Don't miss this months indoor meeting!
Saturday - May 9th
Chris Heaps presents:
A history of the London Bus Museum
In the memorial hall, Redruth Methodist Church - TR152EG
Commencing at 1830
Please note: The Hall Car Park will only have a few spare spaces, as a Concert will be taking place in the Wesley Chapel.
Please use other Car Parks
(Flower Pot Chapel Car Park, just down the road)
Saturday - May 9th
Chris Heaps presents:
A history of the London Bus Museum
In the memorial hall, Redruth Methodist Church - TR152EG
Commencing at 1830
Please note: The Hall Car Park will only have a few spare spaces, as a Concert will be taking place in the Wesley Chapel.
Please use other Car Parks
(Flower Pot Chapel Car Park, just down the road)
NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 104
Settle and Carlisle 150
Michael L. Roach
It was good to see the Settle and Carlisle's 150th birthday celebrated by Ian Thomas on Saturday 2 May 2026. I was already scanning my colour slides for a similar article when it appeared, but mine will focus on normal traffic at the time of our first visit in 1982, when the line was still busy with traditional freight trains and a good variety of diesel classes, and not a single dmu seen. First a few facts about the line. The line was constructed by the Midland Railway as part of the third route and their own independent route to Scotland. The line started at Settle Junction and finished at the eastern outskirts of Carlisle at Petteril Bridge Junction, 72m 42c away, and passed through some of the most hostile terrain in England. There are 22 viaducts and 14 tunnels with several notable landmarks:- Blea Moor Tunnel, signal box and down loop; Ribblehead Viaduct; Ais Gill Summit (1169 feet); and Hawes Junction (renamed Garsdale) the name (but not the exact site of) a disastrous collision on Christmas Eve 1910 made worse by gas-lit carriages igniting the wrecked coaches.
The problems that accompanied construction of the Midland Railway's line from Settle to Carlisle in mid-Victorian times are well known to most readers – a hostile landscape; harsh winters; isolation; shanty towns; disease and death to name but a few, plus hard graft for 10 or 12 hours a day, or more. Eventually man triumphed over adversity and left us with a wonderful legacy to travel along or visit and photograph. 150 years later it still exercises a pulling power over rail enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike. I doubt that anyone visiting the S&C for the first time has ever been disappointed. My first visit was in the summer of 1982 when we both travelled along it and did some lineside photography. The line opened to passengers on 1 May 1876 and has just celebrated its 150th anniversary. Attached are a few photos from those visits in the summer of 1982. We are really lucky to be able to celebrate a line that was saved from closure; is still busy; has not been disfigured by OHLE; and still has semaphore signalling and Midland Railway signal boxes.
The line is reasonably busy with its own passenger trains and come into its own when the WCML is closed and trains are diverted this way. There are also a number of freight train paths but most of them are (Q) and run as required. One of the most interesting of these, for us in the West Country, is 6S00 the 10.12 Ernesettle MOD to Glen Douglas MOD which runs infrequently. The train is routed via Bristol TM, East Usk Junction (Newport) 14.35-15.12, Crewe, Hellifield Goods Loop 21.49, Carlisle NY 00.02-04.23, Mossend, and due Glen Douglas 08.50 The distance is about 550 miles. It would be great if one of the website's photographers manages to record this train one day. It seems quite appropriate that a train starting at Ernesettle should travel via Settle when it does run.
When the S&C was built the Lancaster and Richmond turnpike road passed under the line adjacent to Ribblehead Station. It is now numbered the B6255. Two miles south-west down that road is the nearest church to the line and where the people who lived in the shanty towns were buried when they died of natural causes, disease or accidents. The church is St. Leonards at Chapel Le Dale, also know as Ingleton Falls. I looked at the burial register for a couple of typical months during the construction period. In November and December 1871 there were 8 deaths with ages of 3 days, 4 days, 3 years, 4, 16, 28, 35 and 37 years. Six months later in May 1872 there were 7 deaths in that one month alone with ages of 9 months, 13 months, 23 months, 25 years, 40, 45 and 80 years. Each shanty town had been given a name. Those in the vicinity of Blea Moor Tunnel, Ribblehead Viaduct and Ribblehead Station were called, north to south:- Blea Moor, Tunnel, Jerusalem, Jericho, Inkerman, Sebastopol, Belgravia, Batty Green and Salt Lake. It was thoughtful of the Vicar of St. Leonards to record the name of the shanty town where people died in the Burial Record. Blea Moor Tunnel turns up frequently.
The design of the Settle and Carlisle was done by John Sydney Crossley (1812 – 1879) the Midland Railway's own in-house Chief Civil Engineer, who also supervised construction and when the Contractor for Contract No. 1 (Settle Junction to Dent Head, including Ribblehead and Blea Moor Tunnel) got into financial difficulties constructed that length by direct labour. The railway stations on the S&C are all similar and a delight. They were designed by John Holloway Sanders (1825 – 1884) the Midland Railway's Chief Architect who also designed Bath Green Park and Mangotsfield among many others.
The weather was dull much of the time with the last three photos of trains passing at milepost 251 taken in rain with a shutter speed of 1/125 at f2.8.
The problems that accompanied construction of the Midland Railway's line from Settle to Carlisle in mid-Victorian times are well known to most readers – a hostile landscape; harsh winters; isolation; shanty towns; disease and death to name but a few, plus hard graft for 10 or 12 hours a day, or more. Eventually man triumphed over adversity and left us with a wonderful legacy to travel along or visit and photograph. 150 years later it still exercises a pulling power over rail enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike. I doubt that anyone visiting the S&C for the first time has ever been disappointed. My first visit was in the summer of 1982 when we both travelled along it and did some lineside photography. The line opened to passengers on 1 May 1876 and has just celebrated its 150th anniversary. Attached are a few photos from those visits in the summer of 1982. We are really lucky to be able to celebrate a line that was saved from closure; is still busy; has not been disfigured by OHLE; and still has semaphore signalling and Midland Railway signal boxes.
The line is reasonably busy with its own passenger trains and come into its own when the WCML is closed and trains are diverted this way. There are also a number of freight train paths but most of them are (Q) and run as required. One of the most interesting of these, for us in the West Country, is 6S00 the 10.12 Ernesettle MOD to Glen Douglas MOD which runs infrequently. The train is routed via Bristol TM, East Usk Junction (Newport) 14.35-15.12, Crewe, Hellifield Goods Loop 21.49, Carlisle NY 00.02-04.23, Mossend, and due Glen Douglas 08.50 The distance is about 550 miles. It would be great if one of the website's photographers manages to record this train one day. It seems quite appropriate that a train starting at Ernesettle should travel via Settle when it does run.
When the S&C was built the Lancaster and Richmond turnpike road passed under the line adjacent to Ribblehead Station. It is now numbered the B6255. Two miles south-west down that road is the nearest church to the line and where the people who lived in the shanty towns were buried when they died of natural causes, disease or accidents. The church is St. Leonards at Chapel Le Dale, also know as Ingleton Falls. I looked at the burial register for a couple of typical months during the construction period. In November and December 1871 there were 8 deaths with ages of 3 days, 4 days, 3 years, 4, 16, 28, 35 and 37 years. Six months later in May 1872 there were 7 deaths in that one month alone with ages of 9 months, 13 months, 23 months, 25 years, 40, 45 and 80 years. Each shanty town had been given a name. Those in the vicinity of Blea Moor Tunnel, Ribblehead Viaduct and Ribblehead Station were called, north to south:- Blea Moor, Tunnel, Jerusalem, Jericho, Inkerman, Sebastopol, Belgravia, Batty Green and Salt Lake. It was thoughtful of the Vicar of St. Leonards to record the name of the shanty town where people died in the Burial Record. Blea Moor Tunnel turns up frequently.
The design of the Settle and Carlisle was done by John Sydney Crossley (1812 – 1879) the Midland Railway's own in-house Chief Civil Engineer, who also supervised construction and when the Contractor for Contract No. 1 (Settle Junction to Dent Head, including Ribblehead and Blea Moor Tunnel) got into financial difficulties constructed that length by direct labour. The railway stations on the S&C are all similar and a delight. They were designed by John Holloway Sanders (1825 – 1884) the Midland Railway's Chief Architect who also designed Bath Green Park and Mangotsfield among many others.
The weather was dull much of the time with the last three photos of trains passing at milepost 251 taken in rain with a shutter speed of 1/125 at f2.8.
On Monday 16 August 1982 we made a day trip from Skipton to Carlisle and return. Here we see our return train at platform 5 at Carlisle on the 15.37 to Leeds. On the right was 47309. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
A view out the window at 16.58 soon after passing Dent Station. Note the waste heaps; Arten Gill Viaduct (hidden); Dent Head Viaduct; and the portal of Blea Moor Tunnel extreme right. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Dent Head Viaduct on 17.08.1982. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Dent Station looking south. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
40047 heads south at Ais Gill at the head of a freight train at 16.04 on 17.08.1982. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
25206 has just crossed Dent Head Viaduct and is about to enter the tunnel with ten bogie tanks at 16.20 on 25.08.1982. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
31242 crosses Dent Head Viaduct with the 15.37 Carlisle to Leeds on 25.08.1982. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
25080 passes milepost 251 just north of Blea Moor Tunnel with 4C – the only Class 25 seen on a passenger train. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
25080 passes 45010. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
45010 heads south at milepost 251with 30 wagons at 17.31 on 25.08.1982. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
More sleeper woes!
David Ive, Tony Shore, Jon Hird, Andrew Triggs & Mark Lynam
Following Tuesdays widely reported sleeper ECS move, and its subsequent failure in Somerset, Wednesday again saw some daytime sleeper action in the south west.
After the 'up' 1C50 sleeper service arrived in London and ran ECS to Reading, 57301 was dispatched to Highbridge loop to collect 57605, 57604 and the sleeper stock.
The emsemble ran to Laira via Bristol SPM.
A few hours later the train re-emerged, this time with 57604 leading the stock and 57605 dead on rear. It ran through to Long Rock in this configuration.
Both up and down sleeper services on Wednesday evening were replaced by IET units.
After the 'up' 1C50 sleeper service arrived in London and ran ECS to Reading, 57301 was dispatched to Highbridge loop to collect 57605, 57604 and the sleeper stock.
The emsemble ran to Laira via Bristol SPM.
A few hours later the train re-emerged, this time with 57604 leading the stock and 57605 dead on rear. It ran through to Long Rock in this configuration.
Both up and down sleeper services on Wednesday evening were replaced by IET units.
57301 leads failed 57605 and 57604 onto the sea wall at Dawlish Warren as 5Z50, Highbridge Loop - Laira. 06.05.2026, copyright David J Ive (http://djipix.com)
57604 leads 5Z52 past the bluebells at St. Pinnock en route to Long Rock from Laira. 06.05.2026, copyright Tony Shore.
Beneath stormy skies, 57604 passes through Dowgas. 06.05.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
57604 + 57605 at Rosevidney overbridge (Between St Erth and Marazion) working 5Z52 1430 Laira T&RSMD to Longrock T&RSMD. 06.05.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
57605 on the rear at Rosevidney. 06.05.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
57604 top and tailing 57605 working 5Z52 14.30 Laira T&RSMD-Longrock T&RSMD ECS, passing Rospeath Road overbridge near Marzion. 06.05.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Many thanks all - let's see how the sleepers get on tonight!
'Dauntless'
Michael Adams
Michael Adams sends over this picture of class 50048 'Dauntless' about to leave Exeter St.David's with empty coaches from a Waterloo arrival, on 13th August 1981. This fine loco was withdrawn in July 1991 and scrapped the following April. Copyright Michael Adams.
A great name for a locomotive. Many thanks to Michael Adams and Michael Forward for sending the photo on.
Wednesday's Clay
Tony Shore
66712 crosses the River Fowey at Lostwithiel with the midday Goonbarrow - Fowey Carne Point clay. 06.05.2026, copyright Tony Shore.
Later in the day, the empty wagons are seen on the Fowey branch heading towards Coulsons Park, Lostwithiel. 06.05.2026, copyright Tony Shore.
Many thanks Tony - a couple of rarely seen angles.
Re: Westbury 1981
Guy Vincent
Michael Forward's photo taken at Westbury on 28th May 1981 was of interest, showing as it did the former North signal box (by then plain 'Westbury' following abolition of the Middle (1968) and South (1978)'boxes, the semaphores, and the tops of the two Nitrovit grain silos next to the road bridge. These were used to receive grain and dispatch animal feed which was produced at a factory on a nearby trading estate. They were built in the late 1960s and disused from the summer of 1981 with removal taking place circa 1985. Since 2015 the site has been occupied by a traincrew admin and messroom block.
Here's a comparison photo to Michael's taken on 6th May 2026. To my mind the HST in P1 and Portsmouth train arriving in P2 should be at each other's platform to avoid a conflicting move on departure!
Here's a comparison photo to Michael's taken on 6th May 2026. To my mind the HST in P1 and Portsmouth train arriving in P2 should be at each other's platform to avoid a conflicting move on departure!
Another chance for a then and now comparison shot at Westbury as 166204 arrives at platform 2 (formerly P3) with 1F27 1730 Cardiff Central - Portsmouth Harbour at 1903hrs on Thursday 7th May 2026. Copyright Guy Vincent.
The very same spot seen yesterday, 06.05.2026. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks Guy - I did think that one may pique your interest!
Late night testing
Mark Lynam & Andrew Triggs
An early start for Mark - 4am! 37057 at Falmouth Docks working 3Q52 2152 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Penzance via Fowey, Parkandillack & Falmouth. 06.05.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
Another early morning shot of 37057 at Falmouth Docks. 06.05.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
Later in the day, 37057 is seen at Penzance with 3Q52/3Q51 stabled on Oil 2 siding. 06.05.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Many thanks Andrew & Mark - always nice to see a 37 here in the west.
Cornish Steam
Chris Bellett
5552 runs around the empty stock at Bodmin General after the last train of the day on 06.05.2026. Copyright Chris Bellett.
Many thanks Chris. That loco's put in a good shift at Bodmin since emerging from overhaul a few years ago.
May 1976
Part 7
Roger Winnen
A Class 50 at Rosevidney with the 18.00 Penzance to Bristol. 20.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
A Class 50 with the Liverpool to Penzance at Rosevidney. 20.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
The 13.30 Paddington Penzance at Rosevidney. 20.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
A Class 50 heads the Royal Mail at Rosevidney. 20.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.