Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Media Pack

2015

‘ALIGHT AT THE MUSEUM!’

- Why 2015 will be a 100th Anniversary to remember at Ravenglass & Eskdale

Press calls:

Catapult PR: 01253 891114/07711 628661 [email protected]

Ravenglass & Eskdale Celebrates 100th Anniversary By Inviting Visitors To ‘Alight At The Museum’

A much-loved heritage railway tourism attraction is marking 100 years of its 15-inch narrow gauge line in 2015, by creating a year of celebrations, including the re-opening of the Railway Museum and an August Bank Holiday weekend of heritage railway activities and insights.

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, operates a seven-mile line, running between the Lake District coast at Ravenglass and the Dalegarth (for Boot) station, located in the shadow of ’s highest mountains. This idyllic line, often said to offer England’s most beautiful heritage railway journey, was re-gauged in 1915, from 3-feet to 15 inches.

The original 3-foot gauge line was the earliest public narrow gauge railway in England, built from 1873 and typical of such works in difficult terrain, hugging the mountainside with side cutting, sharp bends and severe gradients. Ravenglass and Eskdale’s two surviving buildings from that time – the Ravenglass loco shed and Irton Road Station, are little altered from their first construction.

The decision to re-gauge the line was taken by acclaimed miniature railway engineer, WJ Bassett- Lowke. He and his friend, R Proctor-Mitchell, representing Narrow Gauge Railways Ltd, acquired the line in 1915 – in the midst of World War 1 - and used it as a base for testing their model locomotives in fairly harsh operating conditions. By 1916, the re-gauged line ran as far as Irton Road, before being extended to cover the full length of the line by the end of 1917.

This is just part of the rich history of Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, which stretches back to 1873. All will be celebrated through the opening of a brand new Ravenglass Museum in 2015, where more exhibits than ever will be on display and available for viewing.

Although the Railway has previously had a museum (located in the Ravenglass station car park) a grant from FLAG and Sth Copeland Community Fund, has facilitated a programme of renovation, conservation and sustainable development. This has broadened the museum’s educational remit and encouraged new ways of delighting 21st century visitors and local residents, using artefacts and unique insights into local and engineering history.

Ravenglass and Eskdale is staging key events in 2015 tied in with the line’s centenary and the launch of the new museum.

Roman History Weekend – the history of Ravenglass Harbour

This exciting event will reference the Roman history of Ravenglass and the Eskdale valley in anticipation of the re-opening of the museum in late May/early June. A Roman soldier, complete with glittering armour and shields, will be an eye-catching visitor to the Railway, while Roman- themed activities will offer something very different, from making torc bracelets and Roman army dogtags, to putting children in costumes from a dressing-up box that will whisk them back in time.

Eskdale ranger, Chris Berry, will lead informative guided walks to Ravenglass beach and the historically important Roman Bathhouse, with two of these opportunities to learn more about Roman Ravenglass scheduled on each day. All activities will be free-of-charge, but donations to the Museum fund would be appreciated.

Centenary Celebrations

An official 100th birthday party for the 15-inch, re-gauged Ravenglass and Eskdale line will be held between August 28 and 31, 2015 and will be an extravaganza of heritage-focused delights for railway enthusiasts and families alike.

The mood for this event will be established at both Ravenglass and Dalegarth stations, which will both be decked out and adorned with vintage bunting. Cafes at both ends of the line will serve special anniversary menu creations throughout a weekend that will transport Ravenglass and Eskdale visitors back in time and brim with nostalgia and retro insights.

Synolda, one of the most cherished locomotives at Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, is set to step into the limelight. Painted in the royal blue livery of Narrow Gauge Railway Ltd, she was built for the Sand Hutton Railway in 1912, by Bassett-Lowke – the engineer who re-gauged the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway.

By 1978, she was in a derelict state and was rescued from Belle Vue Zoo by employees of BNFL, who restored her to full working order. However, she is too lightly built for everyday use, so only makes rare appearances, as she will at the 100th birthday party for the 15-inch re-gauged line.

Over the party weekend, her younger brother, Count Louis, (Evesham Vale Light Railway) will be joining her, to pull a double-header service on special centenary gala journeys from Ravenglass to Muncaster Mill. Synolda and Count Louis will be top and tailing this service, of which there will be six per day, each carrying 60 passengers.

This exquisite experience is bookable in advance as part of a day ticket, which costs £20 for adults and £10 for children aged 5-15. This covers all-day travel and a seat on the special gala train. Ticket holders will also receive a commemorative badge and ‘Edmundson’ ticket (a heritage-style ticket that can act as a memento of this special occasion), plus a chance to enter an exclusive prize draw to win a day on the footplate – every train lover’s dream.

These trains will depart Ravenglass in the morning at 9.50 and 11.40 and in the afternoon at 13.00, 13.40, 15.40 and 17.20. The journey will last around 15-20 minutes each way, with an immediate turnaround, to return to Ravenglass as soon as it has reached Muncaster Mill – the point to which the re-gauged line first ran. Once back at Ravenglass, visitors can board a scheduled service and head to Dalegarth if they wish.

Other visiting engines will be steaming in to help Ravenglass and Eskdale’s own locos celebrate 100 years of the 15-inch line on which they are running. These include Sutton Belle (Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway), Lydia () and Katie (Ravenglass and Eskdale – though originally Eaton Railway). This will create numerous photographic opportunities for visitors to capture on camera.

Eskdale ranger, Chris Berry, will also be leading guided walks, including a historic circular walk to Beckfoot and then back along the old line to Boot. Another walk will head to Girder Bridge, to visit the old iron works and then return across the stepping stones at St Catherine’s Church. These walks will be available on Saturday 29, Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August 2015. Although free-of-charge, donations to the Ravenglass Museum would be much appreciated.

These are just two of the events taking place in the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway line’s 100th year, with full details at www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk Other highlights include behind-the-scenes photography days, A Teddies Go Free Easter offer, a visit from children’s characters Shaun the Sheep, Halloween Ghost Trains and Santa Express services.

Ends

Press calls: Jane Hunt, Catapult PR, 01253 891114 – [email protected] Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Offers Year-Round Reasons To ‘Alight at the Museum’

2015 will see a packed calendar of events being run by Lake Distict tourism attraction, Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, as it celebrates the centenary of its 15-inch line by including as many visitors as possible in its landmark year.

The events schedule kicks off in February, when the locomotives again start steaming up and down the seven-mile scenic line, following their short winter break.

Fish and Chip Suppers will get the ball rolling on February 13, when the 6pm departure from Ravenglass chugs out, taking passengers up to Dalegarth, for a delicious fish and chip meal served in the Fellbites Café. These experiences will also run on March 13, April 10, May 8, June 12, September 11 and October 9 and cost £10.50 per person, including their meal. All can be booked by calling 019467 23192.

On March 9, visitors and local residents can join the Railway for a Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth Day, as the visitor attraction has been chosen to be one of the relatively few locations at which an official Commonwealth flag can be hoisted and flown.

Easter at Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway will be focused on Teddies Go Free, with all children under age 15 travelling free between April 3 and 16, if they bring their teddy bear along. Teddy could win a special rosette in a daily ‘Best Bear’ competition and there will be complimentary HARIBO treats for younger passengers, as well as a fun Easter line quiz. This Teddy fest will kick off on April 3 with Bay Radio in attendance and can tie in with a visit to Muncaster Castle, which will host a teddy bear picnic over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend and also allow free entry to children travelling with their #BFF teddy. On this offer, one child travels free on the Railway with a full-fare- paying adult. This cannot be run in conjunction with any other offer.

In May, the Roman History Weekend with a Roman theme, which will see a Roman soldier, complete with shining armour and shields taking centre stage (please refer to lead press pack release for details of this event). This event is in anticipation of the museum re-opening in late May/June – guided Roman Bathhouse and harbour walks over the weekend too with Eskdale Ranger, Chris Berry.

On May 19 (and then again on September 1), a Behind the Scenes Photography Day will allow enthusiasts to take part in a seven-mile guided walk up the line, to find out what really happens during a day in the life of a heritage railway. The day starts at 8.30am in Ravenglass, with a safety briefing preceding access to the engine shed. Participants can watch as the engines are fired up and prepared, before setting out on foot for a walk up the line. The guide will offer insights into the history of the Railway, as well as pointing out from where the best photos can be taken, allowing participants to snap engines that pass them during their journey. A packed lunch can be enjoyed en route and, after arriving at Dalegarth and having some time to explore and browse, the 3.50pm train back to Ravenglass can be boarded. The day, costing £40 per person (bookable in advance), ends around 4.30pm and requires an average level of fitness, as the walk is on ballast and is seven miles long. Suitable clothing must be worn and participants must be aged over 16 years. The packed lunch included in this day is a ham or cheese sandwich, a bottle of water, crisps and a piece of fruit.

On May 28 (and again on July 30 and August 27) there is a chance to Steam to the Hills with a Lake District National Park Ranger. The group will gather at Ravenglass and then head off on the 10.45am steam train, travelling as far as The Green before walking back to the sea by crossing Muncaster Fell. This requires suitable clothing and footwear and costs £12 for adults and £6 for children aged 5-15. This includes a donation to the Lake District National Park.

June 6 and 7 are dates on which visitors can enjoy activities laid on by another environmental partner – the RSPB. The RSPB Weekend will involve hands-on crafts and self-guided nature trails, as well as lots of information about Lake District birdlife.

On June 20 and 21 the Railway is staging a Superhero Weekend. All children aged under 15, dressed as their favourite superhero, can travel free (one with every full-fare-paying adult and not valid with any other offer). The Railway expects to see princesses, book characters, cowboys and knights in shining armour, not to mention Batman, Spiderman and a few Disney characters. Sharing pictures of those in costume, by sending them to the Railway, to share on its social media pages, could win families a prize, while a goblin and fairy line trail onboard the trains will keep younger minds occupied.

On Saturday July 11 and Saturday July 25, an optional trip on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway can be combined with a journey on the Lakeland Coast Statesman, travelling around the stunning Cumbrian Coast on the latter, before boarding the RER steam train to head off into the mountains.

On July 11, the Lakeland Coast Statesman will have passengers boarding at Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Habrough, Barnetby, Scunthorpe, Crowle, Thorne South, South Elmsall, Wakefield Kirkgate, Brighouse, Sowerby Bridge, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Rochdale.

On July 25, the Lakeland Coast Statesman will be picking up passengers at Hereford, Ledbury, Great Malvern, Worcester Foregate St, Droitwich Spa, Kidderminster, Stourbridge Jct, Rowley Regis, Tame Bridge Parkway, Wolverhampton, Stafford and Crewe.

August 28-31 will be four days of Anniversary Celebration, marking the birthday of the 15-inch line (see lead press release in 2015 press pack).

On September 1 there is the second Behind the Scenes Photography Day and the return of Fish and Chip Suppers, post-summer, starts on September 11.

October is a busy month at Ravenglass and Eskdale. On October 3 and 4, it will host an irresistible Shaun the Sheep, featuring Shaun the Sheep Farmyard Express trains, running twice daily, so children can meet the popular TV series character. This will be Shauns first visit to Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway (RER), so the Railway hopes many children will make them welcome.

The experience starts at Ravenglass, where children can meet RER’s loveable mascot, La’al Ratty, and pick up a goody bag. After they have boarded their 10.10am (or 1.10pm train), they can head off on their seven-mile journey and are sure to become increasingly excited, as they approach Dalegarth station, as there will be a mini farmyard there, in which Shaun will be found. Children will not only be able to meet their sheep hero, but also enjoy a funny magic show and intriguing balloon modelling, plus colouring activities and film show.

All of this is available within a ticket price of £16 for an adult and £8 for children (aged 3-15; under 3s go free). This includes a reserved seat on the outward dedicated carriage trains, the return journey at 12.10pm (or 3.10pm) from Dalegarth (arriving at Ravenglass at 12.50pm or 3.50pm) all- day travel on the line outside these times on scheduled trains, a Meet & Greet with Shaun the Sheep, a goody bag, opportunity to meet La’al Ratty and a sheep balloon to take home. Tickets need to be bought in advance and there will be 120 available per train.

On October 10, Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is hosting a Conservation Day, with experts on hand to tell visitors about the Eskdale Valley and the variety of species living in habitats around it. Representatives from the RSPB, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Nurture Lakeland will be in attendance and poised to tell visitors how they could get involved in environmental protection.

Spooky Ghost Trains will then run on October 30 and 31, as a rattling down the line signals the arrival of the strange presences that always thrill young spooks. Families can travel down the line from Dalegarth in darkness, perfecting their night vision so as to keep an eye peeled for fiendish foe who could be lurking en route. A monsters line quiz and sweetie goody bag will further thrill the youngsters boarding the 6pm departure from Dalegarth.

Families need to book in advance and will receive reserved seats on the Ghost Train for a ticket price of £15 for an adult and £7.50 for children. This also includes all day travel on the line prior to the 6pm Ghost Train departure and the chance to travel to Dalegarth on the 4.30pm departure from Ravenglass, if they wish. Terrifying treats and spooky soups can be enjoyed in the Dalegarth Fellbites Eatery prior to departure, not to mention great shopping and a few other activities.

December rounds off the year with the arrival of the Santa Express, which can not only take young and old on a magical festive journey, but also entertain school parties and other groups.

Family Santa Express experiences run on November 28 and 29 and then on December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 and allow children to travel from Ravenglass to Eskdale on a specially themed Santa Express train. There, they can meet Father Christmas in his Gingerbread Grotto and receive a gift. Complimentary mince pies and mulled wine are on offer for adults, who should tell children to keep their eye out during their train journey, as Santa will also be out and about in his sleigh, visiting each carriage in person, either on the outbound or return journey. Tickets cost £19 for adults and children aged 1-11 and £10.50 for children aged 12-15. Under-1s travel for free. Christmas lunch options are available at Ravenglass Station either before or after the experience at a cost of £12.50 pp

Santa for Schools trains run on November 25, 26, 27 and 30 and December 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 14, 15 and 16. Festive Group experiences also run on these days. Contact the railway for 2015 rates directly – minimum group number is 10. Prices

Fares for some of the events staged during the year cost no more than the standard rail fare prices, while others are accessible through the purchase of a special ticket for the event or day out.

Standard online charges are:

Adult £12.70 Child £6.35 Family £36.00

Alight at The Museum To Appreciate Our History

While the history of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway stretches back to 1873, we shall be celebrating the last 100 years this year, to mark the centenary of the 15” line. Nonetheless, it is interesting to reflect on the period before 1915.

In 1873, the nominally independent Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway was authorised by an act of Parliament to build a railway of not less than 2’9” gauge, from Boot to Ravenglass, to then join the Whitehaven and Furness Railway. The Railway (known as ‘The Ratty’ or ‘La’al Ratty’ (little Ratty) originally operated with a 3’0” gauge and played its part in mining history, carrying iron ore from the mines above Boot. It then opened up to passengers, as from 1876, but its operation was short- lived, due to failure of the Railway company. As the price of iron ore declined, impacting on the Whitehaven Ore Mines Company that was using the line, things became extremely difficult. Following the flooding of the Nab Gill mines, the three-foot Railway closed.

In 1915, miniature railway engineer W J Bassett-Lowke and friend, R Procter-Mitchell, acquired the line on behalf of Narrow Gauge Railways Ltd, as a base for testing their miniature locomotives in relatively harsh conditions. They had already been building steam locomotives that entertained visitors to amusement parks, but the failure of the Ratty gave the engineers a chance to run their trains for a much longer distance.

By 1916, they had re-gauged the track and made it a 15-inch/381mm line as far as Irton Road. By the end of 1917, the miniature trains ran the length of the line, even though the Great War was raging in Europe. Changes to the line had to be made because of the severe gradients involved, but the line was extended as far as Dalegarth.

In 1922, the Beckfoot Granite Quarry re-opened alongside the line and a crushing plant was built at Murthwaite, further down the line. Granite blocks were transported by the Railway and crushed at Murthwaite so they could be used as road stone and railway ballast. With this increase in freight, it was necessary to build a locomotive specifically for the Ratty. Henry Greenly, the engineer for NGR designed the locomotive, River Esk, which still runs the line to this day and which became the first 2- 8-2 locomotive in the UK. It was built by Davey, Paxman & Co of Colchester and delivered to the Railway in 1923.

Despite the depression of the 1920s, the Railway continued to prosper, but was then closed to passenger traffic at the start of the Second World War, in 1939. Passenger traffic was again carried after the War (1946) and ownership was transferred to the Keswick Granite Company. By 1953, competition in the market forced the company to stop quarrying and, in both 1958 and 1959, the line and fittings were put up for sale. No serious buyer came forward and the decision was taken to make 1960 the last year of operation, after which, the Railway would be auctioned, either as a whole or in lots.

A local action group, The Ravenglass and Eskdale Preservation Society, was formed, with the intention of rallying support and preventing the loss of the Railway but despite collecting donations, the group fell far short of the money they needed. However, the enthusiasm of the Society had convinced Colin Gilbert, a Midlands stockbroker, and Sir Wavell Wakefield MP, a local landowner, to step in with the balance of the asking price and the Ratty was saved for a price of £12,000.

Work began to catch up with a maintenance backlog, while new coaches were built and funding from the Preservation Society led to the building of a new locomotive – River Mite. In 1968, following the death of Colin Gilbert, the Railway became an integral part of the Wakefield family business in the Lake District, whose interests included lake pleasure cruise company, Ullswater ‘Steamers’. Ravenglass station was remodelled and a further locomotive, Northern Rock, was built in the company’s workshops, entering service in 1976. Thanks to more funding from the Preservation Society, the diesel locomotive, Douglas Ferreira, was also built and named after a long-serving station manager.

In 2005, work began on a new visitor centre at Dalegarth, which was officially opened by music producer, Pete Waterman, in April 2007. A new children’s playground at Dalegarth was built and opened by HRH Princess Alexandra in 2009 and, in 2011, the old café on platform 1 at Ravenglass was renovated and extended, becoming the new ‘Turntable Café’.

The latest development is the new Railway Museum at Ravenglass, which will officially open in late May/early June 2015, continuing the development of the Railway into the future, by recording the events, people and economic factors that shaped its past.

Other Events Occurring In 1915 – The Year The 15” Gauge Arrived In Ravenglass

19 January 1915 German Zeppelins bomb Great Yarmouth and Kings Lynn

1 February 1915 Photographs appeared in British passports for the first time

24 April 1915 Sheffield Utd FC won the FA Cup, beating Chelsea FC 3-0 at Old Trafford

25 April 1915 Gallipoli – Lancashire Fusiliers won 6 VCs before breakfast.

7 May 1915 Sinking of the Lusitania off Ireland during its voyage between New York and Liverpool

31 May 1915 Zeppelins raid London for the first time

June 16 1915 The Women’s Institute (WI) was formed

June 1915 The Wimbledon Tennis Championships were cancelled

21 September 1915 Stonehenge was acquired at auction by Sir Cecil Chubb for £6600, as a present for his wife. He gave it to the nation in 1918

12 October 1915 Edith Cavell was executed by a German firing squad

20 October 1915 Women were recruited as bus and tram conductors

Publications of 1915

Rupert Brookes Collection:1914 & Other Poems Rupert Brookes

The Thirty-nine Steps John Buchan

Of Human Bondage W Somerset Maugham

The Rainbow D H Lawrence

The Valley of Fear Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Famous People Born in 1915

Stanley Matthews (February 1) Norman Wisdom (February 4) Arthur Lowe (September 22)

Alight at The Museum and See …

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway museum exists to not only tell the story of the RER itself, but also local railways and their economic contexts. Visitors to Ravenglass Museum can discover a collection comprising working small gauge railway locos and rolling stock, some of which has national significance, as well as models, artefacts, ephemera and archival and pictorial images.

It also holds the archive collections of other local railways and industries, so visitors will find tools from the iron mining industry, rail sections, samples from local steelworks and plates and images from the full-size railways that formed a network in West Cumberland and Furness. Image-wise, it holds original photos taken by local pioneer photographer, Mary Fair, between 1915 and 1930 and some films from 1922-29 and the later 50s and 1960s, with records of early events of the Railway’s preservation era.

Between 1915-28, Ravenglass and Eskdale was promoted as ‘The Smallest Public Railway in the World’ and was used as a common carrier. This has left the Museum with a number of items of rolling stock from that time.

There are over 400 catalogued items, including: locally important components dating from Heywood’s loco, Ella (1881); the Lanchester radiator and gearbox of Internal Combustion Loco No 2 and the cab backplate from the standard gauge Kerr Stuart diesel of 1929.

However, the ‘stars of the show’ are the tender loco, Synolda (1912), the 0-4-0 tank loco, Katie (originally from the Eaton Railway), Internal Combustion Loco No 2 and Quarryman (an early internal combustion machine).

Synolda is one of a small number of surviving 15-inch gauge locos built by Bassett-Lowke Ltd. It was designed for public operation, sold to a private estate railway and later operated at two pleasure parks, including Belle Vue Zoo, from which it was rescued in 1978 and rebuilt by BNFL engineers. It is the surviving contemporary of Sans Pareil – the loco that restarted services at Ravenglass in 1915.

Synolda was re-boilered in 1949 with the original tender and is intrinsically appealing because of its relatively small size and model appearance. It is painted in the Royal blue livery of Narrow Gauge Railways Ltd.

Katie (1894) was purchased from Eaton Railway to work on the later part of the gauge conversion. She started daily operation in February 1916 and today represents the smallest and original form of the Minimum Gauge locos that were designed and built by Sir at Duffield Bank. Katie has undergone significant restoration, with a number of original Heywood components and a new boiler having been added.

Internal Combustion Loco No 1 Bunny (1922) was the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway’s first internal combustion loco. It was home-built around a Ford T car engine and still holds the line speed record of 15 minutes, for a journey normally taking 35! This internal combustion loco was visited in 1926 by the management of County Donegal Railways, just before they embarked on their own modernisation of passenger services with two Fort T rail buses. The loco is largely restored to an early state of 1928. It worked until around 1959 and is relatively fragile.

Quarryman (1927) also has national importance as an early surviving internal combustion machine and was one of Ravenglass and Eskdale’s first machines that worked year-round. It is one of the original internal combustion engines that carried granite cargo, transporting it from Beckfoot Quarry as late on as 1953. It was originally built by Muir-Hill, using a Fordson tractor engine and was still working, as late as 1980, on permanent way duties. It has been restored to its original open cab state, using a later form of Fordson engine and is a robust loco painted in the Fordson green livery.

Other locos on display are Flower of the Forest (1985) operable until 15 years ago, Greenbat (1957) – a Ravenglass yard shunter from 1982 to the mid 1990s - and the sectioned boiler of River Esk with its Poppet valve cylinders.

First gauge engines on show are: a Bassett-Lowke 4-wheel carriage (1913); a Dawson covered 4- wheel carriage (1923) and an open carriage (1927). First gauge wagons are: Heywood flat wagons (1875 and 1896); a two-off Theakston granite tub wagon (1922) and a Stores van (1968)

The Museum also contains items from the Eskdale iron mines, including the vellum lease of mineral rights (1871) from Faithful Cookson – an iron master from London. There are also copies of plans, rail sections and a winding wheel from an inclined railway, along with the mine office frontage.

The 3-foot gauge line, although replaced by the 15-inch line, did leave some artefacts behind that are on display in the Museum, including rail sections, ownership plates, a poster from 1882 and a small but comprehensive number of images. While most equipment was destroyed, the remains of the Big Saloon coach of 1876 are one of the iconic echoes of the past era, as well as being a rare example of early passenger carriage construction.

A quirky exhibit can be found in the small figurine of Mr Bassett-Lowke, which was his personal copy. There is also a collection of model railway equipment produced by Bassett-Lowke & Co, in various gauges from Gauge 1 to Table Top 00. This represents the development of toy trains into scale model railways, which were influenced from around 1900 by Henry Greenly and which include the Great Western ‘County of Northampton’.

A sale notice from 1960 is also on display, publicising the auction at which the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Preservation Society, with the help and financial support of Midlands stockbroker, Colin Gilbert and local landowner, Sir Wavell Wakefield MP, bought the line and set up a new company to own and run it as from 1961.

From swill buckets, milk churns, model figures of miners, and 2-foot gauged mine wagons, to Heywood cast iron sleepers, Heywood wooden bogie, the sidetanks of loco ‘Muriel’ and nostalgic items such as an old Dalegarth café menu, Visit Eskdale leaflet and NGR Trespassers poster, the Museum offers unique insights into Cumbrian history, rail history and the wider national context of both. Whether studying a Silver Jubilee poster, ticket clippers, an array of model locos or a teacup, there is a lot to set the imagination alight even before seeing

Alight at The Museum and Meet Our Working Engines

Many families and railway enthusiasts head to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway each year just to see its fabulous engines, each of which has its own history and story to tell. To help you appreciate our lovely locos, read on …

River Irt (0-8-2) Length 24ft Built 1894 – the mid-green with a black and yellow lining - is the oldest working 15” gauge locomotive in the world and was originally called ‘Muriel’ when built by Sir Arthur Heywood at Duffield Bank, . It originally worked at the Eaton Hall Railway and saw service at a munitions factory in Gretna before arriving at Ravenglass in 1917. ‘Muriel’ was renamed after being rebuilt in 1927, becoming River Irt - the mainstay of passenger operations. A taller chimney was added in the 1970s, to help River Irt look more attractive. This engine is named after the river that flows from Wastwater in Wasdale, down to the sea at Ravenglass, at the confluence of the rivers Irt, Esk and Mite.

River Esk (2-8-2) Length 24ft Built 1923 – the black steam locomotive – was designed by Henry Greenly and built in 1923 by Davey Paxman of Colchester. It became the inspiration for dozens of narrow gauge locomotives subsequently built in Britain and between the wars, as it was the first 2-8-2 locomotive in Britain. It is named after one of the rivers flowing through the Eskdale valley, through which it travels. This locomotive originally worked like a Trojan, hauling heavy stone from Beckfoot Quarry to Murthwaite for crushing, as well as carrying passengers. Its valve gear was replaced in 1928 and a new tender fitted in 1970. For many years, this locomotive was painted green, but it currently bears the Blackberry black livery with red, off-white and black lining, of the London & North Western Railway,

River Mite (2-8-2) Length 24ft Built 1966 – the red steam locomotive – bears the Indian Red livery of the old Furness Railway and is lined in black and vermillion. It made history and headlines when hauled from York to Ravenglass by traction engine in December 1966. It came into commission in May 1967 and its arrival made it possible to run a longer and more intensive summer service. Built by Clarksons of York in 1966, it is owned by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society, who raised funds for its construction, and has a similar appearance to River Esk, whose old steam tender was used during the build. The river Mite, from which the loco takes its name, runs virtually parallel to the Railway for over three miless. The current River Mite is the second loco of that name at Ravenglass. The first was built in 1928 out of parts taken from three of the miniature engines in service after the Ravenglass and Eskdale line was re-gauged to 15”. This original loco found it difficult to tackle the steep gradients of the Ravenglass to Dalegarth line and was withdrawn from service in 1937 and scrapped. River Mite has been an ambassador for RER, visiting events as far away as .

Northern Rock (2-6-2) Length 24ft Built 1976 – the Muscat green/yellow steam locomotive with a red, dark green and white lining – bears the Highland Railway colours and is one of the most powerful 15” gauge locomotives in the world. It was built at Ravenglass and was named after the main sponsor, whose support made the construction possible. It was designed by the Railway’s then Chief Engineer, Ian Smith, who used all of the most successful design aspects of River Irt, River Esk and the Kentish Romney Hythe & Dymchurch loco, Northern Chief. Northern Rock came into service in March 1976 and has proved such a successful locomotive that two other locomotives have been commissioned to the same design for a tourist park in Japan.

Synolda – the loco in the Royal blue livery of Narrow Gauge Railways Ltd – celebrated its 100th birthday in 2012, having been built for the Sand Hutton Railway in 1912, by Bassett-Lowke, as an identical loco to those that first worked the re-gauged 15” line, in particular its sister loco, Sans Pareil. The loco was rescued from a derelict state from Belle Vue Zoo in 1978 and restored to full working order by employees of BNFL. This loco is too lightly built for everyday use, so is mainly viewed in the Ravenglass and Eskdale Museum at Ravenglass Station. However, it will be out on show for the 2014 Family Fun Weekend over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Bonnie Dundee – Bonnie Dundee in the bronze green livery of the North British Railway will share the limelight with Synolda during the May Bank Holiday Family Fun Weekend. She was built in 1900 by Kerr Stuart, with her original owners being the Dundee Gasworks. Ian Fraser bought the engine in 1960 and donated it to Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in 1976. She was then rebuilt and emerged as a 0-4-2T engine in 1982, with side tanks from Ella. She was used on lighter journeys and in winter, before being given a new boiler and tender in 1996. The name Bonnie Dundee derives from a Sir Walter Scott poem and song about John Graham of Claverhouse.

Quarryman – the now ‘retired’ internal combustion loco in the Fordson green livery – was built in 1926 and ended service in 1975. It has been fully restored and can be seen by visitors to the Railway.

Perkins – the internal combustion loco in the yellow and black livery – features in the books written by Rev W Awdry’s son Christopher and is known as Frank in the ‘Jock the New Engine’ series. Perkins was originally powered by a Fordson tractor engine, but was re-built in 1930. It was later officially given the name Perkins and given a more powerful engine and twin disc transmission in 1989. Perkins is a permanent way train hauler and shunter capable of working at low speeds for essential maintenance work.

Shelagh of Eskdale – the internal combustion loco in the two-tone green livery – is named after an Irish princess who married a Viking and settled in the Lake District in the Tenth Century. This locomotive was created from the parts of a petrol-driven loco, which was scrapped in 1930. The scrapped loco had been created from the frame and wheels of a steam loco named Ella, who was sister to Muriel, which in turn became the current River Irt. Shelagh of Eskdale has visited several lines and has even hauled HM Queen Elizabeth at a festival in Liverpool.

Lady Wakefield – the internal combustion loco in Brunswick Green – first saw service in 1980, having been constructed to the specification of then Chief Engineer, Ian Smith. She was named after the wife of the Chairman of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Company Ltd, Lord Wakefield, the father and grandfather of the current directors.

Douglas Ferreira – the internal combustion loco in the Indian Red of the Furness Railway – was named after the longest-serving general manager of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. Douglas Ferreira served the Railway from 1961-1994 and this loco was commissioned in his honour in September 2005. Owned by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Preservation Society, this powerful loco is the crème de le crème of the internal combustion fleet and has twin cabs. It is in daily service on the line. Fifteen For 2015 – Fast Facts About Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

1. Locomotive River Irt is the oldest working 15” gauge locomotive in the world (built in 1894) while Northern Rock (1976) is the most powerful. 2. The seven-mile line has a challenging, but exciting, 1:55 gradient for our locos to tackle, plus twists and turns and rises and falls. 3. The journey is the longest narrow gauge railway trip in the Lake District – 40 minutes each way, starting in a coastal nature reserve and ending close to England’s tallest mountains. 4. Just outside Ravenglass there is a signal box featuring the first radio station of its kind in the country. 5. The journey takes you through hidden valleys – Miterdale and Eskdale. Eskdale was loved by both Wordsworth and the great walker, Wainwright, who called it one of the loveliest of all Lakeland valleys. 6. Ravenglass and the Eskdale valley are steeped in Roman history. You can explore the Roman bathhouse at Ravenglass Glannaventa) while visiting us. The fort here was the most southerly part of the Hadrian’s Wall defences. 7. Our bench seats at Ravenglass have squirrel ends – the distinctive design of the old Furness Railway, while the awning on platform one features the cast iron columns from Whitehaven Bransty station. 8. 1.4 miles out of Ravenglass, you will reach Mill Wood, with its 1:42 gradient. It is here that early passengers would have to get out and push the train! 9. At Miteside Halt, an upturned boat has offered shelter to walkers for more than a century. 10. The station called ‘The Green’ was originally named ‘King of Prussia’, after a local hostelry of that name. In the middle of World War 1, the pub re-named itself the George 1V and the station was rechristened ‘Eskdale Green’. 11. Gilberts Cutting was created in 1964 following the removal of 3000 tons of earth and rock, to save the trains from the strain of tacklng the curves of the Hollinghead Bend. 12. From Dalegarth, you can visit Eskdale Mill, the Lake District’s oldest working Water Corn Mill, documented since 1578, but possibly in existence since 1294. 13. Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway has been chosen, for the second year running, to be one of the prestigious recipients of a Commonwealth Flag, which it will fly on Commonwealth Day on March 9, 2015. 14. If you wish to truly base your holiday around the Railway, you can book its unique and nostalgic accommodation – First World War Pullman coaches, based right beside the platform at Ravenglass. There are two fabulous, atmospheric Pullman coaches (Elmira and Maid of Kent) available with all mod cons and a cooked breakfast just steps away in the Turntable Café. 15. Walkers can take advantage of ten incredible walks devised especially for Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway by acclaimed walker, Wainwright. Each starts and ends at one of the Railway’s stations and the booklet costs only a marginal sum, a percentage of which is donated to conservation work in the Lake District.

Alight at The Museum for a Western Lake District Experience

A visit to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway can be just the start of a wonderful holiday or short break in the lesser-known Western Lake District, where there are exciting walks to enjoy, cycle routes to explore, sights to behold and places to visit.

Walking in the Western Lake District can mean exploring the wonderful, quiet beaches around Whitehaven and St Bees, but also taking in a sight such as Wastwater and Britain’s Favourite View. Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway can introduce you to some other not-to-be-missed naturally stunning sights by simply allowing you to walk in the footsteps of famous walker, Alfred Wainwright, who created ten beautiful walks for the Railway’s owner, Lord Wakefield, illustrating them too, to add to the walker’s enjoyment

Walks from Ratty is a little pocket booklet that can open up the ten walks for you , every walk starts and ends at a Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway station, although the destinations vary.

Walks from Irton Road will take you to: Muncaster Fell, Irton Fell and Miterdale. You could also take a three-mile/three-hour walk from Beckfoot Halt station, visiting Blea Tarn, or opt for one of the six walks that start at Dalegarth Station. These visit Burnmoor Tarn, Eel Tarn, Harter Fell, the spectacular Dalegarth Force – a stunning waterfall – and the remains of the Roman fort at Hardknott. The fifth is a short 1.5-hour riverside walk from Dalegarth.

If you prefer to do your own thing, you can make one of the Railway’s stations a ‘request stop’, if that will give you access to the area you wish to explore.

If you are one of those who love to venture by two wheels, can book your bike on to a train, if you give 24 hours notice. The Railway has three circular cycle routes that you can follow, all of which are detailed on cycle cards available for purchase in its shops. One takes the cyclist along the route of the river Esk, while another travels alongside the Esk and then to the flanks of Muncaster Fell. The third is an off-road option that ventures into little known Eskdale, crosses the river Mite and then heads in to Miterdale Forest.

More adventurous two-wheelers can also purchase an Eskdale TRail map, which will allow them to follow an 8.5-mile ride all the way back from Dalegarth to Ravenglass. You will encounter little traffic on this one, but lots of wildlife and there is only one steep section and nobody will mind if you get off and push!

When it comes to what to visit, there is nearby Muncaster Castle, which has a year-round events programme, spectacular gardens and even electric bikes to hire, which you can recharge at Ravenglass and Eskdale’s stations.

From Ravenglass, you can take a Northern Rail Cumbrian Coast service and explore the Western Lake District coast. Visiting Whitehaven will allow you to see the historic harbour that was once a bustling port at the centre of the rum, sugar, spices and slave trades and perhaps visit the Rum Story, where all of this history is encapsulated and interpreted.

Roman history can be explored at the Senhouse Museum in Maryport, where you can also visit the Lake District Coast Aquarium. Travelling as far as Carlisle will build on your Roman knowledge, if you visit Tullie House Museum. Alternatively, you may just like to shop in the city’s many shopping arcades and stores.

You could also head to Grange-over-Sands and stroll the Edwardian streets and serene promenade, taking in the magnificent sight of Morecambe Bay. Of course, if you have a car, you can explore further afield and visit other parts of the Lake District, perhaps travelling to Ullswater for a cruise with the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway’s sister attraction, Ullswater ‘Steamers’.

Accommodation can be in anything from the Pennington Hotel in Ravenglass, to the Fisherground Campsite in Eskdale, local pubs and, if you want something completely different, in our self-catering First World War Pullman coaches, Elmira and Maid of Kent, believed to be the only Pullman camping coaches left in England.

Both of these carriages will transport you back in time and are ideal accommodation choices for those seeking a nostalgic dive into the past. Both are situated on the Ravenglass station complex, meaning that home made food, cooked breakfasts and tasty cakes and desserts are just a few steps away in the Turntable Café.

Elmira turns 102 in 2015 and was used as transportation for wounded soldiers rescued from the trenches. She became a First Class Pullman in 1921, working the Southern Line, mainly in Kent. This lifestyle ended in 1960, when she became a camping coach in the British Rail Camping Coach scheme and was situated at Seascale. She arrived at her home in Ravenglass in 1968.

Maid of Kent was also an ambulance car for those wounded in the trenches and also worked the Southern Line when the First World War ended.

Both coaches have been fitted with an interior that evokes the spirit of Edwardian times, with inlaid wood panelling, but also the mod cons that you expect on holiday, including colour TV, night storage heater and electric fire. Both sleep six, in three separate bedrooms, one having twin beds and the other two full-size bunk beds. There is a washbasin with cold water in the bedrooms and bathroom with electric shower and toilet. The kitchen is equipped with cooker, microwave, fridge, pans and crockery/cutlery.

Each coach costs between £350 and £530 per week, which includes discounted travel on the Railway and can be hired by calling 01229 717171 or by booking online at www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk

Those preferring a cottage option can hire Hilton Cottage, situated at the end of Platform 1 at Ravenglass Station, where the occupants can watch the trains go by. It has a double bedroom and a twin, a shower room with toilet, a living/dining area with TV and stereo and a kitchen. There is also radiator heating.

Hire of Hilton Cottage in 2015 costs between £350 and £530 depending on time of year. This can be booked online or by calling 01229 717171.

With all of these Western Lake District options to entice, there is every reason to alight at the Ravenglass Museum in 2015, whether you then choose to stay close by, choose other accommodation in the vicinity, or just visit on a day-trip.

Alight at The Museum for a Corporate or Private Treat

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway appreciates how the line’s history, and the aura of nostalgia which surrounds its locos and stations, can create the perfect atmosphere for a corporate or private function, a family celebration or a wedding, and so has a number of options available.

The Function Room at the Turntable Café at Ravenglass is on the upper floor of Platform 1 and can seat 50-60 people. It has level access to an outside terrace and can host anything from a children’s party, to an anniversary or group visit, with a minimum number of 10 people or children per booking. The premises are licensed, but a corkage rate can be applied, if the group wishes to bring its own alcohol.

A 4-hour room hire with no food is something that appeals to those wishing to have meeting facilities, but there are also three finger buffet menu options available, ranging from £8-£18 per person. A £50 hire charge applies for up to 25 people attending, which includes light refreshments of tea/coffee/iced water and biscuits. For parties numbering over 25, an extra charge of £1.50 per person applies, up to the maximum of 50/60 people. These prices are for meetings inside normal hours. Outside of these hours, additional charges apply.

Moving up from there, party planners can charter a whole train, complete with a bespoke header board. This costs £500 a day for a steam train (£600 for the evening), or £400 for daytime diesel booking and £500 for the evening.

Alternatively, it is possible to book a private carriage – ‘The Eskdale Belle, or children’s carriage, La’al Ratty’s Coach.

The Eskdale Belle coach hire option gives you a journey in a beautifully crafted coach with luxury comfort and a wood panelled interior, which can seat up to 16. There is even an outdoor veranda seating area, from which to fully enjoy the stunning landscape. You can choose which trains to join with your private coach, giving you flexibility in your event/celebration planning. The minimum charge is £95 for five persons or less. An additional charge per person then applies, up to a maximum of 16 people.

A Diamond Package can be added to the adult booking, which provides a sparkling bubbly reception for 30 people (only one package per booking). If alcohol is brought along by the group, a corkage charge of £10 a bottle applies.

The Eskdale Belle experience puts you in the same comfortable coach, but comes with a few extra frills to make your day truly special. Your day starts with a breakfast roll, served with tea or coffee, in the Turntable Café in Ravenglass. You will be greeted in your special coach with a bottle of Cava and then, on reaching Dalegarth, be served lunch with a glass of wine, before taking your trip back down the valley. A free souvenir guide will help you remember your day. This costs £175 for two people and £225 for four.

The La’al Ratty Coach can be booked for a birthday party day out with a difference. The coach can seat up to 16 and is comfortable and spacious. Its outside is painted with characters from the Railway’s popular storybook, creating a thrill even before the children get on board. Parents/organisers can choose a train journey that they would wish to book the coach on to (subject to the manager’s approval) and plan their day around those times. On arrival, the children/adults will receive a breakfast roll and a cup of tea/coffee or glass of squash. Following their seven-mile journey, the children enjoy a special buffet. They can play in the outdoor play area, browse the shops and even go on a walk, if the organisers decide to take them out for some country air. Finally, they make their way back on their return journey, they will receive a Ratty Club Membership card and a soft toy. This experience costs £175 for up to six people and £265 for 6-12.

The children’s catering can be provided at either the Turntable Café in Ravenglass or the Fellbites Eatery at Dalegarth and other elements for the party can be advised. Even the birthday cake can be provided! Just download the Children’s Parties leaflet at www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk

Chartering a carriage or train can create a perfect wedding day experience, particularly when the header board is personalised and you can steam off in style. With opportunities to be photographed on the footplate and excellent catering options available, there is a very different wedding day to be had at La’al Ratty.

For a more impromptu celebration, you can book a Cream Tea & Steam Experience for two (giving 48 hours notice). This can add a little extra to your day – a delicious selection of sandwiches and cream tea treat at either of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway cafés. The cream tea includes tasty sandwiches, delicious home-baked scones, butter, jam, clotted cream and tea/coffee. Travel on scheduled services is also included within the cost of £50 for two people. If you wish to indulge yourself, you simply buy a voucher online at www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk and then contact the Railway to confirm the date on which you would like to travel. The voucher is valid until the end of 2015.

Alight at The Museum and Appreciate Our Green Practices

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway has embarked on a green evolution that is tackling the challenge of uniting the past with the present and retaining an authentic experience, while minimising environmental impacts.

The Railway has become the first heritage railway in the UK to replace the whole of its hardwood railway sleepers with alternatives made from 100 per cent recycled materials. In a year that celebrates 100 years of its 15” gauge line, it has purchased 400 Ecotrax sleepers that last a minimum of thirty years and which can be recycled again thereafter.

The choice of these sleepers, that are more expensive than hardwood alternatives, has been based upon the Railway’s efforts to become as eco-friendly an attraction as possible, within the constraints that come with being an authentic heritage attraction.

The Ecotrax sleepers will also not rust, splinter, crumble or rot and have many other benefits. They have been laid in locations around the world, but the only other heritage lines to currently use them are the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways. There, only a short junction has been replaced with Ecotrax, not the whole line, as will be the case at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.

This is just one of the many initiatives that the Railway has either implemented, or which it will be introducing in the year ahead. It has a vast recycling plan, encompassing everything from metal waste and ink cartridges to plastics and cardboard and will be looking into areas that are not immediately obvious, such as harvesting rainwater to water the plants in its hanging baskets.

Low-energy lighting will be introduced throughout the operation, with sensors and LED lighting fitted to staff and public areas in station buildings and workshops including the signal box and loco shed. Rigid foam insulation will be introduced in a rebuilt workshop, which will only use wood timber from a sustainable source and water-based stain products on the new timber.

Toilets will have low flush cisterns and the shops will follow a local procurement policy, to reduce the food and retail miles travelled by the items stocked.

There is an electric car charging point at Dalegarth Station, along with electric bike charging facilities at both Dalegarth and Ravenglass – ideal for those hiring an electric bike at Muncaster Castle & Gardens.

The Railway also supports an X33 bus service, which departs Ambleside and journeys through the Central and Western Lake District, stopping at places including Skelwith Bridge, Coniston, Broughton- in-Furness, Muncaster and Ravenglass. The green option of taking a Northern Rail service to Ravenglass, from locations in Lancashire and the north and northwest of Cumbria, (every day bar Sunday), is also promoted, cutting the carbon footprint and the petrol bills of those living or staying in Carlisle, Maryport, Workington, Barrow, Morecambe, Grange-over-Sands, Carnforth, Lancaster or Preston, or a host of smaller stations on the route between Carlisle and Lancaster.

All that is required for those wishing to follow this option is the purchase of a through ticket to Ravenglass from any staffed station, or from the conductor on the train. This allows you to travel on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway with that ticket and allows you to save £4 per adult and £2 per child on the price of normal combined fares. If you have a railcard, you can save even more.

A 10% discount is also provided by Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway to those using green options when visiting. This includes the holders of the following tickets: Cumbrian Coast Day Ranger, Lakes Day Ranger, Lakes Family Day Ranger, North West Rover, North Country Rover and Cumbria Round Robin.

For frequent visitors, or those staying in the Western Lake District for a while, there is also the option of buying a Ratty Rover Pass. This gives the holder travel on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway for five full days a year, for just the price of three, whether they use their allocation in a block, or spread their five days across the year. Five days going car-free allows you to make a difference to your petrol costs and emissions

The Ratty Rover can be bought online at www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk at a cost of £40 for an adult, £20 for a child and £105 for a family of two adults and two children aged 5-15 years.

Head to www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk and www.northernrail.org to discover more. Let The Kids Join The Ratty Kids Club And Alight At The Museum

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway makes a big effort to instil the love of steam engines in the younger generation, creating exciting events for children of all ages, including a forthcoming visit by Shaun the Sheep and cousin Timmy in October 2015.

In between events, children can stay in touch with the Railway and the antics of its loveable mascot, La’al Ratty the watervole, by joining its Ratty Kids Club. This is completely free to join and registration online is quick and easy at www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk

Members of the club receive quarterly e-newsletters full of quizzes, competitions, jokes and fun facts and are also invited to special events. They can even travel free-of-charge on certain services specified at particular times of year.

La’al Ratty puts in appearances during holiday times and at key events throughout the year, so Kids Club members can say hello to their hero in person.

Parents wishing to build excitement about a visit to ‘The Ratty’ can also visit www.ravenglass- railway.co.uk and follow the Railway on Facebook – www.facebook.com/Ravenglass.Eskdale.Railway and Twitter www.twitter.com/rersteam

Alight at The Museum Having Enjoyed A 14-Mile Return Journey

Ravenglass

This is the starting point for your Ravenglass and Eskdale steam day out and the only coastal village in the Lake District National Park. Ravenglass was once a bustling port, of great importance in Roman times, which is why you can find the remains of a Roman bathhouse dating back to the latter years of the 1st Century AD just a short stroll from the station. The fort here was called Glannaventa and was linked by road, through Eskdale, to the fort at Hardknott and that at Ambleside. It was the most southerly point in the Hadrian’s Wall defensive system and, although partially destroyed when the mainline rail track was laid, still has retaining walls to a remarkable height and interpretation boards which explain the layout of this Roman fort.

If you can tear yourself away from the peaceful shore, where trading schooners once signified the importance of a pearl mussel and salmon trade, you may spend a little time at Ravenglass Station before boarding the train, viewing the locos in the museum and perhaps getting a refreshment or home made meal in the Turntable Café on platform one. There is also a gift shop and, if you have time, you can look for some unique features, such as the distinctive squirrel ends on the bench seats of the old Furness Railway, the awning on platform one that features the cast iron columns from Whitehaven Bransty Station and the Victorian awning, which covers the remaining lines, which came from Millom.

Just outside Ravenglass is a signal box that features the first radio system of its kind in this country.

Barrow Marsh

Heading out of Ravenglass, which is flanked by two nature reserves, you will begin to cross Barrow Marsh, where wildlife includes greylag geese, curlew, oystercatcher, mallard, shelduck and primroses in early Spring. The bushy trees growing beside the line are Whitebeam, which has Saxon origins, as ‘beam’ was the Saxon word for tree. These trees are decorated with white flowers in spring, which turn to reddish-brown berries by Autumn. Common reed – Britain’s tallest native grass - can be seen growing by the line.

Muncaster Mill Halt (1.2 miles from Ravenglass)

This was the first terminus of the 15” gauged railway and has been a request stop since 1876. This is a site at which, until recently there was a working watermill. A mill serving the Muncaster Estate has stood since at least 1455 and, although this is now a private residence, the water wheel is still visible here. Watch out here for herons, dippers, wagtails and the flash of a kingfisher diving from a low perch. A sessile oak can be seen in the field to the left of the Railway and its stance clearly shows the direction of the prevailing wind!

Mill Wood (1.4 miles from Ravenglass)

This is an area in which to spot endangered red squirrels and their feeding boxes in the trees, as the engine driver uses all their skill to climb a difficult section of track where the train climbs a millrace and a 1:42 gradient as the wood is approached. Dampness underneath the trees makes the track slippery, but these days passengers are spared the chore that their ancestors endured of pushing the train at this point – something they actually looked forward to!

Miteside Halt (1.6 miles from Ravenglass)

Passengers can look out for an upturned boat, which has provided shelter for walkers for more than a century. For two miles from this point, the train will climb almost continuously as it runs along the side of Muncaster Fell.

Muncaster Fell

At this point, the track is 757 feet higher than at the estuary at Ravenglass, but this imposing fell, almost a mountain in stature, has a steep and rocky flank that makes it seem much higher. The fell side supports heather, bilberry, gorse, bracken, woodland copse and forest, providing a blanket of rich colour. This area is home to roe deer – only two-feet in height and half the size of the other indigenous deer, the red deer. You may also see buzzards circling in the skies above, picking them out by virtue of their 20-22 inch wingspan or their characteristic mewing call. Look out for them perching on lower vantage points too, particularly between Rock Point and Irton Road.

Miteside Loop (1.7 miles from Ravenglass)

This part of the journey is absolutely magical in winter and at other times you can enjoy the sight of silver birch scrub to the left and both polytrichum and sphagnum moss in the wetter areas. The loop has only existed since 1976, this development coinciding with that of the radio signalling system. Each driver must now report to the Ravenglass control box before driving the train away from the loop. It is at this point that fully laden trains might encounter Santa’s sleigh on December Santa Specials.

Murthwaite Crushing Plant and Granite Quarry (2.5 miles from Ravenglass)

This was once a place of great industrial activity, but nowadays passengers just see the remains of the plant at which granite from Beckfoot was crushed and ground. Look out for the sessile oak woodland, rich in ferns, mosses and lichens.

You will shortly pass the ruins of Murthwaite Farm and will approach Murthwaite Halt around a sharp corner. This now has a name-board and a cleared platform.

Rock Point (3.3 miles from Ravenglass)

This is one of the most dramatic points in the journey, reached after the train has been through Horsefalls Wood. The River Mite, last seen at Miteside, reappears down a steep drop of nearly 60 feet. If the trees are bare of leaves, you may be able to see Scafell from here. The woodland here is composed of oak, beech and ash. The train now ascends a 1:4 gradient to Walk Mill summit. This is named after an old fulling mill at which wool was cleansed. The course of the River Mite is outlined by the whitewashed Bower House Inn, signalling that the train is approaching the outskirts of Eskdale Green village.

On the open fellside to the right, passengers can see heather, bilberry and wood rush. The kronking call of the raven might be heard and peregrine falcon could also be spotted. Prepare to view Scafell just as the train passes the ruins of Black Bridge. On a clear day, England’s tallest mountain should be standing majestically, glorying in its 3,162’ position above sea level.

Irton Road Station (4.2 miles from Ravenglass)

A small pink granite station building has existed at Irton Road, at the western end of Eskdale Green village, since 1876 and is the only original building on the line. This is the main crossing point on the line and is also the start of two of the unique ‘Walks From Ratty’. Many passengers with time to relax and explore enjoy a walk around the village of Eskdale Green. Walking through the village actually leads them to the next station along the line.

After leaving Irton Road, the view is dominated by the imposing Harter Fell (2160 feet above sea level), deemed beautiful by Wainwright, who revelled in its bracken, heather, grey turrets and ramparts of rock rising into a pyramid shape, as a true peak. The line drops about 20 feet at this point, as passengers journey into the valley of the River Esk. Wet meadows and wood greet the eye to the right and here grows canary grass, common rush and bog myrtle.

The Green - for Eskdale Green Village (4.8 miles from Ravenglass)

This station was originally called the ‘King of Prussia’ after a pub of that name. When this hostelry changed its name to the George IV – a patriotic move in the middle of World War One, the station was re-christened as Eskdale Green and later, The Green. Eskdale was much appreciated by the poet, William Wordsworth, who grew up in West Cumbria. Walker, Wainwright also described it as one of the loveliest of Lakeland valleys. After the train has travelled under a road bridge, there is a 1:43 gradient to climb called Hollin How Bank. The line is less slippery here than at Mill Wood and approaching the next bridge should present little problem. To the left you will now see bracken-clad hills and farmland below.

Here, you will doubtless encounter Lakeland’s famous little sheep – the Herdwick. The lambs of this breed are dark and younger sheep brown, while older sheep are grey with lovely white faces. Herdwick wool is much in demand and Herdwick meat is a taste experience all of its own, the lamb having a unique flavour thanks to the Herdwick’s diet of mosses, lichen and berries.

Fisherground Loop and Halt (5.4 miles from Ravenglass)

Here, your train will wind up and around Fisherground Corner, preparing for a steep climb into Fisherground Loop – the third and final passing place on the line. Fisherground Halt is a rustic structure near to a campsite and a typical Lakeland farm – Spout House Farm – can be seen at this point.

Gilberts Cutting (5.9 miles from Ravenglass)

This cutting was opened in 1964, after 3,000 tons of earth and rock was removed, to prevent the locos having to undergo the strain of tackling the curves in the Hollinghead Bend. The Beckfoot Quarry, last worked in 1953, can be seen on the left and colourful yellow gorse and pink granite rock will be filling your vision.

Beckfoot Halt (6.5 miles from Ravenglass)

This stop is mainly used by fell walkers, those heading to Blea Tarn and users of the Walks From Ratty booklet! The impact of the Ice Age glaciers can be seen in the rocky mounds and jagged edges here. The flora comprises of oak, birch, rowan and holly trees.

From this point, the climb is stiff and takes passengers through oak woodland (Beckfoot Wood) where, through the trees, you can glimpse the tumbling Whillan Beck, making its watery way down from Burnmoor Tarn en route to joining the River Esk. You will see a row of pebble-dashed cottages that were originally miners’ dwellings. As the line levels out and curves around, you will see Dalegarth Station.

Dalegarth (7 miles from Ravenglass)

Dalegarth Station marks the end of the line and its idyllic setting, amid England’s highest mountains, with Scafell to the east and Harter Fell to the south, reminds the passenger of the outstanding beauty of their Lake District location. The current station was built in 2005 as Dalegarth for Boot – the local village. It is well worth visiting Eskdale Mill, the Lake District’s oldest working Water Corn Mill, which has been documented since 1578, but which may well have existed at least since 1294.

Six of Wainwright’s ‘Walks From Ratty’ start and finish at Dalegarth, including a six-mile ramble to Burnmoor Tarn and back, a 3.5-mile walk to Eel Tarn and a 7-mile (3.5 hours) walk to the remains of Hardknott Fort. It is also possible to visit the lovely Dalegarth Force, originally named Stanley Gill Force. This is a lesser-known waterfall in the Lake District, but one of the most spectacular and the walk is only about a mile from Dalegarth.

The station itself has an excellent children’s playground, opened by HRH Princess Alexandra, a picnic area, the Fellbites Eatery, which serves delicious hot and cold snacks, meals and daily specials, and the very well stocked and high quality Scafell gift shop. There is a private function room for hire, in which events are held throughout the year. Mad Ratty Tea Parties for children can also be booked and a choice of menu is available. There is also an option of chartering either a train or a special carriage for special occasions and celebrations. This private charter thrill can also be given to children celebrating their birthday.

The shop sells the ‘Walks From Ratty’ booklet, plus ‘Steam and Ramble’ – a fully illustrated walk calling at every station on the way back to Ravenglass, for those who fancy making the most of their walking boots. Those preferring to cycle can buy a number of cycle route cards at Dalegarth, which will take them on a circular route from the station. Passengers who pre-book a cycle on to the train can also opt to ride the Eskdale TRail, which will lead them back to Ravenglass on their own two wheels.

All timetable and ticket information can be found at www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk and further enquiries can be made by calling 01229 717171.