Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway 15 inch
The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway was constructed out of a necessity for increased iron ore production during the second half of the 19th century. A three foot gauge line from Boot in Eskdale for seven miles to the main line at Ravenglass, opening in 1875 for freight, and the following year for passengers. The line gradually declined until closing in 1913. Renowned miniature railway engineer W.J.Basset-Lowke was looking for locations to test his locomotives and he bought Ravenglass with this in mind, regauging it to its current gauge, opening the first mile in 1915, and then extensions gradually taking the line back to its previous full length. Requarrying recommend, as well as passenger traffic, and management passed to local landowner Sir Aubrey Brocklebank. However when the quarry closed in 1953, the line struggled as it was the lifeblood of the railways operation. In 1960 the line was put up for sale, and bought by a newly formed company, backed by volunteers from a preservation society. Since then, gradual improvements have been made to focus on passenger traffic. A vast range of 15 inch locomotives have operated on this line, in the early days noticeably Arther Heywoods and Basset Lowkes Class 30s and 60s locomotives, with larger specifically built steam locomotives such as 'Northern Rock' now taking the bulk of the traffic. There is a museum of the lines history at Ravenglass station, which is next to Ravenglass main line station.
Address: Ravenglass,
Cumbria,
CA18 1SW
Telephone: 01229 717171
Operator: Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Co Ltd
Line Length: 6.75 miles, End to End
First opened: 1876
Website: Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Website
Locomotives
No
|
Name
|
Type
|
Builder
|
Built
|
3 |
River Irt |
0-8-2 |
A.Heywood |
1894 |
Katie |
0-4-0T |
A.Heywood |
1896 |
|
2 |
Synolda |
4-4-2 |
Basset-Lowke |
1912 |
6 |
River Esk |
2-8-2 |
Davey Paxman |
1923 |
River Mite |
2-8-2 |
H.Clarkson |
1966 |
|
10 |
Northen Rock |
2-6-2 |
R&ER Co |
1976 |
Flower of the Forest |
2w-2VBT |
R&ER Co |
1985 |
|
ICL1No.1 |
4-4wPM |
Ravenglass |
1925 |
|
Quarryman |
4wPM |
Muir Hill |
1926 |
|
Perkins |
4w-4DM |
Muir Hill |
1929 |
|
ICL9 |
Cyril |
4wDM |
Lister |
1932 |
(U2) |
4wBE |
Greenwood & Batley |
1957 |
|
21 |
Les |
4wDM |
Lister Blackstone |
1960 |
Shelagh of Eskdale |
4-6-4DH |
Severn Lamb |
1969 |
|
Lady Wakefield |
4w-4wDH |
R&ER Co |
1980 |
|
ICLNo.11 |
Douglas Ferreira |
4w-4wDH |
TMA Engineering |
2005 |
Opening Times: Please see website for details
Fares: Adults £12.00, Children £6.00
R&ER Page was last updated on the 6th January 2011 with fares updated.
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