track laying in it, as will the yard outside, with pointwork to meet up with the three shed roads I hope that by the time you read this issue we will have three R&ER steam inside. locomotives available to us for the first time since the end of the 2012 season. River Irt has been available to us for most of the year, as has River Mite until a Following a leak occurred on its steam manifold, resulting in the locomotive missing the long career whole of September; it is still under repair in mid-October. The good news is with the railway the return to traffic ofNorthern Rock; following protracted running-in trials it Angie Zegveldt was passed fit in time to supportIrt and Hercules at the Postman Pat weekend has moved on at the start of October. to pastures new. Angie I think we must thank both the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway and had worked in the Bure Valley Railway again for their support in the loaning of Hercules and both shops and Wroxham Broad, respectively. Wroxham Broad has already returned to Norfolk booking offices, via the Kirklees Light Railway’s autumn gala, having completed 1,500 miles in the in recent years six weeks of the high summer service. Hercules’ extended stay has now come was responsible to an end in mid-October, having been here since before the Whitsun holidays. for the wrapping With the help of Douglas and Lady Wakefield all of the above have helped to of the hundreds underpin the season. With slight alterations to the advertised timetable we have of Christmas River Irt is attached to the rear of Hercules’ train, to give been able to operate safely and successfully with the railway enjoying one of its presents each assistance, at Miteside in June. Note the camera drone better seasons for some time. year, as well as hovering above. Photo: Bob Brook 4 5 covering in the office when required. Her versatility will be missed and we wish The peak timetable saw an interesting change, with the loss of the mid- her every success for the future. afternoon run giving a longer layover at each end. While timekeeping over the whole railway recovered instead of steadily increasing any delays, the We are also saying goodbye to Jim Walker, the Company’s Chief Executive. Jim unintended deleterious consequence was severe over-crowding of the 14.30 has overseen and helped drive through great change across the whole of the down departure, frequently filled to capacity at Dalegarth and meeting, and three companies; his drive and enthusiasm will be sorely missed. Jim will be oft time leaving, passengers at intermediate stations who had accumulated due taking a well-deserved early retirement. I am sure you will join me in wishing to the lack of passing trains. The early evening services were deemed to have him all the best and I am sure we will see him around the railway for years to generated new traffic during the high summer season. come. River Irt, after problems in May with both air brake compressors, steam on the Please do not forget that, should you wish to start volunteering, you are welcome loco and belt-driven under the tender, has spent the rest of the season in steady to contact Peter Mills, Volunteer Liaison Officer, or the railway directly. Details reliable working with a greater variety of drivers than usual. Exceptionally it are inside the front cover of this Magazine. missed one trip on 23rd August when the tender compressor needed oil urgently. Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year. Irt was nominated for filming on 5th September, with Strictly Come Dancing’s Len Goodman celebrating former MP Ann Widdecombe’s summer holiday trip Traffic News on Ratty half a century earlier, the Country Landowners’ Association on 16th September, a wedding train on 21st September and the Greendale Flyer for Peter van Zeller Postman Pat’s specials on 4th-5th October, continuing in use until the end of the daily services. Although all five locos were steamed in all the roads in the loco shed during the week in July when the peak ‘yellow’ service started, only three steam engines In contrast, after River Mite broke its near-record run of ninety-eight unbroken were ever in service together at any one time, working alongside two of the big daily steamings in mid-June with the regulator controlling slipping in Mill Wood, diesels. However Bonnie Dundee has had more exposure than ever, being hauled it lost further service with intractable problems later. The left-hand valve gear out each day to stand on the spur by the turntable at Ravenglass for people to suffered a bent see and photograph. Unlike earlier in the season, many trains would have tested combination its capacity lever on 10th – frequently August and running at revealed nine cars in the broken piston frequently fine valve heads weather through and rings, August into both after the late September, initial incident either well and with the loaded or replacements. including the The valve heads Eskdale Belle. were then The ‘Eskdale modified and Belle Experience’ the loco was has proved very tested with nine popular and the empty coaches coach usually to Irton Road makes two runs on 26th August, as its guests yet was only “And what time is this engine running?” ask the passengers... Wroxham Broad arrives at Ravenglass after another take lunch at briefly in traffic Bonnie Dundee, just back from the Postman Pat film faultless trip in August. Photo: Ian Pilkington Dalegarth. from 27th-31st première in Kendal. Photo: Simon Thompson 6 7 August, when it then suffered a further problem with the steam pipes to the top it demonstrated an effective spark arrestor hidden in the smokebox, although of the water gauges. When repairs to the original bronze casting of 1966 did by then the fire risk had moderated with (generally) overnight rain. not pass muster, a replacement was obtained but found to have flaws in the last Hercules had a few moments of angst when scale from the boiler, loosened in stages of machining, and finally a steel manifold fitting was assembled for the sitting out of use, blocked an injector on 25th July and whistle valve on 8th and 12th loco to be able to run once again at the very end of the season. August, cured effectively by a washout and then running the loco continuously Northern Rock was steamed in the yard through the summer enabling the for up to thirty-four days, far longer than would happen at Romney. It was also boiler to seal its new rivets by natural means, rust! It was not to move on the challenged by the lack of sanders whenever rails were ‘greasy’ or coated with main line while the intensive service was running, but it made a light engine dew, and a banker was sent in assistance on 11th and 17th September. This was move to Miteside on 8th September and then started running-in when crews acerbated by one of the problems of superheating steam after the regulator – the were available. Persistant warm journals led to two of its main wheelsets being reduced control when slipping occurs because the steam pipes to the cylinders dropped to enable the axle boxes to be relieved. The loco hauled a short set are four times as long as a comparable Ravenglass loco without superheat. of coaches on 30th September, and eight empties the day after, before entering The following days Hercules fought with full nine-car sets but never had any service on 2nd October. On 18th October it ran with monitoring equipment to mechanical issues. It made its last service runs during the Postman Pat weekend gauge stress loading on the main axles as part of the design process for any of 4th-5th October and was dispatched home on the following Saturday. future use of roller bearings as employed so effectively on Wroxham Broad, Cyril has been the regular yard shunter, apart from minor problems after 14th enabling its small Siân-sized cylinders to pull ten cars on our gradients. August, with a single trip beyond Ravenglass station limits as the chosen loco for With the developing situation with the home steam fleet it was therefore fortunate friends of the late Keith Fantham to travel to Bridge No.3 (colloquially named that our visiting locos were both available and serviceable throughout the period Big Knob Bridge) for his ashes to be scattered on 27th September. of their stays. Hercules from the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway had Douglas Ferreira had some slips from its usual quiet monopoly of the diesel- been running from 23rd May but saw periods out of use due to fire risk concerns with its open ashpan damper, and again after the arrival of Bure Valley Railway No.1 on 22nd July. However both visitors were running alongside River Irt for the last weeks of August and Hercules’ stay was extended several times. The tank engine was exemplary throughout its entire running period from 23rd July to 6th September; it departed four days later to the Kirklees Light River Mite makes for Ravenglass, passing under Muncaster Railway gala Welcome back! Northern Rock drifts down towards Miteside with an October Mill Black Bridge, August 2014. Photo: Christopher Glover event. This year train. Photo: Christopher Glover 8 9 hauled passenger services over the last decade, but nothing went seriously Engineering Report wrong after the fuel pump failure at Beckfoot on 25th July. Although the loco was failed at Dalegarth on 27th September with warning lights, returning light Stephen Farish engine and taking a following train without issues, and again two days later at the Mill with brakes rubbing, it was trusted on evening Fish ‘n’ Chip Specials on The last few months have been a busy period for the engineering staff. Northern 12th September and 10th October. Rock has now settled into daily service again after her spell out of traffic andRiver Irt is in daily service with no major problems to date. River Mite, on the other Lady Wakefield had a quiet summer until its own brake problems from mid-May hand, has had a few problems mainly concerning the gauge glass manifold; this th were resolved in due course by 12 August, when it made light engine, then six- developed a small leak some time ago and was immediately taken out of traffic car train, test runs. Its timely return helped to cover services while both River to rectify the fault. The manifold was sent for repair but this was not successful, Mite and Hercules were out of use. However once back in traffic, this mixed failing during hydraulic pressure testing. A decision was made to scrap the old traffic loco took occasional passenger work, permanent way trains, timber manifold and have a new one cast. trains, flailing the lineside on 14th October, RandER 99 emergency calls, sanding greasy rails and banking all in its stride. The new manifold arrived and, after much machining, was ready for hydraulic testing, at which point it also failed because the casting had porous areas that Over the fence, the main line has its own challenges from poor rail conditions. didn’t show up on quality inspection. In the summer more passenger services than in many previous years were worked by Workington-built Class 142 four-wheelers, released from elsewhere The new manifold was also deemed scrap at this point and an agreement was in the Northern Rail franchise. But with the autumn leaf-fall, services reverted reached with the foundry with no financial loss to either party. A mild steel to the bogie 156 and 153 units. Freight trains to and from Sellafield usually have manifold is currently being fabricated in our workshops. This method is more more locos than wagons to cover for any problems; the English Electric Class complex than the casting because of the cab-to-boiler flange clearance. All being 20s and 37s give a hearty roar as they accelerate DRS nuclear flasks from the well, Mite should be back in service before this article goes to print. current 5mph temporary speed restriction over the Ravenglass road bridge. Lady Wakefield and Douglas Ferreira are both performing well with no In contrast, Freightliner Heavy Haul Class 66s simply whistled away as they problems, and Perkins’ rebuild is progressing well: the old cab has now been handled 2,200 ton coal trains en route from Hunterston to Fiddlers Ferry power removed, a new cab and bonnet are being fabricated and we have taken delivery th Station, diverted four days a week from 8 October after problems over the of her new wheels, which are awaiting machining (this will be sub-contracted Settle and Carlisle Railway from the unexpectedly sudden seasonal leaf fall. owing to lack of machine capacity on our lathe). Effortlessly passing through Ravenglass, a DB Schenker Class 66 worked the River Esk’s future is th Cumbrian Coast Explorer from Nottingham on 26 July, West Coast Railways still being discussed th 47s worked the Cumbrian Coast Express from Saltburn on 13 September, and with the insurance WCR 47s (786 and 804) ‘topped and tailed’ the Settle, Carlisle and Cumbrian company with regard th Coast from Norwich on 20 September. Sadly there have been no main line rail to her rebuild. We will tours this summer using the R&ER as a destination; however the local speed hopefully have some restriction will have given their passengers and operators a tantalising glimpse better news in the next for future visits. issue. The underbridge is now scheduled for major rebuilding in January 2015. Before The workshop rebuild they disappear, the two vertical columns supporting the maine line southbound is slowly taking shape. ‘down’ platform extension over the road into the village should be recognised As you read this, the as matches of cruciform section bridge supports photographed at Foxfield steel work is complete in 1917, and hence of those columns cast but never used on the erstwhile and the builders are Duddon viaduct. This was authorised for the Whitehaven and Furness Junction on site putting up the Railway but never completed after its takeover by the Furness Railway in 1864, a walls, but the weather reminder of the fierce economic rivalries when these new railways transformed is no longer in their Stalling by the insurer has contained progress on the region. favour. River Esk. Photo: Stephen Farish 10 11 Signals and Telegraph (S&T) clearer for drivers to see than the current Phil Brown indicator, which can be challenging to pick out Maintenance of our signalling systems is an essential part of running a safe in bright sunshine. railway. In recent years this responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of the [now] former Permanent Way Foreman Neil Dickinson (now a relief signaller With Dalegarth siding with Network Rail), and Stuart Marsh (who runs his own specialist cable and operational, S&T has hardware business). The Company has appointed me to assist with the day to turned its attention to day maintenance checks and repairs as these demands increase with every new Irton Road siding. The project completed. groundframe, with levers to control the Regular visitors to our railway will have noticed many changes over the years as siding point (plus a new the Ratty keeps pace with modern demands. One such development has been catchpoint) and FPL, is the installation of ‘point indicator’ lights at passing loops. being installed as this Mounted on posts at the approach to passing loops, a white light is controlled by edition goes to press. detectors on each set of points, confirming to the driver that the route into the The FPL is a design new Detection and FPL provide extra safety on the loop is correct, or ‘set’ (steady light = normal, flashing light = diverging/reverse, to us, imported from the furthest machine-controlled point from the signal no light = stop and inspect). The last passing loop to be given this treatment, Ffestiniog Railway; the box. Point machine at Ravenglass. Photo: Phil Brown Miteside, will be tackled in the 2014/15 maintenance programme. plan is to install a similar unit at Murthwaite once Another less obvious signalling development has been the installation of point it has proved successful machines. The first machine was installed on the crossover outside Ravenglass in operation at Irton engine shed several years ago. Motor operated, the point is mechanically locked Road. in position, providing what is known as a facing point lock (FPL). The permanent way The second machine department is planning to appear was recently to replace six points installed at Dalegarth, around the railway operating the siding point this coming winter, and catchpoint (designed all necessitating to prevent rolling stock S&T attention. At inadvertently rolling on to Fisherground a new the main line). A cabinet has point is being fabricated been installed, providing which will require guards with a control switch. installation of detector This is less obtrusive than a units to operate the point Irton Road groundframe secured to a new groundframe which would indicator light (solar- concrete pad. The rodding and cranks are roughly have blocked the public powered rechargeable laid out for reference. Photo: Neil Dickinson footpath. batteries provide electric One further development at this remote location). A replacement scissors crossover for Ravenglass is also under construction off-site and, once installed, all four points will require The yellow boxes contain the detection units at Dalegarth will be a point indicator light matching connecting to the signal box. The point accessing platforms 2 or 3 is also to that prove the point is correctly set, in this case be replaced. Finally, with all this work being carried out at Ravenglass, the located on the crossover outside the engine those at the intermediate loops. This will be much opportunity will be taken to renew the timbers that hold the rodding, wire shed. Photo: Phil Brown pulleys and pivots exiting the signal box… No mean task for S&T! 13 Permanent Way Notes the new points. The track and ancillary works have to be complete to allow Santa trains to run in late November. David Moseley During the quarter just passed we have again been out on a regular basis tending At the time of writing (mid-October), extensive behind-the-scenes work has to faults as they occur which have mainly been of a minor nature, such as fittings taken place in preparation for the winter. coming loose and the odd repacking of sleepers. Regular track walks show up any areas needing attention – generally these walks are done by the writer and Mention was made in the last notes of the first use for this railway of sleepers his canine companions but occasionally other people come along. made of materials other than wood. The significance of this change to our track cannot be over-exaggerated. Other than the Ffestiniog we are the first Specific areas that have received attention include the bottom of Barrow ‘heritage’ railway in the United Kingdom to use these sleepers – other railways Bank by the half-mile post where some joints received attention from the Jim are watching the results with interest. Crow, along with repacking to take out a dip which was causing the coaches in particular to roll. Certainly this change would have been forced At the other end of the line some repacking has been done at Beckfoot platform on us sooner rather than where excessive super-elevation has been corrected. This fairly short length later – there are likely to be under the trees has seen considerable deterioration of the sleepers and will restrictions on the importing need relaying in its entirety before too long. of hardwood sleepers, while We have corrected dips and kinks in the track at Fisherground crossing which the use of home-grown will keep it in order until relaying in November. softwood sleepers relies on adequate preservative It is the vegetation that has been in receipt of a lot of our attention – mention was treatment (the use of creosote made in the last Magazine to the first half-mile stretch out of Ravenglass being is being stopped shortly). transformed to a mostly neatly mown grass bank; several other areas have also The first item on plastic sleepers to be delivered will be the new left-hand points for Fisherground. These will be installed during the first of this season’s Track Weeks in November. The plain track will also be on plastic sleepers – this year with Pandrol plates and clips rather than screws and clips. These sleepers were due to arrive in the third week of October. There will also be extensive drainage works and tree clearance. As a result of changing the points there will Vegetation clearance in progress at Miteside: be some extra work for our small but perfectly formed the flail with Lady Wakefield crosses two January Track Week 2015: come along and help to transform this very piece of passenger trains at once! Photo: David Moseley S&T department, who will have to install detection on railway line! Photo: David Moseley 14 15 received a short back and sides throughout the summer whenever staff have The Cumbrian Railways Association been available. Areas such as Fisherground Halt have been cleared of brash and bracken and as a consequence look much tidier. The top of Hollin How has also Philip Tuer been cleared and the area around Fisherground crossing has been opened up to improve visibility. A long length from Irton Road to Walk Mill has also been cleared The Cumbrian fence to fence. The stretch of line from Eskdale Green crossing back towards Railways Association Irton Road has been cleared of bracken twice over the summer – hopefully in was founded in 1976 future years we will be able to get through these stretches more quickly. Work has to cater for those been much quicker since the Ferrari flail has been acquired – it can get through interested in the the grassy shoulders in a shorter space of time than the strimmer. fascinating history of railways in and Like most aspects of trackwork, there is a boost to spirits when you can see the around Cumbria and results of the hard work! the Lake District. Thanks to the Society we are now the proud owners of a new rail-mounted It is in effect the trolley. Built by Ian Page, Dolly the trolley (as it has become known), has been “line society” for painted and fitted with decking by our own volunteer staff and has proved its the myriad of small usefulness many times over already. Principally intended for transporting the railways in the flail, it will be used almost constantly over the winter for carrying the generators county. and tools around the work sites. More robust than the previous wooden trolley, With a current it comes with its own ramp for loading. membership of over The Passenger Tractor at Dalegarth, just one of many photos in the CRA Archive. Photo: CRA Archive Thanks to all the people who have helped this summer. We are always pleased four hundred, we to welcome new people to come out with us. Even if you can only come for the produce a regular journal which is distributed to all members four times a year. odd day, or half-day, we are pleased to see additional people to help spread the The Association also publishes a series of highly regarded books on various load. aspects of local railway history. Please remember we will be out on the track from Monday 5th January 2015 A wide range of other services is also available to members including meetings with a Track Week from Saturday 24th January through to Sunday 2nd February. with invited speakers from all areas of the railway world, regular guided walks Food will be provided at lunchtimes throughout Track Week and there will also and trips to look at aspects of railways in the county. be some evening entertainment on some nights during that week. Please come The modeller will find that we now produce etches for the popular Furness and help if you possibly can – it is enjoyable and rewarding work, and we like to Railway platform seat [the squirrel bench! - Ed.] in both 4 and 7 mm scales. Also think we are a good bunch to work with. We look forward to seeing you. available are cast brass axleboxes and springs for pre-grouping coaches as built As soon as trains stop in January we will be replacing the crossover at Ravenglass by Wright and Sons of Birmingham in 4 mm scale. A large number of railways along with the points to platforms 2 and 3. We also need to renew the track into purchased coaches from them so they will suit many modellers. Plans, articles Martin’s carriage and wagon workshop, from platform 1. and access to a major photograph collection will also assist the modeller of any of the railways that ran in Cumbria. Track Week in late January should be on the section from Black Bridge to the one-mile post, where some new cross-track drains are required. In recent years members of the CRA have heard about the Ratty as well as paying a visit or two. The CRA has a collection of photographs of the Ravenglass There is, of course, the track to be completed for the new workshop, which may & Eskdale Railway, both of the early three-foot as well as fifteen-inch gauge be tackled throughout the period of Santa Trains. lines, if you would like copies then we are always willing to provide them, for As usual there is no shortage of work to do and we only have a short period of a small fee, either in hard copy or modern digital format. A number of articles time available to complete it. Don’t forget you can follow us on our Facebook have appeared over the years, especially in early Journals, which can be made page: search for ‘Rat Track’, where regular written and photographic updates available to interested persons. are posted (it’s even better if you’re with us to be in the photos!). www.cumbrianrailways.org.uk 16 17 Martin Willey Health and Safety (H&S) was Horrible and Scary to Martin and the introduction of paperwork to his department was viewed with trepidation, but he did A tribute, introduced by Trevor Stockton embrace it and the enduring testament was a fleet of forty-six-plus carriages that ran a collective 250,000 miles a year. In traffic failures were more-or-less non- Martin passed away suddenly on the afternoon of Saturday 25th October. existent – a remarkable achievement. Martin’s death has been an immense shock to everyone. Seemingly in good A driver of all the locomotives, chainsaw and weedkilling operative, down a health, and never shy of hard work, his passing will be difficult to come to terms drain, in a water tank, on a coal stage (and that was sometimes just in one day!), with. a jack of all trades that every railway should have and we have now lost. For those that knew Martin, and he had many friends, he was one of life’s Our thoughts are with Martin’s partner Carol, his brother Peter and sisters Judith characters, honest and hard working, never frightened to meet a task head-on, and Caroline. and a good problem solver. The phrase “never frightened to get his hands dirty” must have been thought up with Martin in mind! Andrew Barnes, General Manager, BVR – All of us at the BVR send our condolences. Martin was well known and liked at Aylsham and his death has I first worked with Martin around 1970 and certainly by 1971 we were both come as a real shock. guarding and would be at Ravenglass at the same time, being older than me and more-or-less resident in Skid Row, he was very much the senior to me. This Danny Martin, General Manager, RHDR – I am sure I speak for everyone meant he was allowed to drive the diesels, etc. and work the signal box when at Romney in sending our condolences to Martin’s family and to everyone at shunting! By 1972 Martin was in full-time employment with the railway and Ravenglass. He was one of the legendary characters that make the fifteen-inch very much part of the Ravenglass scene when I returned to do my last spell of gauge fraternity a family and a very special one. volunteering in autumn 1972. Graham Worsnop – His knowledge of all things railway in Cumbria, not just Martin was part of the winter track gang for few years and our sanctuary for the Ratty, was amazing. He will be very sadly missed. ‘bait’ was the converted four-wheeler tool van where we would huddle round a Chris Ambler – I knew Martin through Chris Harrison and his dad Stuart, when paraffin heater to keep warm. However, it soon became apparent that the ever- I used to go out and about on their traction engine. He will be sadly missed. [It increasing carriage fleet needed someone to keep an eye on it; although all the should not be forgotten that Martin was part of an exciting adventure (filmed for gang would be involved at some stage in wet weather, it was Martin that pulled television and still available on DVD), Steam on the Lakeland Passes, in which together what we know today as the Carriage and Wagon Department. Stuart’s traction engine Western Star took to the 1-in-3 gradients of Hardknott Pass. – Ed.] Peter Smith – One of my most amusing memories of Martin was when I and three of my RHDR colleagues turned up, out of the blue, at Ravenglass in the 1970s. Spotting us in the cafeteria, Martin was heard to remark, “Look out, it’s the opposition!” How much ‘opposition’ we represented from three hundred miles away was never adequately explained! All the best, Martin; you’ll be much missed. Adrian Smith – I remember with great affection the many hours spent on the lineside clearance working parties in the early nineties that became known as The Willey Gang. The look on Martin’s face when we all turned up with Willey Gang baseball hats (with chainsaw logo) was priceless. Rest in peace, Martin. Di Chase – Martin had the bluest eyes of anyone I have ever known. He was certainly a maverick, but with a lovely self-deprecatory humour. He would help anyone in need without a second thought. He was remarkably ‘constant’ and Martin Willey with Bonnie Dundee at Fisherground water tank - a fondly never changed. I still can’t believe that he’s no longer around. remembered scene for many. Photo: R&ER Archive 18 19 On the Mend: the Engineers’ Workshop

The remains of the workshop under deconstruction, April 2013. The outline of the new workshop becomes apparent, September 2014. Photo: Dick Smith Photo: David Gray

The blockwork taking shape, with the new crane gantry (in yellow) just visible A year on, May 2014, and still in the demolition phase. Photo: Simon Thompson inside the building. Photo: Stephen Farish 20 21 From the Secretary’s Desk New Steam Locomotive Mungo Stacy, R&ER Preservation Society Honorary Secretary The most contentious part of this project (after deciding on what colour to paint it) will obviously be what name to give the locomotive, should it be progressed. Festive food It is therefore being referred to by the top secret codename of ‘Number 12’. The volunteers’ and staff Christmas Dinner will be held this The location of the build is under consideration. Although there could be year in the Victoria Hotel, Drigg on Saturday 13th December. benefits to having it built at Ravenglass, there would be a number of challenges For anyone out there who thinks there is no such thing to overcome, with the staff needing to get used to the new workshop, appoint as a free lunch, we would encourage you to come along a new assistant engineer and catch up on the backlog of maintenance to the to Track Week from Saturday 24th January to Sunday 1st existing fleet. Options for outsourcing the work are also being reviewed. February 2015. Lunch will be provided. It is intended to produce a more detailed design specification by the end of the year which could be the basis of obtaining formal quotes. Volunteer drivers We are looking for people who are willing to get involved with or lead Volunteers can train and work on the railway as three categories of driver: fundraising, promotional or publicity activities – please contact the Secretary shunter, diesel driver and steam driver. (contact details on page 2) if you could help turn this vision into reality. For the 2015 season, there will be an opportunity for one volunteer to train as a shunter. As has happened previously, a formal application process will be run. Membership Application forms are available from the Secretary (contact details on page 2 Since the updated Society website went live earlier this year, most renewals of this Magazine). The deadline for applications is Monday 26th January 2015. have been coming in online. We encourage members to use this facility when The application pack gives full details of the role, application process, selection renewing. There is a link from the front page of the website: www.rerps.co.uk criteria and timescales. Payments can be taken by credit/debit card using the PayPal system. The online form gives the option to renew individually or as a family, to add or remove family members as required and to include a donation. The new website provides a member-only area. Minutes of the September Council meeting have been published in this area and it is intended to publish future meeting minutes here, to allow members ready access to the Council’s discussions. A few issues have been noted with membership cards apparently being used as a general ‘free pass’ from some guest houses. Members are reminded that cards are non-transferable. It has been agreed with the Company that an additional form of ID may be requested at the discretion of the booking clerk. The wording on next year’s membership cards will be amended appropriately and will read as follows: This card entitles the member of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society named overleaf to free travel on the railway subject to any conditions which may be from time to time in force. You may be asked to provide additional identification in support of its use. NOT TRANSFERABLE Subject to terms and conditions, see rerps.co.uk/members The Company is progressing working member cards. These will allow discounts th Douglas Ferreira shunts away stock, 20 September 2009. for working volunteers who visit other railways which are members of the Photo: John Mitcheson Heritage Railway Association. 22 23 Projects available. This will allow some money to be spent on improving the existing building and is not dependent on full funding being granted for the entire The dry stone wallers will return for a day to The Green to carry out some development. This could also de-link the refurbishment of the existing museum further work to the wall. It is also intended to re-tarmac the platform to give a from the land transfer. Further work with the Heritage Lottery Fund application neater appearance. will require consideration of how people engage with the exhibits, in addition It is expected that work on the Dalegarth water column will start over the winter. to just displaying objects. At Fisherground it remains the intention to raise and clearly define the platform First phase works are likely to be carried out this winter to avoid losing money area. already committed. This will most likely refurbish the existing museum and potentially enclose the ramp, rewire the building, provide new lighting and The Museum displays. Considerable activity has taken place behind the scenes securing grants for Proposals for the full development and enclosure of the compound area have the museum project. Funding has been attracted from the Fisheries Local been discussed with the local planning officers. A planning application has Action Group, Copeland Community Fund, the Trust, the Railway Company, been submitted. the Cumbrian Railways Association, Historic Model Railways Society and the Heywood Society. Other updates The Heritage Lottery Fund has given ‘stage one’ approval and made available a Minor building works will be carried out to Heywood House to address a couple development grant. This will allow for the full application to be developed in of damp patches. more detail. Terry Williams has been appointed as Sales Officer. The Heritage Lottery Fund has also indicated that they are happy for a two- A bequest for £10,000 has been received from the estate of Mr Thomas Jones to phase approach to be taken, including spending of the money that is currently the Preservation Society.

Lady Wakefieldwith the new, taller bonnet, passes Murthwaite Halt with the How it used to look! The Green on 25th June 2013. Photo: Howard Mills Eskdale Belle in tow. Photo: Christopher Glover 24 25 Volunteering Update and you have current volunteering experience on your CV when job hunting, then employers see you in a much more favourable light; as a result, you might Peter Mills, Volunteer Liaison Officer stand a better chance against other candidates who are without the life skills you learnt whilst volunteering beforehand. Maybe this is something that we Our railway is one of the best in the UK, running through some of the most should explore and think about in more detail in the next year. beautiful scenery that there is to see. One of our strengths, and it makes one of the most significant contributions, is the volunteers who help run the railway. In essence, we need a balanced volunteer workforce from all backgrounds, Without such help, the task of maintaining the high standards that I think we encapsulating the history, experience and enthusiasm of all involved to achieve would be near impossible. It is apparent that other railways within succeed and thrive. We are very good at this and we are the envy of many other the heritage area are struggling to attract volunteers to maintain a volunteer organisations in this respect. workforce and service. One point of view is that, historically, railways have Next year is an important year in our history, celebrating one hundred years of attracted a volunteer of a certain age, who remembers steam before 1968 and the fifteen-inch gauge railway. We should be proud of what we have achieved has time on his or her hands and the inclination to help. Today in 2014, it is a in preservation, and proud to celebrate our success as a Society. But we need different scenario. There are far more people through various circumstances to continue being proactive in promoting volunteering; we need to encourage, looking at volunteering on whatever project or cause that they wish to support. recruit and ensure that we continue to do things to the best of our abilities. The London Olympics is a good example where the general public was suitably empowered to become ‘games makers’, with some of our own volunteers The Council has discussed various ideas and improvmements for encouraging taking part in the scheme. involvment and interaction from visitors, many of which aim to promote volunteering; for example, a new poster has been created to go alongside the I have mentioned volunteers of a certain age. Age is no barrier, but if all existing station information boards regarding volunteering oportunities. Our volunteers are the same age, then in a certain number of years we will run out website has been updated and improved, giving details of how people can of them. Without succession planning and continual recruitment there will get involved in volunteering. The volunteering leaflet is being updated and be manpower issues which could affect how you run your railway, and what improved with up-to-date information. We have a new and shiny sales coach services are possible to maintain. I must make it very clear that all volunteers on or, as we like to call it, our ‘on line shop’ (because it sits on the line). There’s no our railway are important, valued and welcomed regardless, and a cross-range “www-dot” that comes with this version of ‘on line’ retail therapy! We can link of ages is important. A working volunteer may only be free at weekends, though this in with having a Society stand promoting volunteering on the railway on someone who works part-time or who has free time during the week can give various days throughout the year. The Society stand boards will be reviewed more time ‘Monday to Friday’. The two go hand in hand, so a breadth of age is and improved if needed with up-to-date information and photographs. We are one of our major strengths within our volunteer workforce. Using volunteers taking the stand to several local model railway exhibitions and local shows to from all backgrounds gives us the best chance to ensure that the volunteering interact with visitors there. Remember that families go to local events and often side of the railway continually evolves and succeeds; we must continue to bring visitors to our railway were first brought when they were children by members new people into the fold whatever their age. of their family; this can be a We are very good at using our experienced volunteers to support and train new useful recruiting tool. volunteers to the railway; the ‘buddy’ system is the best way for new people Hopefully more articles to learn how to guard, etc. in a ‘hands on’ practical way. This was recently will appear in future issues demonstrated when we had a work experience volunteer from school. This showing details of our progress was arranged alongside the school and the person in question enjoyed his and ideas to encourage week with us. He enjoyed his time so much that he has come back throughout volunteer recruitment and the summer to train as a guard. Daniel Duckworth recently had his sixteenth examples of different aspects birthday and celebrated by passing out as a guard. Congratulations Daniel, we of volunteering on our railway. wish you well in your guarding career on the railway. Until then, thank you all for the Volunteers at work: Station Master Gwyn There is another side to this, and it’s the reason that I mentioned this particular valuable contribution that you Murfet and Jackie Pharaoh, driving River example. Today in the competitive job seekers’ market volunteering can be make as volunteers. Mite, at Irton Road, Jubilee week 2012. important. If you are a recent school leaver or coming out of further education, Photo: Peter Mills 26 27 One Hundred and Forty Years Ago could not be properly worked in consequence of the difficulty of transport and want of railway communication. The works of this railway are well worth Peter van Zeller a visit, as showing how a line may be constructed cheaply, substantially, and expeditiously, through a rough and mountainous country. The average gradient Exactly one hundred and forty years ago, local papers recorded the first trains that of the line is 1-in-109. With the beauty of the Esk valley most of our readers are ran on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway with glowing reports from George no doubt well acquainted. Stanley Gill, at Eskdale, is a favourite resort of tourists. Gordon Page, the engineer in charge of the project, and Thomas Rosewarne, The railway will start with the traffic from the Eskdale Mines, and there is no the Mine Captain for Whitehaven Iron Mines Limited’s Eskdale workings. The doubt the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway will prove financially successful.” railway contractor and a fifty per cent shareholder, Ambrose Oliver brought his own loco to aid construction and work the first trains, the identity of which is Report from the Engineer, George Gordon Page, 25th November 1874 now quite obscure despite a long-standing challenge to experts in the Industrial th th th st and Narrow Gauge Railway Societies. This preceded the use of the railway “I beg to report that I visited the works on the 18 , 19 , 20 and 21 inst. The throughout for goods in early May 1875 using Devon, then newly delivered road is nearly all formed to Nabb Gill, with the exception of the portion through from Manning Wardle & Co. Leeds, and eventually opening to passengers on Edward Sharpe’s land, which is not yet in the hands of the contractor, and is the 20th November 1876 shortly after the arrival of sister loco Nabb Gill. cause of delaying the completion of the formation of this portion, a length of about half-a-mile. The portion of the line with its very sharp curves past Fisherground and Spout House Farms, on land owned by Edward Sharpe, was significant because it The high level tip is built up to the level of the wall plates for carrying the allowed access to the ore from the Ban Garth workings that came down the crossbeams. I am of opinion it will be necessary to place two five-feet diameter Fisherground inclined railway. The route was subject to a dispute that was to turntables at the end of it for transferring the empty trucks on to the down line echo through the following half century as the solicitor for the Sharpe family was as they are discharged into the Furness trucks.” (Keith Davies concluded the John Musgrave. Whitehaven Record Office has a file of a wad of small notes sent Ravenglass high level may never have been completed, but the excavations past by Sharpe of the work in progress, claiming for damage by trespass whenever the signal box for an electric cable to the workshops in February 2013 revealed he could. He even complained that Spout House Bridge was in the wrong place powdered iron ore in the support wall by the camping coach.) – by eighteen feet! They would all have been amazed by the compact machinery “The girders and flooring for the low level section of the bridge at Ravenglass used to rebuild the bridge approach walls this summer of 2014. are in place. The ‘King of Prussia’ bridge is open to the public. The contractor’s locomotive is working between Ravenglass and three miles fourteen chains, Report from the Cumberland Pacquet, 6th October 1874 which is halfway between Murthwaite and Walk Mill, the permanent way being “In a recent issue we referred to the proposed construction of a railway from laid up to this point. Ravenglass to Eskdale. This is now an accomplished fact. The works were The contractor has a strong commenced at the latter end of February last, and since that date the whole gang of platelayers at work of the land, with the exception of a very short piece, has been taken, and the (about forty) and all the railway formed thereon. The rails are now being laid and the line ballasted, and necessary permanent way it is expected that by the end of October the greater portion of the line will materials. I anticipate, if be fit for traffic. The line is being constructed by Mr Ambrose Oliver, for the the weather is favourable Company, on a three feet gauge – a gauge much advocated for light railways and the locomotive kept as feeders to the main lines. Sufficient land has, however, been taken for the in working order, that the construction of a double line on the ordinary gauge. The most important of the road will be laid as far works is at Ravenglass station, on the Furness line, where the railway is brought as Hollowstones Bridge in on two different levels – one the high level for delivery of iron ore on to the [now Irton Road] in about Furness line, and the other the low level for ordinary goods, and if it should a fortnight. The ore could be though desirable, for passengers. The line runs partly through the valleys then be carried over the of the Mite (along by Muncaster Fell) and the Esk, terminating at the Eskdale line from this point and Iron Mines, now being worked by the Whitehaven Iron Mining Company. It transhipped into the Horses and carts meet the three-foot railway at opens up an entirely new district, where iron ore is proved to exist, but which Furness trucks by using Mr Hollowstones (Irton Road). Photo: R&ER Archive 28 29 Oliver’s branch line to the goods siding at Ravenglass station, until such time as Thoughts on the Gill Force Tramway the high level tip is complete and the Furness siding alongside. Albyn Austin A very short space of time would be occupied in laying the permanent way on to the ‘King of Prussia’ bridge, the distance being only fifty-nine chains, or three- The layout of the tracks at the Ratty extension to the Gill Force mine has always quarters of a mile. The ore could then be run from the ‘King of Prussia’ bridge. A been a bit of a mystery. About forty years back it was possible to enter the main temporary shoot on the side of the bridge would enable carts to tip direct into horizontal level that began just over the bridge across the Gill. This ran for a few our trucks. yards until it was blocked by a roof fall, where a large pocket of ore seemed to On Saturday last two hundred tons of rails, two thousand and forty fishplates, have been worked out. two thousand sleepers, and one truck of fencing, arrived at Ravenglass, so that The mine working was in fact on two levels, with a low drainage channel below there is now every prospect of the line being rapidly completed as far as five- the main access route which had a two-foot gauge tramway running along it at and-three-quarter miles, i.e. up to Edward Sharpe’s land.” well above the height of the track bed outside. This appeared probably to have Captain Rosewarne detailed progress in the various mine workings in the New been three-foot gauge track, judging by the width of the small cutting leading Year – and noted for the rail enthustiasts that, at Ban Garth… “The day men to a tip. have been engaged in tramming out and sending down ore, and extending the It was presumed there was some sort of loading bank to empty the two-foot incline road to meet the railway. gauge wagons into the three-foot ones below, but this seemed an unusual way Carriers commenced taking ore down to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway of doing things. th th at ‘King of Prussia’ bridge on Tuesday, the 12 inst. Eskdale, 13 January 1875.” However the attached photo, courtesy of Jonathan Wignall, makes all clear by The ledgers for transport of ore by road to the Furness Railway at Drigg survive showing what appears to be a similar set up to the one shown for the B33 Trial amazingly in Lancashire Record Office. Original documents are spread around Pit at Lindal Moor, probably photographed about 1906 when it was reopened and often restricted for access. One of the aims of the railway museum project by the recently reorganised Harrison Ainslie Co. See ‘The Red Earth’ by Dave is to create a readily accessible digital archive that can be built up as material is Kelly, p79-80, ISBN 0 9534779 0 8. located. Of course Gill Force didn’t have a shaft – the wagons would just have appeared out of the tunnel mouth on to the raised platform, probably just high enough to clear the open wagons used for the ore and waste. Evidently the ore soon ran out and no more was ever found despite numerous trials in the area.

Some years later: the remains of sleepers on the girder bridge over the Esk, of The Gill Force Way? B33 Pit at Lindal. the Gill Force Tramway. Photo: R&ER Archive Photo: Jonathan Wignall Collection 30 31 A Little Mystery… A Visit to Edaville Bob Tebb Volunteer guard Anthony Payne has been on his travels again…

The attached photo shows a pair of brass Cranberries are recommended as a superfood with many properties, but they tallies, believed to be connected in some were used by Native Americans in a variety of ways and were introduced by way with Beckfoot Quarry or Murthwaite them to the settlers from the Old World. Crusher (or both!). Now they are grown in “bogs” – areas of soft marshy ground with acid peaty There are not many of these, with surviving soil on which the cranberries grow on vines. When they are ready to harvest, numbers ranging from one to seven. They the ground is flooded to a depth of eighteen inches, and a machine separates are obviously arranged in pairs of the same the berries from the stalk so that they float to the surface and are easy to collect. number, one tally having a hole drilled in Photo: Bob Tebb What has all this to do with the Ratty? the centre. The survivors have substantial strings on them, obviously for tying to something. In order to collect up the cranberries, some plantation owners used narrow gauge railways to haul trucks round their estates, and one of them, Ellis D. Graham Withers included a couple of these in one of his fundraising raffles at a Attwood, constructed a two-foot gauge line to run for five-and-a-half miles Society do at Santon Bridge some years ago (frustratingly for me, my wife Kath round his 1,800 acre estate at Carver, Massachusetts, in the early 1940s, buying won one and I didn’t!). His theory then was that they were perhaps connected up rails and rolling stock from other railroads which had gone under because with output of full wagons from Beckfoot Quarry, when the men were on of competition from road transport. piecework, and it was important to know what every man had produced each day. At first he gave rides on his trains to visitors for free, but as demand soared he charged a nickel a ride, and gradually added fairground rides and other These are items for the museum extension – but just what were they used for? attractions, so that the amusement park aspect of things took over from the working railway. He called his attraction “Edaville”, based on his initials, and Young Poets’ Corner although he died in 1950, the family still retains oversight over the park. The train is pulled by an authentic old locomotive with the distinctive smoke Clicketty-clack, clicketty-clack, stack and “whoo whoo” whistle, and it trundles gently on a twenty-minute The train is going along the track. circle through the cranberry bogs and pine forest, giving an excellent view of Whoo whoo! Toot, toot! the fairground rides within We’re travelling along the route. the area of the track: outside Huffing, chuffing, turning around, the track, Christmas figures Steaming away, we’re Eskdale are lit up for children to see. bound. At various points in the park, Smokey smell in the air, standard gauge steam and Steam on faces, soot everywhere. diesel locomotives can be Wibbble, Wobble, rattle, hiss, seen, and would-be drivers Screeching past fields, views like this. can climb aboard! Bouncing, shuffling up the hill, Photo: Thomas Whipp Coming down is a bigger thrill. There are special events throughout the year, including This most excellent poem was written by two young visitors to the railway – a national cranberry festival at Thomas and Kathryn Jenkins – and sent to us courtesy of Visitor Services. The harvest time, and Hallowe’en photograph, which shows Phil Brown turning River Mite at Dalegarth on a winter’s pumpkins throughout day, was taken by another young enthusiast, Thomas Whipp (aged seven). October. You can even meet Trundling through bogs and forest: the train Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt! at Edaville. Photo: Anthony Payne 32 33 Correspondence From Des Bowes, by e-mail: From Geoff Holland, by e-mail: Bob Tebb’s Merrick Tomlinson’s letter [Correspondence, 214] contains a basic factual column on error, in that the building of the two LNER P2 locomotives is by separate R&ER tickets in organisations. One, to build a replica of the streamlined version of Cock O’ The the June 2014 North, is by the Doncaster P2 Locomotive Trust. The other P2 is approximately Magazine was a replica of the original Cock O’ The North as first built, without the streamlined very interesting front. This version will have valve gear and operability detail modifications, and and he is will be named Prince of Wales. It is being built by the P2 Steam Locomotive quite correct Company, which is an off-shoot of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, which in assuming built A1 Tornado. The Doncaster P2 Locomotive Trust has been in existence services also for several years, though progress has been slow. The P2 Steam Locomotive ran later on Company only started in 2013 but, on the back of a proven track record with the main line Tornado, it has made huge progress, and will probably be complete quicker to connect off than most loco restoration projects. There will probably be some cooperation the valley signal between the two organisations in terms of parts manufacture. boxes between Turning to the R&ER new locomotive proposal, Merrick is quite right: the railway Barrow-in- Furness and should consider building more than one. Ideally, what is needed is five locos to Hercules and River Irt lift a packed train away from The run the high season service, plus one operable spare, plus one being overhauled Whitehaven were once Green, August Bank Holiday weekend. – so seven needed in total. This is approximately the position the Bure Valley Photo: Keith Herbert and the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railways are in, hence their ability to opened for loan out their extended hours compared with those of today. This was largely due to the operable spares significant volumes of freight traffic carried which in turn allowed later to keep the passenger trains to run. Industrial decline in West Cumbria impacted heavily R&ER in steam. on freight volumes, while passenger business was insufficient to sustain long If the R&ER opening times at the numerous stations and level crossings. cannot learn Before rationalisation crept in, my 1958 London Midland Region Timetable now from this shows trains departing north from Ravenglass at 19.36 (11.50 from Euston), 21.24 lesson, and get and on Saturdays 22.23. The latter started at Liverpool Exchange and ran daily itself properly but did not stop at Ravenglass Mondays to Fridays! The last train south departed equipped, it at 21.35. The line also opened on Sundays with a first departure being south to probably never London at 09.24 (restaurant car from Barrow!). The last departure at 20.18 was will. Funding to Workington, connecting from the 11.05 London-Barrow. Signal box opening would be quite and closing hours in the 1960s were initially designed for the passage of the straightforward, morning and evening ‘Travelling Post Office’ trains, while Sellafield workers’ if the Railway, not hours are no doubt the determining factor today. the Preservation Society, took a In the various old timetables I have, there is little evidence of Ratty running late good, honest evening trains on a regular timetabled basis. I would venture to suggest that the look at where the ‘time specific’ train tickets shown in Bob Tebb’s article may have been issued in Wroxham Broad and River Irt running alongside the Mite money should conjunction with special events (such as Eskdale Show perhaps?) rather than as estuary, August Bank Holiday weekend. be coming from. a matter of course. Photo: Jackie Pharaoh 34 35 Forty Years Ago slid on greased rails fifteen yards to the southwest. A remarkable achievement which resulted in virtually no damage to the building! John Taylor After being discussed for many years, plans and grants have now been approved Edited highlights of previous editions of the Society’s Newsletters/Magazines: and work has started on the renovating of Dalegarth Cottages. Issue No. 56: dated Winter 1974/75 Working Party Report The cover picture was an impression of the Centenary Year logo 1875-1975. The Railway Company had recently purchased a quantity of telegraph poles that used to grace the line between Egremont and Beckermet Mine. In October Our New Steam Engine road transport brought them to Ravenglass, resulting in a pile of fifty-eight telegraph poles, sufficient for about two miles of the R&ER. In November a start Preservation Society Members will know that for some time we [the Company] was made digging the holes for the poles, and despite heavy showers holes have been planning to build a new steam engine which we have badly needed were dug at sixty-yard intervals. In December, the major task was the erection to deal with the extra traffic generated in the seventies. Our new steam engine of the telegraph poles which was completed to Miteside. This sounds simple, is becoming a reality because the English Tourist Board are prepared to make but fifteen-foot poles are not easily upended and dropped into three-foot holes. a grant of up to forty-nine per cent of the cost. This is wonderful news and we have lost no time in getting on with the job. We have decided that with The other task for the December working party was the setting up of the our skilled and able staff equipped with the machines recently acquired our Miteside shelter. The bow section of an old Ravenglass fishing boat had been engineering workshops are now fully capable of carrying out the necessary hauled to the site in July. Having levelled the ground, the bow was manoeuvred machining and assembly work. We hope that it will be in steam in the Autumn into position standing like a letter A. The General Manager opened the shelter ready for trials during the Winter and available for use during the centenary by cutting an entrance in the deck with a chainsaw. It has since been used on celebrations in 1976. wet winter mornings by a grateful member of staff. We have been giving a great deal of thought to the name of the new engine. We would like it to be the forerunner of a name series with local associations like our River Irt, River Esk and River Mite series. Rock has played an important part in our history. We are therefore going to name our first engine of the new Rock series of engines – Northern Rock. Possible names for further engines – we want another diesel – are Furness Rock, Cumbria Rock and Pillar Rock.

News from Ravenglass The annual overhaul of the steam locos is being pressed forward rapidly so that as much time as possible can be spent on the new loco. On the line, the appalling weather has held up work badly, although much re- sleepering and fencing have been done. The non-arrival of the new rail ordered for delivery this winter means that the re-laying and raising of the track over the Marsh has been postponed. Martin Willey has been appointed keeper of the Whitlock digger and has been practising on the bank by the turntable making a way for the extension of the track in No.3 platform down towards the BR main line. There will be a headshunt by the BR signal box, giving access back into the new workshops in the BR warehouse. The original Miteside shelter. Photo: R&ER Archive In preparation for these works, the shop and booking office were jacked up and

36 37 Who’s Who Ratty Diary 2014 E&OE. Please check dates and details nearer the time before travelling. A chance to meet some of the Ratty’s operating staff, introduced by Di Chase DATE EVENT CONTACT Trevor Stockton has been a RERPS member since DECEMBER 1961, volunteering for the first time in 1967. Trevor was Saturday 13th - Council Meeting, Ravenglass Secretary a trainee manager in the grocery trade before joining Christmas Dinner, Drigg the railway staff in April 1973. From then, until the end of 1989, he was a full-time member of the operating staff; JANUARY 2015 the main driver of River Mite for two years (1974-5) and Thursday 15th - Press deadline for March issue Editor then Northern Rock for fourteen (1976-89). He was the Permanent Way Foreman from 1990 until 2000, and has been General Manager since January 2001. He Saturday 24th - Track Week Ravenglass still fulfils an operational role, variously controlling the trains or driving them. Sunday 1st - February Martin Cookman first came to the Ratty on holiday in the early 1970s, returning at the age of sixteen to volunteer. During the summers FEBRUARY of 1971-1981 he was a resident of Skid Row (the ex-BR coach; the predecessor to Heywood House). He was Saturday 14th - Start of weekend service Ravenglass employed on the summer staff in 1982 and, following a career in the army, joined the permanent staff in 2003. MARCH He worked as a relief driver, controller and member of Saturday 14th - Council Meeting, Ravenglass Secretary the permanent way gang. He became the main controller in 2006, then was appointed to the new post of Assistant General Manager in 2007. Saturday 14th - Start of daily service Ravenglass

David Moseley’s first visit to the R&ER was in the Full details of all Railway events can be seen on the website: † Please book in advance mid-1970s. A volunteer on the Welshpool and Llanfair, http://ravenglass-railway.co.uk/events/ he moved to Gateshead for the 1990 Garden Festival, where he drove River Irt, Northern Rock and Shelagh of Eskdale. Between 1991 and 1997 he was a paid employee at Welshpool, after which he spent a year working for Winson Engineering in Daventry and then eight years running the Isle of Mull Railway. He joined the Ratty staff in 2007 as a relief driver and controller. He is now Permanent Way Foreman, assisted by his black Labrador Alice. Stephen Farish was born and brought up locally, in Maryport, first visiting the Ratty in the mid-1970s. Trained in motor vehicle engineering, he has been employed at various car garages, working his way up to the position of Service Manager. He also spent six years working for the AA, and had stints in the electronics and agriculture industries. He has had an interest in railways since childhood, and joined the R&ER as Chief Engineer in the middle of 2013, bringing experience of diesel Hometime for Hercules, Saturday 11th October 2014. Photo: Will Sands plant maintenance. There was, of course, no workshop when he arrived! Back Cover: Dalegarth in the snow, March 2013. Photo: Gillian Temple All photos: Di Chase The R&ER Magazine is published by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society Ltd. 2014. Registered office: The Station, Ravenglass, Cumbria CA18 1SW. Incorporated in England. Registered No. 697768. 38 Printed by Craven Design and Print, Shropshire. www.cravendesignandprint.co.uk 39