Steam Trains - The Lake District, England
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A Lakeside View of a Bygone Era in Steam Trains
Video and personal review of two the famous stream train services in the Lake District, England; namely the 'Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway' with its now narrow gauge rails of just 15 inches, was originally 3 feet when it was built in 1875; and the 'Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway' built in 1869 with the more conventional railway line.
These are two quite different steam train railway service, each with its own unique and distinctive history.
These are two quite different steam train railway service, each with its own unique and distinctive history.
Contents at a Glance
Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
Small Gauge Railway
This is my favourite and most memorable steam train service in the Lake District. I first used it as a public transport to make the final stage of the journey to the also famous Eskdale Outward Bound Centre built in 1896 and established as 'The Outwad Bound Mountain School' in 1950.So to return many years later and take a round trip on this 7 mile stretch of railway line was a memorable occasion.
The railway itself, now small gauge at 15 inches was originally a 3 foot gauge. This railway has had a somewhat chequered history. Originally built in 1875 to carry iron ore from the nearby mines and quarries in Boot, and the following year started to take passengers. Unfortunately within two years of opening it became bankrupt and due to the falling trade In the ore and the small number of passengers it completely ceased operations in 1913. The railway was however reopened for business two years later and continued running until 1953 when the quarries closed.
In 1960 the 'Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society bought the railway, changed the gauge to the present day 15 inch and installed a turnstile at Eskdale.
Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway
Lakeside, Lake Windermere, Lake District, England
A more conventional steam train and railway line, which we visited while on an hours stop-off point for lunch while on a day of cruises around Windermere Lake. We didn't have time to take a trip on the steam train but we did watch it pull into the station at Lakeside, and when 'all aboard' pull out again. This service, part of the heritage railway, runs stream trains from Haverthwaite to Lakeside on Lake Windermere.It originally opened as a branch of Furness Railway in 1869 but was closed by British rail in 1965; and then reopened as a Heritage line in 1973.
The Lake District
Cumbria, England
The lakes in the Lake District were formed by retreating glaciers at the end of the last ice age, Lake Windermere being the largest, and the largest natural lake in England. The lakes are 13,000 years old Lake Windermere is over 10 miles long and one mile wide.
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