Ravenglass Railway Museum
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The R&ER Magazine Number 232 March 2019 The Journal of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society The R&ER Magazine No.232 Editorial March 2019 Keith Herbert In 1894 was built the third (and largest) of pioneer Sir Arthur Heywood’s six Published quarterly by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway 15in gauge steam locomotives – the 0-8-0 tank engine Muriel. His Duffield Bank Preservation Society Limited Railway sported gradients as sheer as 1 in 10, curves as tight as 25ft radius and Member of the Heritage Railway Association a trestle viaduct some 89ft long, and employed all the family’s children in its Editorial Team: Keith Herbert, Di Chase, Bill Seddon, Opinions expressed by contributors and operation. These included Muriel Heywood, one of seven daughters. Could she Mark Harrington, John Taylor in editorial comment do not necessarily have believed that the engine named in her honour would still be at work 125 Editorial Designer: Julie Hutchinson reflect the collective views of the Society. years after its construction? Or that she and her sisters were pioneers in their The R&ER Magazine is always pleased to receive own right, foretelling the involvement of women in the operation of railways in PRESS DEADLINE: Material for inclusion correspondence, photographs and articles for possible the decades to come, perhaps most notably in wartime. inclusion. Most nowadays arrive via our e-mail address, in the next issue of the Magazine must but postal contributions remain welcome. Please reach the editors not later than Over 125 years Muriel has been transformed from estate railway demonstrator, include a name and contact address with any prints. Thursday 18th April at noon. through stone train workhorse, to being recognised as the oldest working Scanning facilities are available. Please send material earlier if possible. steam locomotive of its size in the world under the name River Irt. Its milestone Society website: http://www.rerps.co.uk birthday will be celebrated at a gala event at Ravenglass over the bank holiday weekend of 4th–6th May. The Bug, the engine which helped to build the Romney, Council Chairman: Simon Thompson, ‘Hilltop’, Fen Road, Pidley, Huntingdon, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, is expected to be in attendance. Some more Cambridgeshire PE28 3DD. Email: [email protected] information is available on page 26. Hon. Secretary: Mungo Stacy, 34 Mayfield Road, Manchester M16 8EU. Email: [email protected] Meanwhile, 125 years since the days of the Heywood daughters working on the Duffield Bank system, the role of women in the preservation and operation of Hon. Financial Secretary: David Lees, 31 Water Street, Ribchester, Preston, Lancashire PR3 3YJ. heritage steam is also being celebrated. In June, women who work with steam Email: [email protected] engines – stationary, railway or road – will be showcasing their skills in a bid to Hon. Membership Secretary (enquiries, life membership, Nos. 1000-1999 and 2900 onwards) : encourage others to take it up. Sadly this event will not be at Ravenglass, but at Sarah Bennett, 2 Stanley Villas, Drigg Road, Seascale CA20 1NW. Email: [email protected] the Perrygrove Railway in the Forest of Dean, but it will be worth supporting if Assistant Membership Secretary (Nos. 2000-2899): Jim Wilcock, ‘Porthlow’, Neston Road, Ness, anyone can make it. Search for ‘Women Teaching Women’ on Facebook to find Neston CH64 4AZ. Email: [email protected] out more. Sales Officer: Kathryn Brissenden. Email: [email protected] In other news, a year after the Train From Spain’s restoration was completed Magazine Distributor: Cumbria Mailing Services Ltd. Penrith CA11 9FQ. at Bouth, another favourite Ratty loco has arrived there for overhaul. Bonnie Heywood House Bookings: Mary Harding. Email: [email protected]. Tel: 01229 717080. Dundee, since 2016 on loan to the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, was Volunteers: Peter Mills & Danny Duckworth. Email: [email protected] being overhauled in the Midlands, but has now arrived back in Cumbria for that overhaul to be advanced. Though the CCLR campaigned in these pages Operations Manager: Martin Cookman, R&ER Co. Ltd. Ravenglass, Cumbria CA18 1SW. Tel: 01229 717171. for money to help fund the works, that fundraising appeal has now been discontinued. John Kerr, a director of the CCLR, provides us with an update on Editor: Keith Herbert, 7 Dalegarth Cottages, Boot, Holmrook, Cumbria CA19 1TF. the project to restore this locomotive on page 30. Email: [email protected] We are similarly buoyed by the arrival of a new nostalgist in residence, Sid Edwards, who regales us with stories of yesteryear in a new feature, Memory PLEASE HELP US KEEP Lane. My own earliest memory of the Ratty is the chance of a cabride with Sid on SYNOLDA STEAMING Search for ‘Synolda’ Perkins, at a Teddy Bear’s Picnic event the best part of 30 years ago. It’s funny Thankyou! justgiving.com what you remember, as his stories attest! 125 years from now, hopefully people will remember the efforts of some of us to enable the stories to keep on being Front Cover: River Esk in the year of its comeback in 2018. Photo: David Mart created. Good luck to everyone in 2019. 2 3 News from Ravenglass Again recognition for all the event planning and delivery that went into the Martin Cookman ghost trains, it really is a team event and we couldn’t do it without you. On TV The Great Model Railway Challenge was shown on Channel 5 and featured the La’al Ratty; it’s worth looking up. As I sit reflecting on the past operating season, much has been achieved and there are many success stories which have either been previously documented November featured the relaying of Miteside loop and the abundance of help or you will catch up on as you read through this edition of the Magazine. I can’t which we are very grateful for, followed by the Santa train season. We have remember a 12-month period in my time with the Company, or as a volunteer, enjoyed another successful Santa event with plenty of positive feedback from where so many things have been reviewed, updated, changed or adjusted. In our customers. All departments deliver a combined effort to make this the the modern world we all need to be aware of the need for change and keeping enjoyable event that it is. I think the word ‘traditional’ sums it up nicely. Thanks a profitable business financially viable. It is with great thanks that I commend to all. all the staff and volunteers in embracing the 2018 season and rising to the I’m sure many staff and volunteers will feel a great sense of loss as we say a challenges it brought. The work all of you have done is worth due recognition fond farewell to Janet Dickinson, as she moves on at the end of February to and is very much appreciated. adventures new. Janet has spent most of her life in and around the railway, As the season was coming to an end some of you will be aware that our General with 20 or so years running her own business from the old tea bar building, in Manager Peter Brendling left our employment to move on to new opportunities. generous support of the railway. Then in the last eight years, she has led her We wish Peter and his family all the very best for the future. team to grow the new, as it was then, Turntable Café to the success it is today. Even though this is more of a ‘see you later’, rather than a ‘goodbye’, many will Going forward, the Railway Company has removed the General Manager role feel that this is the end of an era. I’m sure you’d all like to join me in wishing from its structure and is in the process of creating two new posts: Janet all the best and success with her future. Railway Operations Manager: I will continue with my current duties and now Looking forward, I wish you all an enjoyable, exciting and rewarding 2019 season. take overall charge of all operational areas of the railway. In this role, I report directly to David Little, CEO. Railway Commercial Manager: this new role will be responsible for all commercial aspects of the railway including ticketing, visitor services, catering and retail. The post holder will also report directly to the CEO. For the interim period I will be overseeing all areas of the railway as a temporary arrangement. Since September the railway has enjoyed a varied array of events and activities, starting with a visit from BBC Radio Cumbria. The programme featured interviews with various members of staff and volunteers, plus our own Peter Mills having a go at the Big Quiz against Peter Frost-Pennington from Muncaster Castle. We also had a Macmillan coffee morning, held in our Turntable Café, which was well received, and a big thanks to all who organised it, plus those who gave generously. The railway featured in the magazine Narrow Gauge World, then in the same month the Arts Council awarded our museum accredited status. A very successful September I feel. October brought the challenges of running the railway at what is generally thought of as the hardest time of year for operations. A successful Peppa Pig Janet (fourth left) with some of her café staff, namely Chloe, Melissa, Bethany, event to start with, followed by the school half-term and Hallowe’en trains. Claire, Mandy, Linda and Alison, at the planting of a tree in memory of Caitlin Huddleston in 2018. Photo: Simon Thompson 4 5 Operations & Engineering Shelagh of Eskdale.