The R&ER Magazine Number 217 June 2015 The Journal of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society Published quarterly by the Oh, My Aching Buttocks! The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Editorial by John Taylor Preservation Society Limited R&ER Member of the Heritage I have just visited Ratty and enjoyed two return trips on the railway, one with Railway Association diesel haulage, the other by steam. I also compose the Forty Years Ago articles Magazine for the Magazine, and you can find my latest offering on page 35. No 217 June 2015 I feel that I have an interesting viewpoint in that I have been steadily chronicling the Ratty story of “Forty Years Ago”, from 1960 to 1975, over the last fifteen years. Editorial Team: Keith Herbert, Di Chase, Opinions expressed by contributors and Bill Seddon, Mark Harrington, in editorial comment do not necessarily So what did I see and experience on 10th April 2015? Well first of all I enjoyed John Taylor reflect the collective views of the Society. a wonderfully sunny day with fine weather, and although hazy, I experienced again the amazing scenery on show from sea to mountain. I saw all the work Editorial Designer: Julie Hutchinson going on at Ravenglass – the new engineers’ workshop almost complete and Address for Magazine Correspondence: PRESS DEADLINE: Material for inclusion in looking impressive; and work beginning on the museum – surely something Keith Herbert the next issue of the Magazine must long needed and to look forward to. 7 Dalegarth Cottages reach the editors not later than Boot, Holmrook Thursday 16th July at noon. Secondly I experienced superb trips from both Douglas and then Irt; powerful Cumbria CA19 1TF Please send material earlier if possible. haulage up the gradients from the latest diesel locomotive, and the wonderfully [email protected] nostalgic sounds and smells and power from the oldest steam loco. So many The R&ER Magazine is always pleased to receive correspondence, photographs and articles for possible inclusion. changes in forty years! 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 Thirdly, I saw twenty-first century signalling at Ravenglass and along the line; photograph where possible. We have scanning facilities for slides and negatives, and will endeavour to return any loaned photographic material. safety features that belong to a modern railway and a timetable suited to the needs of visitors, both those that use the railway as a means to take them and Society website: http://www.rerps.co.uk bring them back from walks, as well as those just out to enjoy a return journey; Council Chairman: Sam Dixon, 15 Lyceum Close, Leighton, Crewe, Cheshire CW1 3YB. and track that appeared to give a smooth ride thanks to new rails, new plastic Email: [email protected] sleepers and new ballast. So many more changes in forty years! Hon. Secretary: Mungo Stacy, 34 Mayfield Road, Manchester M16 8EU. There is nothing better than riding on Ratty in the open air – it’s a totally brilliant Email: [email protected] sensory experience. So well done to the Railway Company for all the amazing Hon. Financial Secretary: Ian Leigh, 206B Crowfield House, North Row, Central Milton Keynes, improvements that make riding on Ratty such a wonderful experience; both Buckinghamshire MK9 3LQ. Email: [email protected] those that I have been enjoying relating to you in my articles, and those that Hon. Membership Secretary: Phil Taylor, 12 Wholehouse Road, Seascale, Cumbria CA20 1QY. have taken place in the last few years. Email: [email protected] (1-1299 and 2500-3999) But oh, the state of the coaching stock! And oh, my aching buttocks! This is Assistant Membership Secretary: Jim Wilcock, ‘Porthlow’, Neston Road, Ness, Neston CH64 4AZ. the one thing that I personally feel needs urgent attention. Why oh why in the Email: [email protected] (1300-2499) twenty-first century, forty or more years since they were first introduced, do we Sales Officer: Terry Williams, 88 Bluestone Road, Moston, Manchester M40 9HY. still have to endure cramped and uncomfortable conditions in the rolling stock? Email: [email protected] Passengers, tourists and visitors deserve more. There has been some superb Magazine Distributor: Cumbria Mailing Services Ltd. Penrith, CA11 9FQ. investment in infrastructure, buildings, stations, signalling, safety and trackwork. But could we not have some investment now in new coaching stock to reflect the Heywood House Bookings: Mary Harding. Email: [email protected]. Tel: 01229 717080. times we live in and make it even more of a pleasure to ride on the Ratty? What Volunteers: Peter Mills. Email: [email protected] about converting the Eskdale Belle into an observation coach with panoramic General Manager: Trevor Stockton, R&ER Co. Ltd. Ravenglass, Cumbria, CA18 1SW. Tel: 01229 717171. windows at one end; or new covered coaches with curved roof windows (like the Swiss Glacier Express) to let passengers see more of the scenery and feel less Front Cover: River Mite storms to the top of Mill Wood, May 2014. cramped? How could we make the concept of open coaches more comfortable? Photo: David Mart 2 3 Meanwhile in our latest edition you will find not only further comment on the bring to an end the first phase of the museum redevelopment and that the carriages (have a look through the mailbag on page 30), but also the usual news, second phase will take place, hopefully this next winter, with the all-important views and historical features, as well as a glimpse into the world of the volunteer train shed. This will give a home to Synolda, Katie, Quarryman and assorted Stationmaster, as described by Gwyn Murfet, a familiar and very smartly turned rolling stock, as the story is told of the operational development of the railway. out sight at Irton Road. Perhaps readers will be encouraged to give it a go! If you are reading this and you wish to be involved in the restoration of these, and other items of stock, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the railway. All this building work has played havoc with our car park surface at Ravenglass. News from Ravenglass Not only our works, but also those of Network Rail contractors, with the main Trevor Stockton line bridge renewal, have contributed to the additional wear and tear, so we are hoping to carry out a resurfacing programme in three stages – two this late It looks at long last like some light at the end of our metaphorical railway spring and the last one next year when the museum is finished. tunnel. The start of the 2015 daily service saw three R&ER steam locomotives Work has now started on the new guards’ room, situated across from the old available [at the beginning of a season] for the first time since 2012. The new one in the area to the back of the joiner’s shop. Many moons ago this area was workshop now nears completion. With machinery inside and Perkins standing the Chief Engineer’s office, when the building was the engineering workshop. on the centre road, it looks like we are starting to mean business. We are much Once this has been finished we will eventually reclaim the old [current] guards’ more capable of dealing with breakdowns and repairs than we have been for room for either an archive office or another bedroom for the bungalow. It is the last two seasons. All credit to Steve, Graeme, Geoff, Nigel, David and John worth noting for historians that this room used to be the General Manager’s (apologies if I have missed anyone) for all of the additional work that has gone office until 1980. We are very good at recycling! into the internal preparation and external paint work – and all at the same time as keeping the railway running. On the marketing front, group bookings continue to grow and the hiring of the Eskdale Belle for “significant anniversaries” is very popular. By far the most The daily service started quietly but built to Easter, which was encouraging, popular of all is the ‘buy a gift’ cream tea – we sold in excess of 450 of these despite the weather being rather indifferent over the Bank Holiday weekend last season. To further enhance the experience we are now looking at bespoke itself. Additional trains were run for much of the period, taking the opportunity pottery! to give a little more in the way of steam-hauled journeys, a welcome change from the recent past where diesels have prevailed to keep the advertised service Welcome to Will Sands, who is joining the operational team, and welcome back going. to Peter Mills, now fully recovered from a wintertime arm injury. Continuing the theme, The railway still needs lots of volunteer help on a daily basis; please contact from the last Magazine, Martin Cookman, Peter Mills or me at the railway if you are interested. of the situation with the old museum: it has now been stripped Permanent Way Notes out, revealing the David Moseley shell of the old British Railways waiting It is probably no exaggeration to say this winter has seen the track gang complete room, graffiti and all! some of the most complex and varied track alterations and renewals the railway Once the building has has ever seen. received some much needed restoration Fresh from completing the renewal and realigning of Fisherground in November, it will be completely work on the track recommenced in early January with the replacement of the altered internally, with crossover and points outside Ravenglass signal box, along with associated new, modern displays ‘plain’ track renewal into platforms 1, 2 and 3.