Stainmore 150

[Spam Can]

Went to Stainmore 150 event at Kirby Steven this week-end. If any railway deserves to sucseed its this one. Lots of passion and hard work has obviously gone into it this far. Anyone planning a S & C photo journey in near future should call & visit.
Major funding still required, but eventual goal is Appleby (& link with S&C)?
Maybe a railhead back to Stainmore (Altnough the viaduct would be very adventurous and one for future generations to consider).
Theres a J21 and 5 Gresley coaches need funding so I for one will be signing a standing order soon. Thers just something about this one.. dont take my word for it-visit soon!!

 

[patrolman pete]

I was there too on saturday and rode the train for £1 just to be able to leave and return to Kirkby Stephen by train for the 1st time in 49 years was a great feeling. I spoke to an old lad about the stainmore line and he told me he used to be a driver based at Kirkby and as a fireman helped with the removal of a snowed in loco during the winter of 1947! He even remembered being sent across the moors from the railway in the snow to the Bowes Moor Hotel to get 'fags' and 'baccy' for those who smoked!
I also spoke to a volunteer about extending the line to join the eden valley line and the fact that there is no longer a bridge across the river Eden . Oh! we've bought a bridge and it's up in Scotland so just needs picking up! I also said it's a shame the can't also extend east as the old goods yard is now a caravan park. He said the owner of the park is happy to allow a single line back through and the line could possibly go another 2 miles east! Such is the passion for this railway i bought a share in the replacement Stainmore Summit sign that you can now see from the A66 and will continue to support the railway.
I had such a brilliant day that i was that tired i lost my camera and noticed it missing half way home and reported it's loss at the station. The next day a recieved a call to say it had been handed in with some bonus shots of a steam special on the settle and carlisle taken for me! What a fantastic bunch of folks

 

[7029cluncastle]

I went on the Sunday (also visited the other end at Warcop) and enjoyed it! Nice to hear they have major plans for both directions, i did hear they wanted to get to the area where Belah Viaduct was and create an observation area to see where it was. The only thing that worries me is how are they getting past the platform 3 party building or whatever it was blocking the line from going under the bridge and towards Stainmore Summit?

 

[patrolman pete]

The old bridge had about four arches to pass through so i'm sure there must be one that is not obscured by a building that could be opened up. Steve Davies from the NRM did mention in his speech that the goal in heading east towards the summit would be to get as far as the west abutment of Belah Bridge and build a viewing platform there. I asked the question to a volunteer if they had an estimate of the reconstruction of the bridge using modern construction methods and he said it would cost them half a billion pounds!

 

[patrolman pete]

20th January 2012 will be the 50th aniversary of the closure of the historic Stainmore Railway and i was wondering if anything was being organised to mark this as nothing seems forthcoming on their website. I will be working in Cumbria on this day so on my way back home via the A66 i will be calling in on the summit and taking a picture of the new summit sign