TO CARLISLE

We now head across country and refind the Settle & Carlisle line at Armathwaite station.

The West Coast Main Line is getting closer all the time on the approaches to Carlisle. Here is Wreay station in LNWR days. It closed as early as 1943.

As we near the city of Carlisle we come across the village of Cummersdale, where we visit the Spinners Arms, a Mathew Brown house then.

The railway approaches to Carlisle from the south are centred around the Upperby area. Here's a view of the yards here.

The LMS had an important loco shed at Upperby.

45545 and others are seen at Upperby MPD in 1964.

Two years later and snowplough fitted 46455 was photographed.

The Gosling Brdge Inn is on our route into the city. It was a good real ale pub when visited. Today it's a Greene King 'Flaming Grill'.

And so to Carlisle city centre, dominated by its castle (Creative Commons License).

There's also a cathedral (Creative Commons License).

English Street in the city centre. The trams have long vanished.

We'll look at the transport of Carlisle in the next post, but meanwhile here's one of the more well-known pubs to rest awhile in.

The Howard Arms has long been a bastion of real ale. See you soon.





 

CLIMBING SHAP

We follow the former NER route westwards and soon join the ex LNWR West Coast Main Line at Tebay. LMS 6959 is seen here 'on shed'.

 

Towards the end of steam, 8F 48276 was photographed at Tebay in October 1967.

Also in 1967, a view of Tebay loco shed with 75026 (photo by the Late Les Flint).

In Tebay village, Ribble 809 calls on a local service.

We now begin the ascent of Shap. A 'Black 5' is being assisted in the rear, passing Greenholme.

Coasting down the bank is 2-6-0 No. 43015, on a PW train in April 1965.

An unusual pairing of a class 56 and 90022 on the sleepers near Shap.

Two more scenes of trains descending from Shap summit in 1967.

Meanwhile, back in 1937, LMS 6133 tackles the gradient to Shap summit.

Leaving the railway behind, for now, we find ourselves in Shap village, with Ribble 1150 on service.

At Shap Wells, we find the Shap Wells Hotel and the Blea Beck.

A few miles to the north is the village of Great Strickland, where Taylor's Coaches had their depot.

To the northwest is Tirril, just a hamlet, but it does have a pub! The Queens Head was brewing its own beer when visited in 2001.I don't think it brews these days, but the pub is still well and truly open.

And so to the Cumbrian town of Penrith. Here's the railway station in LNWR days.

Along with Avanti West Coast, Penrith is today served by Transpennine.

Ribble Motor Services was once the main bus operator.

A Volvo/Plaxton coach of Titterington of Blencowe picks up in Penrith.

Penrith's most famous feature is its castle.

One of the town's other attractions was its steam museum, now sadly closed.

The pub nearby, the Museum Inn, is also now just a memory.

Luckily, there are plenty of other pubs. The Wolfe is one of them.

Another hostelry that seems to have shut, the Lowther Arms.

The Gloucester Arms is still in business. See here in 2011, it's since changed its name to become the Dockray Hall.

The Board & Elbow is a good place to sink a few pints.

Close to the station is the Agricultural, seen here in 2001 as a Jennings pub. It's now a free house.

We can stay the night at the Station Hotel.

We'll be heading further north in the next post. Follow the route here.

IT'S A LONG WALK TO DENT!

 Leaving Ribblehead behind we soon come to lonely Blea Moor signal box.

Our northbound journey continues and soon we're crossing Dent Head viaduct.

Our next stop is Dent station, a bleak spot beneath the fells. Here's the station in Midland Railway days.

Now it's 2005 and Dent station is still open.

Even from here, Ingleborough can still be seen!

As the title suggests, it's a long walk to Dent village - about four miles to the west.

Dent has a fine old church.....

.......and two great pubs. First the George & Dragon.

There's also the Sun Inn. Both pubs serve locally brewed ales.

We now head back to the Settle & Carlisle railway, to the water troughs north of Rise Hill Tunnel, one of the few level sections of the line.

At Garsdale (once known as Hawes Junction) there's a typical Midland Railway signal box, located on the platform.

In 2005, preserved 8F No. 48151 passes through.

Time for a pint now, at the Moorcock Inn by Garsdale station.

The summit of the S&C is at Ais Gill and a southbound freight is approaching that point behind 75039. Wild Boar Fell is forming the backdrop. (Photo by the late Les Flint).

It's downhill now to Kirkby Stephen station, two miles from the town it purports to serve. 156489 arrives and departs northbound.

The North Eastern Railway once served Kirkby Stephen East station (the present one once being named 'West'). 

The NER had a minor incident there.

Much of Kirkby Stephen East station survives and may reopen under a preservation scheme.

We now follow the NER route westwards to Ravenstonedale station, another one that was miles from the village of the same name.

A very long walk takes us into Ravenstonedale village and the Kings Head, where we'll take a much deserved break.

We are well into Cumbria now and the next post will see us visiting more of it. Follow the route here.