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On to Carlisle – UK Rail Journeys Series 2 – Episode 13
In ‘On to Carlisle‘ I complete my journey from Leeds to Carlisle along the Settle and Carlisle line. On reaching Carlisle I say goodbye to Northern Trains who I have been travelling with since Sheffield.
Please click on a thumbnail to see the photographs that go with the podcast:
Kirkby Stephen Station and the Eden Valley:
We are now in the Eden Valley in Cumbria. The station is 1 ½ miles south-west of Kirkby Stephen and also serves other nearby villages. We are now 41 miles 35 chains south of Carlisle.
The station is leased by the Settle and Carlisle Railway Trust. They restored it in 2009. The main buildings now incorporate a caretaker’s flat, offices, holiday accommodation and the Midland Room. In 2022/23 the station hosts 29,888 passengers.
There are no more rugged mountains as we are in the Eden Valley. Its an area of gentle green hills and red sandstone farmhouses.
There is the occasional Peel Tower, a fortified farmstead, reminding us of the Border Reivers. This is the once lawless borderland between England and Scotland. Find out the whole story by listening to David Simpson’s talk.
Appleby:
Appleby station is 30 miles 60 chains south-east of Carlisle. Along with Settle, one of only two stations on the Settle-Carlisle line to remain open after the withdrawal of local stopping trains in May 1970.
There is a pre-nationalisation milepost on the southbound platform. 2771⁄4 miles from St Pancras on the Midland Railway route via Leicester, Sheffield and Leeds.
The Grade II listed, brick-built station building, dates from 1876. The platforms are linked by a Grade II listed wrought iron lattice footbridge. The working signal box was repaired and refurbished in the autumn of 2019.
Bishop Eric Treacy, a well-known railway photographer and enthusiast, died at Appleby on 13 May 1978 from a heart attack whilst waiting to photograph Evening Star. There is a plaque on the down platform.
There is a working, traditional water tank and water crane on the southbound platform for use by steam charter trains.
Langwathby, Lazonby & Kirkoswald and Armathwaite:
These are the last three small stations on our way into Carlisle where I get off the train and go to my hotel for the night.
Listen to the podcast to hear all about my journey through the Eden Valley and on into Carlisle.
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Music:
AKM Music licenses Steam Railway and Fun in the Kitchen for use in this podcast.
