Curtailing Bentham Line services at Carnforth

[adamedwards]

Actually removed for the 1974 electrification to Glasgow. A foolish mistake, but understandable at the time.

 

[randyrippley]

Where was the coke and iron ore coming from off the Bentham line ? I thought Durham coke traffic emerged onto the Furness line at Arnside.

Coal and coke coming from Yorkshire, iron ore going both ways - different grades for different uses and for blending.
There were iron AND steel works at Barrow, around Haverthwaite, Carnforth and elsewhere needing different ore grades.

The Furness and Midland line opened 1867, the Hincaster Branch 1876

 

[Bletchleyite]

With this talk of buses - what on earth would be the point in putting a bus service on just to allow the almost-nobody that goes from the Bentham Line to Morecambe a slightly shorter journey?

 

[yorksrob]

With this talk of buses - what on earth would be the point in putting a bus service on just to allow the almost-nobody that goes from the Bentham Line to Morecambe a slightly shorter journey?

Quite a few people stay on at Lancaster when I've used the service, but I agreethat slinging on a bus is pointless.

Northern should accept that this line already has a basic service, so it should be a priority to operate it as a whole, not duplicate services on other lines.

 

[chiltern trev]

Through services reversed, presumably with change of loco. Main through services seem to have been the morning and evening club trains for the mill owners who lived on the coast, but ran businesses in Bradford
It was discussed around 12 months ago in a thread about Arthur Ransome and his books

The bypass was mainly for iron ore, coke and possibly express boat trains when the ferries still used Barrow, not Heysham

When did ferries use Barrow and to where?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

When did ferries use Barrow and to where?

Various destinations, including Belfast (Northern Ireland), Heysham (Isle of Man) and Ardrossan (Scotland). All finished by the mid 20th Century, apparently, except for the rather modest local ferry to Piel Island.

 

[chorleyjeff]

Coal and coke coming from Yorkshire, iron ore going both ways - different grades for different uses and for blending.
There were iron AND steel works at Barrow, around Haverthwaite, Carnforth and elsewhere needing different ore grades.

The Furness and Midland line opened 1867, the Hincaster Branch 1876

I am aware of the iron works from Carnforth, Silverdale etc although not in my lifetime. But had not realised that iron ore came over the Midland either way.
Hincaster line. Durham coke and Grange to Windermere etc local passenger. Also school excursion empty stock Lakeside to Windermere in connection with Windermere ferries.
I wonder how many passengers used the Furness to Oxenholme, Kendal and Windermere services ?

 

[chorleyjeff]

Various destinations, including Belfast (Northern Ireland), Heysham (Isle of Man) and Ardrossan (Scotland). All finished by the mid 20th Century, apparently, except for the local ferry to Piel Island.

Why Barrow to Ardrossan ? Fleetwood ( overnight at North Euston Hotel ) to Ardrossan, before line over Shap built, for a time.
Any rail connected ferries from Grange ? Or just day trippers from Blackpool or Fleetwood ?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Why Barrow to Ardrossan ? Fleetwood ( overnight at North Euston Hotel ) to Ardrossan, before line over Shap built, for a time.

Can certainly imagine ships to/from Fleetwood calling at Barrow en route to/from Scotland. One for further research on another day.