View source for Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

{{Short description|Heritage railway in Cumbria, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox heritage railway
 | name               = Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
 | other_name         = La'al Ratty
 | logo               = Logo of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.jpg
 | logo_width         = 100px
 | logo_alt           = 
 | image              = [[File:Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway River Irt.png|centre|300px]]
 | image_name         = 
 | image_width        = 
 | image_alt          =
 | caption            = ''River Irt'' approaches Miteside Loop, October 2007
 | color              = 
 | locale             = 
 | terminus           = [[Ravenglass railway station (R&ER)|Ravenglass]]
 | coordinates        = {{coord|54.355|-3.408|type:landmark_region:GB-CMA|display=inline,title}}
 | map                =
 | map_caption        =
 | map_alt            = 
 | mapsize            =
 | connections        = [[Cumbrian Coast Line]]
 | linename           = 
 | builtby            = Whitehaven Mines Ltd.
 | originalopen       = 24 May 1875
 | originalgauge      = {{Track gauge|3ft|lk=on}}
 | originalrack       = 
 | originalelec       = 
 | owned              = Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Co. Ltd
 | operator           = Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Co. Ltd
 | marks              = 
 | stations           = 9
 | length             = {{convert|7|mi|km|1}}
 | preservedgauge     = {{Track gauge|15in|lk=on}}
 | preservedrack      = 
 | preservedelec      = 
 | era                = Steam
 | com-years          = 
 | com-events         = 
 | com-years1         = 1913
 | com-events1        = Closed
 | com-years2         = 1915
 | com-events2        = Reopened
 | closedpassengers   = 
 |          =
 | stageyears         = 1960
 | stage              = Saved by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society and reopened owned by the R&ER Co. Ltd.
 | years              = 1976
 | events             = Celebrated centenary of passenger services on the line.
 | years1             = 1977
 | events1            = New Radio Control System unveiled 
 | years2             = 2010
 | events2            = Celebrated fifty years of preservation.
 | years12            = 
 | events12           = 
 | headquarters       = [[Ravenglass]]
 | website            = [http://www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk Official website]
}}
{{Location map+|United Kingdom Copeland|relief=1|width=300|alt=Copeland, Cumbria|float=right|caption=Stations on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in [[Borough of Copeland|Copeland, Cumbria]]|places=
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom Copeland|label_size=86|position=left|mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=7|lat=54.355968|long=-3.40964|label=Ravenglass}}
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom Copeland|label_size=86|position=bottom|mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=7|lat=54.367|long=-3.394}}
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom Copeland|label_size=86|position=bottom|mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=7|lat=54.371|long=-3.384}}
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom Copeland|label_size=86|position=bottom|mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=7|lat=54.381|long=-3.362}}
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom Copeland|label_size=86|position=bottom|mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=7|lat=54.3880|long=-3.3299}}
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom Copeland|label_size=86|position=bottom|mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=7|lat=54.387|long=-3.318}}
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom Copeland|label_size=86|position=bottom|mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=7|lat=54.391970|long=-3.303697}}
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom Copeland|label_size=86|position=bottom|mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=7|lat=54.393|long=-3.283}}
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom Copeland|label_size=86|position=right|mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=7|lat=54.396|long=-3.275|label=Dalegarth for Boot}}
}}
The '''Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway''' is a {{Track gauge|15in|lk=on}} [[minimum-gauge railway|minimum-gauge]] [[heritage railway]] in [[Cumbria]], England. The {{convert|7|mi|km|1|adj=on}} line runs from [[Ravenglass]] to [[Dalegarth for Boot railway station|Dalegarth Station]] near [[Boot, Cumbria|Boot]] in the valley of [[Eskdale, Cumbria|Eskdale]], in the [[Lake District]]. At Ravenglass the line ends at [[Ravenglass railway station (R&ER)|Ravenglass railway station]] on the [[Cumbrian Coast Line]].

[[File:Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Dalegarth Station.jpg|thumb|right|The old building at Dalegarth Station near Boot, with Ravenglass-built diesel loco ''Lady Wakefield'']]
[[File:R&ER River Esk on turntable.jpg|thumb|''River Esk'', with her driver, Peter van Zeller, on the [[Railway turntable|turntable]] at Ravenglass station]]

Intermediate stations and halts are at [[Muncaster Mill railway station|Muncaster Mill]], [[Miteside Halt railway station|Miteside]], [[Murthwaite Halt railway station|Murthwaite]], [[Irton Road railway station|Irton Road]], [[The Green railway station|The Green]], [[Fisherground railway station|Fisherground]] and [[Beckfoot railway station|Beckfoot]]. The railway is owned by a private company and supported by a preservation society. The oldest [[locomotive]] is ''River Irt'', parts of which date from 1894, while the newest is the diesel-hydraulic ''[[Douglas Ferreira (locomotive)|Douglas Ferreira]]'', built in 2005.

The line is known locally as ''La'al Ratty'' and its {{Track gauge|3ft|lk=on}} gauge predecessor as ''Owd Ratty''.<ref name=RailwayMagDec2008 >{{cite journal
 | journal=The Railway Magazine
 | title=100 years since the end of the 'Owd Ratty'
 | pages=39–40
 | author=Van Zeller, Peter
 |date=December 2008
 | volume=154
 | issue=1,292
}}</ref>{{sfn|Welbourn|2000|pp=14–18}}

Nearby attractions include: the [[Ravenglass Roman Bath House|Roman Bath House]] at Ravenglass; the [[Hardknott Roman Fort]], known to the Romans as ''Mediobogdum'', at the foot of [[Hardknott Pass]]; the [[watermill]]s at Boot and Muncaster; and [[Muncaster Castle]], the home of the Pennington family since 1208.

==History==

===Original railway===
The original Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway was a {{RailGauge|3ft}} line opened on 24 May 1875 to transport [[hematite]] [[iron ore]] from three mines near and around the village of [[Boot, Cumbria|Boot]] to the [[Furness Railway]] [[standard gauge]] line at Ravenglass.<ref name=WHITEHOUSE >{{cite book
 |author1=Whitehouse, Patrick  |author2=Snell, John
  |name-list-style=amp |title=Narrow gauge railways of the British Isles
 |isbn=0-7153-0196-9
 |publisher=[[David & Charles]]
 |year=1984
 }}</ref><ref name="Davies, Inception" >{{Cite book
  |title=The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
  |chapter=Inception of the Railway
  |last=Davies  |first=W.J.K.
  |publisher=[[David & Charles]]
  |orig-year=1968
  |year=1981
  |isbn=0-7153-9224-7
  |ref={{harvid|Davies|Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway}}
  |pages=13–22
}}</ref> There has previously been a dispute about the gauge the railway was built to. It is shown as 3 feet in records but is quoted as {{Track gauge|2ft9in|lk=on}} in some books such as the ''ABC of Narrow Gauge Railways''.<ref>Ian Allan ABC of Narrow Gauge Railways, c. 1960, pp. 49–50</ref> This figure was believed for many years until the present company discovered a sleeper from before the line closed, with spacings between holes made by track spikes confirming the gauge was the wider one. The confusion probably stems from the fact that the line was built under the condition that it was "of a gauge not less than 2'&nbsp;9" ".<ref name=RailwayMagDec2008 />

Following requests from the residents of the Eskdale valley for a passenger service, the railway was upgraded to meet the minimum standards of the [[Board of Trade]], and the first passenger trains ran in November 1876.<ref name=RailwayMagDec2008 /><ref name=WHITEHOUSE/> It was the first public [[narrow-gauge railway]] in England.<ref name=WHITEHOUSE /> However, the cost of upgrading the line for passengers left the railway company with substantial debts which it was unable to pay off.  The company was forced to declare itself bankrupt in 1877, although trains continued to run under the control of a series of receivers.<ref name=WHITEHOUSE/> Nonetheless, in 1880 a tramway was built connecting the line near [[Beckfoot railway station]] to newly opened mines across the [[River Esk (Ravenglass)|River Esk]] at Gill Force.<ref>{{cite web |title=View: Cumberland LXXIX.SW (includes: Eskdale; Irton.) – Ordnance Survey Six-inch England and Wales, 1842–1952 |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/101093182 |website=maps.nls.uk}}</ref><ref name="1978 Handbook">{{Cite book |title=The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Handbook |publisher=The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Co. Ltd |year=1978 |edition=5th |pages=5 & 7 |language=en}}</ref>  All but one of the iron ore mines closed within 10 years of the railway opening, and there was not enough traffic from other sources (local goods and passengers from the villages and farms of the valley) to sustain the railway.  The railway "struggled on" by carrying granite from local quarries and became popular with summer tourists.<ref name="1978 Handbook"/>  The Summer 1898 [[Furness Railway]] timetable shows five weekday trains along the line with three on Sundays.{{sfn|Davey|1984|pp=13 & 39}}

In 1905, a passenger train was derailed at [[Murthwaite Halt railway station|Murthwaite]] due to a combination of a defective locomotive and defective track.<ref name=Earnshaw5>{{cite book |last=Earnshaw |first=Alan |title=Trains in Trouble: Vol. 5 |year=1989 |publisher=Atlantic Books |location=Penryn |isbn=0-906899-35-4 |page=5 }}</ref> By 1908 the track-work was in such poor condition, it was declared unsafe for passengers by the Board of Trade.  The railway closed to passengers that year.  Goods trains continued to run whilst attempts were made to raise money to rebuild the railway.  These attempts failed, and the railway closed completely in April 1913.<ref name=WHITEHOUSE />

===Conversion to 15 inch gauge===
{{more citations needed section|date=November 2023}}
[[File:Ravenglass Eskdale Rly 1981.jpg|thumb|Ravenglass & Eskdale Rly 1981]]
In 1915, the abandoned railway was taken over by the model maker  [[Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke]] and his business partner Robert Proctor-Mitchel.  They began  [[Gauge conversion|converting]] the line to the {{Track gauge|15in}} gauge that it is today.  The first train operated over the regauged line on 28 August 1915, running initially to Muncaster Mill.<ref name=RailwayMagDec2008 /> By 1917, the entire line had been converted and trains were running along the whole length to Boot.  However, the gradients on the final section of the line proved to be too steep for the smaller locos, and the railway was cut back to Beckfoot in 1918.<ref name="1978 Handbook"/> Initially, services were operated using the [[Bassett-Lowke]]-built, 1/4 scale [[4-4-2 (locomotive)|4-4-2]] ''Sans Pareil''. This was later joined by another Bassett-Lowke loco, ''Colossus'' (a 4-6-2 version of ''Sans Pareil''), as well as 2 locos and rolling stock from [[Sir Arthur Heywood, 3rd Baronet|Sir Arthur Heywood]]'s [[Duffield Bank Railway|Duffield Bank]] line, following Sir Arthur's death in 1916. These were the 0-6-0 tank engine ''Ella'', and the [[0-8-0]] tank engine ''Muriel'', whose frames and running gear were later rebuilt as ''River Irt''.  Another Heywood loco, an 0-4-0 tank engine called ''Katie'', was acquired from the [[Eaton Hall Railway]] in Cheshire, whilst another 4-6-2 tender loco, ''Sir Aubrey Brocklebank'', was constructed for the railway, and named after [[Brocklebank baronets|the railway's financial backer]], a wealthy shipping owner who lived nearby at Irton Hall.

As well as passengers, the line transported goods and mail to and from the valley.  In 1922 a [[granite]] quarry was opened at Beckfoot, and the railway was used to transport the granite between Beckfoot Quarry and [[Murthwaite Halt railway station|a crushing plant at Murthwaite]]. From 1929, the track between Murthwaite and Ravenglass was converted to [[dual gauge]], with {{Track gauge|56.5in|allk=on}} track straddling the {{Track gauge|15in}} gauge rails.<ref name="1978 Handbook"/> A [[diesel locomotive]] was obtained in 1929 to work this section.

===Brocklebank ownership===
{{more citations needed section|date=November 2023}}
In the mid-1920s, the railway was taken over by Sir Aubrey Brocklebank, who also owned the quarry at Beckfoot. Under his ownership the line went through a number of changes. By 1926, the line had been extended along the route of the former Gill Force Tramway to its present terminus at Dalegarth Station. Large sections of the line were relaid with surplus rails from World War I light railways, and the railway was realigned in several places to remove some of the steepest gradients and sharper curves.

The station at Ravenglass was rebuilt to better handle the increasing number of passengers, and new steam and diesel locomotives were purchased to work the line, including ''River Esk'' (built in 1923), whilst the older locos were withdrawn and either rebuilt (in the case of ''Muriel'' into ''River Irt''), or used to build new locos (in the case of the first ''River Mite'').  Following Sir Aubrey's death in 1929, control of the railway passed into the hands of his business partners, who lacked the local interest that Sir Aubrey had, and no further investment was made, other than what was needed for essential maintenance.

When [[World War II]] broke out in 1939, passenger trains were suspended for the duration of the conflict, and the steam locos were mothballed. Granite trains continued to run to support the war effort. In 1946, passenger trains began to run again using one of the diesels, with ''River Irt'' returning to service in 1947.  ''River Esk'' did not return to service until the early 1950s, whilst the first ''River Mite'' had been permanently withdrawn and dismantled.

In 1949, the last of Sir Aubrey's business partners died, and the railway was sold to the Keswick Granite Company, who wanted to gain control of the quarrying side of the business.  However, due to the lack of investment since the 1920s, much of the equipment in the quarry and crushing plant was worn out and in need of replacement. Rather than make the required investment, Keswick Granite chose to close the quarry in 1953, but kept the passenger trains running in the summer months. From 1958 attempts were made to sell the line as a going concern, but the asking price was too high.  Finally in 1960, Keswick Granite announced that the railway would be sold by auction in September of that year.<ref name=rerauh>{{cite web | url = http://ravenglass-railway.co.uk/about-us/history/ | title = History of the Railway | publisher = Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway | access-date = 24 June 2016  | archive-date = 24 June 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160624161933/http://ravenglass-railway.co.uk/about-us/history/ | url-status = live}}</ref><ref name=bhrrer>{{cite web | url = http://www.british-heritage-railways.co.uk/rer.html | title = Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway | work = British Heritage Railways | date = 27 June 2016 | archive-date = 27 June 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160627100742/http://www.british-heritage-railways.co.uk/rer.html | url-status = live}}</ref>  It was also announced that if a buyer could not be found for the line as a whole, then the railway would be closed and sold off as 60 separate lots.

===Preservation===
Locals and railway enthusiasts formed the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society to save the line, with financial backing by [[Wavell Wakefield, 1st Baron Wakefield of Kendal|Sir Wavell Wakefield]], [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[St Marylebone (UK Parliament constituency)|Marylebone]] and owner of the [[Ullswater Steamers]], and Colin Gilbert, a [[stockbroker]]. These efforts were successful, and at the auction in September 1960, the society made the winning bid and saved the railway from closure. Control of the railway passed to a new private company, with the backing of the preservation society, an arrangement that is still in place.<ref name=rerauh /><ref name=bhrrer />

When the new owners took control of the railway in 1961, the railway was in poor condition, suffering from the lack of investment since the late 1920s. There were only two steam locomotives, ''River Esk'' and ''River Irt'', both of which were well worn and in need of overhauls. To allow for an expanded timetable, the preservation society raised funds to build a third steam locomotive. ''River Mite'' ({{whyte|2-8-2}}) entered service in 1967 and, although owned by the society, has been on permanent loan to the company ever since. The two existing steam locos would be rebuilt with new boilers and tenders in the 1960s and 1970s.<ref name="1978 Handbook2"/>

In 1968, the death of Colin Gilbert led to the railway company becoming the property of Sir Wavell Wakefield, who by that stage had become Lord Wakefield of Kendal. In the early 1970s it became apparent that, with passengers rising, another locomotive was required. This time the company constructed the locomotive itself. ''Northern Rock'' ([[2-6-2]]) was complete in time for centenary celebrations in 1976.<ref name="1978 Handbook2"/> A further addition was made in 1980 when the company constructed the [[UIC notation#B-B|B-B]] diesel locomotive ''Lady Wakefield''.<ref name=rerauh/><ref name=bhrrer/>

Other significant locomotives include ''Bonnie Dundee'', built in 1900 as a {{Track gauge|2ft|lk=on}}-gauge tank locomotive before being donated to the R&ER by a member and converted to {{Track gauge|15in}}-gauge,<ref name="1978 Handbook2">{{Cite book |title=The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Handbook |publisher=The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Co. Ltd |year=1978 |edition=5th |page=26 |language=en}}</ref> later converted again from tank to tender configuration; ''Synolda'', (renamed ''Prince Charles'') a twin to the original {{Track gauge|15in}} loco ''Sans Pareil'', built in 1912,<ref name="1978 Handbook2"/> saved from [[Belle Vue Zoological Gardens|Belle Vue Zoo]] in 1978 and now in the railway museum; ''Shelagh of Eskdale'', a {{whyte|4-6-4}} diesel built in 1969<ref name="1978 Handbook2"/> incorporating parts of the Heywood loco ''Ella''; ''Perkins'', a rebuilt {{whyte|0-4-4|DH}} locomotive, which started as a quarry shunter before being rebuilt into the steam-outlined ''Passenger Tractor'' and then again in 1984 into its current guise; ''Douglas Ferreira'', a [[UIC notation#B-B|B-B]] diesel loco constructed in 2005 and named after the general manager of the R&ER from 1961 to 1994. The most recent addition to the loco fleet is ''Whillan Beck'', a 4-6-2 tender loco built by Krauss in Munich in 1929, which entered service at Ravenglass in 2018.

Since the 1960s, the condition of the railway has been significantly improved and visitors have increased. Most of the work to rebuild the railway was overseen by [[Douglas Ferreira]], who was the general manager between 1961 and 1994. Today, there are 120,000 passengers each year with up to 16 trains daily in summer. Trains run most of the year; the railway is only closed in January.

In October 1998, the railway's engines ''River Mite'', ''Northern Rock'', and ''Cyril'' were taken to [[Germany]] for a period of excursions on the [[Dresden Park Railway]], a former [[Pioniereisenbahn]] in [[Dresden]]. Whilst in Dresden, the locomotives ran with two of that lines [[Krauss & Co.]] built locomotives dating from 1925. In 2016, the R&ER was able to purchase a sister engine, built by Krauss & Co. in 1929 for the [[Ibero-American Exposition of 1929]] in [[Seville]], Spain. Since its arrival in Cumbria, this locomotive has been named ''Whillan Beck''.<ref >{{cite web
  |url=https://www.parkeisenbahn-dresden.de/?gastloksgb98
  |title=Lokomotiven aus Großbritannien zu Gast in Dresden
  |trans-title=Locomotives from Great Britain as guest in Dresden
  |language=de, en |publisher=Parkeisenbahn Dresden
  |access-date=23 December 2020 |archive-date=23 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223114108/https://www.parkeisenbahn-dresden.de/?gastloksgb98
}}</ref><ref name=pedrml>{{cite web
  |url=https://www.parkeisenbahn-dresden.de/?liliputlokomotiven95
  |title=95 Jahre Martens'sche Liliputlokomotiven – 2020 Leipzig
  |trans-title=95 years of Martens' miniature locomotives – 2020
  |language=de |publisher=Parkeisenbahn Dresden
  |access-date=26 December 2020 |archive-date=26 October 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026153202/https://www.parkeisenbahn-dresden.de/?liliputlokomotiven95
}}</ref>

In early 2020, the railway was forced to temporarily suspend all trains due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent UK-wide lockdown. This was the first time since the Second World War that passenger trains had been forcibly suspended for such a prolonged period. Following the relaxation of lockdown restrictions in July 2020, passenger trains resumed on 30 July.

===Gilbert's Cutting===
After passing Spout House Farm the line reaches Gilbert's Cutting. Until 1964, trains were forced to follow a sharp curve along a contour in order to avoid steep gradients. Using "opencast gelignite" to blast through the rock, the cutting was constructed to a 300-foot radius ten feet wide at rail level with steep sides exposing Eskdale pink granite on the inside curve.  Its construction alleviated the sharp curve at Holling Head of 145 foot radius which caused excessive wear and tear on the locos and track.  3,000 tons of rock and earth was removed and about 700 feet of track was re-laid.  By diverting the line through the new cutting the length of the line was reduced by {{frac|87|3|4}} feet making the total length 6.91 miles.

On Friday 27 March 1964, the 11:20am train from Ravenglass hauled by ''River Irt'' and driven by the managing director of the Railway Company Colin Gilbert, stopped at the Western entrance to the cutting. Mr Patrick Satow, the Chairman of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society, who was travelling in the cab with Mr Gilbert and Mr Postlethwaite the landowner, cut the ribbon and formally named the cutting "Gilbert's Cutting" in honour of Colin Gilbert.

==Present operations==
[[File:Fictitious Rander Board of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.jpg|thumb|right|A RANDER board, issued to a train's driver and guard by the duty controller.]]
Today, the railway is a popular visitor attraction in the Lake District, with the majority of its annual passenger numbers coming during the summer months. The entire single journey takes 40 minutes from end-to-end. Passengers can choose between open and covered seating, with some saloon coaches being fitted with heaters for the winter months. Disabled passengers and cycles can also be conveyed by the trains. The locomotives are {{frac|1|3}} scale models of mainline locomotives and are air-braked at 50 psi.<ref name="Ratty Album">{{cite book
 | title= The Ratty Album Volume 3
 | pages=3
 |author1=Andersen, Eliot |author2=Jenner, David. }}</ref> There are over a hundred regular volunteers that help with the running of the railways, which include guarding the trains, carriage shunting and selling tickets at the major intermediate stations along the route.

===Signalling system===
[[File:Signal box, Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, Ravenglass - geograph.org.uk - 1332056.jpg|thumb|Signal box, Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway]]
[[File:Signals and crossover at the Ravenglass ^ Eskdale Railway - geograph.org.uk - 5900799.jpg|thumb|Signals and crossover at Ravenglass]]
The railway uses the ''Radio Control Train Order'' signalling system. Outside Ravenglass station, the line is single track with passing loops at Miteside, Irton Road and Fisherground. Trains operate by radio communication between drivers and at Ravenglass [[signal box]]. At passing loops and the terminus station, drivers contact the controller, using "RANDER" reporting numbers (even numbers for up trains, and odd for down), to indicate that the train is within the loop and is clear of the preceding single track. To leave the loop, the driver contacts control to gain authorisation to enter the next single track section. No semaphore [[Railway semaphore signal|signals]] are used outside Ravenglass station. Points at passing loops are weighted with direction indicators, meaning that no human intervention is required and the points reset themselves automatically after the passage of a train when entering the points from a trailing direction when the points are set for the other rail line.

Elements of the operation were used by British Rail to cut costs on remote lines. What became known as [[Radio Electronic Token Block]] signalling shared features with the Ratty, such as centralised control, automatic points at loops, and on-train equipment rather than fixed equipment at remote locations.

On peak days in the summer months, two trains depart each end of the line per hour. Capacity on the railway allows for a service run at 20-minute intervals.

===Ownership===
The railway company is in common ownership with the [[Ullswater 'Steamers']], a company that operates lake cruises on [[Ullswater]] in the north-eastern part of the Lake District. Both companies form part of the Lake District Estates group, which also owns various tourist oriented properties in the area, and is controlled by Lord Wakefield's descendants.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.lakedistrictestates.com/attractions-and-events/ | title = Visitor Attractions & Events | publisher = Lake District Estates | access-date = 24 June 2016 | archive-date = 24 June 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160624145129/http://www.lakedistrictestates.com/attractions-and-events/ | url-status = live}}</ref>

==Stations on the route==
{{GeoGroup|section=Stations on the route}}
{{PoIgb start|type=collapsed}}
{{PoIgb|{{stnlnk|Ravenglass (R&ER)}}|54.3559|-3.4082| | | |name=Ravenglass (R&ER) Station}}
{{PoIgb|{{stnlnk|Muncaster Mill}}|54.367|-3.394| | | |name=Muncaster Mill Station}}
{{PoIgb|{{stnlnk|Miteside Halt}}|54.371|-3.384|| | |name=Miteside Halt}}
{{PoIgb|{{stnlnk|Murthwaite Halt}}|54.3785|-3.3671| | | |name=Murthwaite Halt}}
{{PoIgb|{{stnlnk|Irton Road}}|54.3880|-3.3299| | | |name=Irton Road Station}}
{{PoIgb|{{stnlnk|The Green}}|54.3868|-3.3176| | | |name=The Green Station}}
{{PoIgb|{{stnlnk|Fisherground}}|54.3923|-3.3037| | | |name=Fisherground Station}}
{{PoIgb|{{stnlnk|Beckfoot}}|54.3926|-3.2824| | | |name=Beckfoot Station}}
{{PoIgb|{{stnlnk|Dalegarth}}|54.3954|-3.2748| | | |name=Dalegarth Station}}
{{PoIgb end}}
{{Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway}}

===Ravenglass===
{{Main|Ravenglass railway station (R&ER)}}
Ravenglass railway station is the main terminus of the line: the other terminus is [[Dalegarth for Boot railway station|Dalegarth for Boot]]. Ravenglass station is the headquarters of the railway company and houses the railway museum, managerial offices and rolling stock maintenance facilities.

There is a turntable at the western extremity of the station's platforms, which doubles as the datum for mileage markers on the line. Ravenglass houses two locomotive sheds, on the southern side of the track, and a carriage shed on the northern side. There is a carriage & wagon workshop beyond Platform 1, opposite the signalbox. The ''Turntable Café'' is situated on Platform 1. The car park has spaces for 100 cars, as well as coaches. There are holiday accommodation facilities for weekly use, which consist of the Pullman [[camping coach]]es 135 ''Elmira'' and 137 ''Maid of Kent'', and a holiday bungalow, the ''Hilton Cottage''.

===Muncaster Mill===
{{Main|Muncaster Mill railway station}}
Muncaster Mill is {{convert|1|mi|km|1|disp=or}} from Ravenglass, adjacent to an historic corn mill (no longer open to the public). It is an unstaffed station, formerly known simply as Muncaster.

===Miteside Halt===
{{Main|Miteside Halt railway station}}
Miteside Halt is {{convert|1+3/4|mi|km|1}} from Ravenglass. It is accessible only from a footpath that passes along [[Miterdale]], at the foot of [[Muncaster Fell]]. The station shelter is the wooden hull of an old boat, the third such structure at the Halt.

===Murthwaite Halt===
{{Main|Murthwaite Halt railway station}}
Murthwaite Halt is {{convert|2+3/4|mi|km|1}} from Ravenglass and is also only accessible from a footpath.

===Irton Road===
{{Main|Irton Road railway station}}
Irton Road is {{convert|4+1/4|mi|km|1}} from Ravenglass, approximately halfway along the line. It was formerly known as ''Hollowstones'', after the adjacent farm. There is a passing loop within the station and, consequently, two platforms. It has three sidings which branch off from the "up" loop – two of which run into a small shed, and the third of which is used for ballast and log traffic. There is a station building, which dates from 1875.

===The Green===
{{Main|The Green railway station}}
The Green, also known as Eskdale Green, is {{convert|4+3/4|mi|km|1}} from Ravenglass. It was formerly known as King of Prussia after a local pub, then Eskdale Green, and since has changed between Eskdale Green and The Green several times. Has recently received a new picnic area.

===Fisherground===
{{Main|Fisherground railway station}}
Fisherground is accessible via a public footpath, adjacent to Fisherground campsite. It is {{convert|5+1/2|mi|km|1}} from Ravenglass, just east of Fisherground loop.

===Beckfoot===
{{Main|Beckfoot railway station}}
Beckfoot is {{convert|6+1/2|mi|km|1}} from Ravenglass. Setting down is permitted only from trains travelling from Ravenglass, and picking up is permitted only on trains to Ravenglass.

===Dalegarth for Boot===
{{Main|Dalegarth for Boot railway station}}
Dalegarth for Boot is a few yards short of {{convert|7|mi|km|1|disp=or}} from Ravenglass and is the eastern terminus of the railway. It was formerly known as Eskdale (Dalegarth). There are two platforms and a turntable. The facilities at this station include ''Fellbites Café'' and the ''Scafell Gift Shop''. A water supply to platform 1 allows topping up of the steam locomotive's tenders.

{{Clear}}

==Rolling stock==

===Locomotives===
{{For|more details on current and former locomotives|Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives}}
[[File:Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (29925105247).jpg|thumb|River Mite]]
The current fleet comprises:
{| class="wikitable"
!No.
!Name
!Type
!Wheels
!Builder
!Built
!Arrival
!Livery
!Status
!Refs
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#Muriel, then River Irt|3]]
|''[[River Irt (locomotive)|River Irt]]''
|Steam
|align=center|{{whyte|0-8-2}}
|[[Sir Arthur Heywood, 3rd Baronet|Sir Arthur Heywood]]
|align=center|1894
|align=center|1917
|Heywood Green
|In service
|<ref name=rerose>{{cite web |url=https://ravenglass-railway.co.uk/about-us/our-steam-engines |title=Our Steam Engines |publisher=Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway |access-date=4 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426145510/https://ravenglass-railway.co.uk/about-us/our-steam-engines |archive-date=2024-04-26 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=ctmrgb>{{cite book |title=Miniature Railways of Great Britain & Ireland |first1=Peter |last1=Bryant |first2=Dave |last2=Holroyde |publisher=Platform 5 |isbn=978-1-902336-93-0 |year=2012}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#Katie|6]]
|''Katie''
|Steam
|align=center|{{whyte|0-4-0|T}}
|[[Sir Arthur Heywood, 3rd Baronet|Sir Arthur Heywood]]
|align=center|1896
|align=center|1916, 1982, 2017
|[[Sir Arthur Heywood, 3rd Baronet|Green]]
|Owned by the R&ER Preservation Society. Operational, usually displayed in the museum.
|<ref name=ctmrgb/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://rerps.co.uk/katie/ |title=Katie |date=8 August 2021 |publisher=The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society |access-date=4 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506110535/https://rerps.co.uk/katie/ |archive-date=6 May 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#River Esk|7]]
|''[[River Esk (Ravenglass)|River Esk]]''
|Steam
|align=center|{{whyte|2-8-2}}
|[[Davey Paxman & Co.]]
|align=center|1923
|align=center|1923
|[[London & North Western Railway|Blackberry Black]]
|In service
|<ref name=rerose/><ref name=ctmrgb/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://advanced-steam.org/ast-news/nigel-day-completes-the-rebuilding-of-river-esk/ | title=Nigel Day completes the rebuilding of 'River Esk' - Advanced Steam Traction | date=3 May 2018 }}</ref>
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#River Mite|9]]
|''[[River Mite]]''
|Steam
|align=center|{{whyte|2-8-2}}
|Clarkson & Sons
|align=center|1966
|align=center|1966
|[[Furness Railway|Indian Red]]
|Owned by the R&ER Preservation Society. In service.
|<ref name=rerose/><ref name=ctmrgb/>
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#Northern Rock|10]]
|''[[Northern Rock]]''
|Steam
|align=center|{{whyte|2-6-2}}
|R&ER
|align=center|1976
|align=center|1976
|[[Highland Railway|Muscat Green]]
|In service
|<ref name=rerose/><ref name=ctmrgb/>
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#Whillan Beck|12]]
|''[[Whillan Beck]]''
|Steam
|align=center|{{whyte|4-6-2}}
|[[Krauss-Maffei|Krauss]]
|align=center|1929
|align=center|2016
|[[Caledonian Railway|Caledonian Blue]]
|Owned by the R&ER Preservation Society. In service.
|<ref name=rerose/><ref name=ctmrgb/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://trainfromspain.org/name-and-livery-decision/ |title=Name and Livery decision |date=12 February 2017 |website=The Train From Spain Appeal |access-date=12 February 2017 |archive-date=2017-02-12 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212210628/http://trainfromspain.org/name-and-livery-decision/}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#Synolda|N/A]]
|''Synolda''
|Steam
|align=center|{{whyte|4-4-2}}
|[[Bassett-Lowke]]
|align=center|1912
|align=center|1978
|[[Bassett-Lowke|NGR Blue]]
|Operational, usually displayed in the museum.
|<ref name=ctmrgb/><ref name=rrm>{{cite web |url=https://ravenglassrailwaymuseum.co.uk/portfolio/class-aptent-taciti-sociosqu/ |title=Ravenglass Railway Museum |publisher=Ravenglass Railway Museum |access-date=4 May 2024 |archive-date=2023-12-07 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207102852/https://ravenglassrailwaymuseum.co.uk/portfolio/class-aptent-taciti-sociosqu/}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#U2|N/A]]
|''[[Greenbat]]''
|Battery-Electric
|align=center|{{whyte|4w|BE}}
|[[Greenwood & Batley]]
|align=center|1957
|align=center|1982
|Yellow
|Operational
|<ref name=ctmrgb/>{{cite needed|reason=dates, colour and status; not covered by Miniature Railways of Great Britain & Ireland|date=May 2024}}
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#Bunny|ICL 1]]
|''Bunny''
|Petrol-Mechanical
|align=center|B-2
|Francis Theakston
|align=center|1927
|align=center|1927
|Green
|On display in the museum
|<ref name=ctmrgb/><ref name=rrm/>
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#Quarryman|ICL 5]]
|''Quarryman''
|Petrol-Mechanical
|align=center|{{whyte|4w|PM}}
|[[Muir-Hill]]
|align=center|1926
|align=center|1926
|[[Fordson|Green]]
|Operational, usually displayed in the museum
|<ref name=ctmrgb/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/quarrymanappeal |title=Quarryman Restoration Appeal |publisher=Ravenglass Railway Museum Trust |access-date=4 May 2024 |archive-date=6 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506120224/https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/quarrymanappeal}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#Perkins|ICL 4]]
|''[[Perkins Engines|Perkins]]''
|Diesel-Mechanical
|align=center|4w-4
|[[Muir-Hill]]
|align=center|1929
|align=center|1929
|Yellow
|In service
|<ref name=ctmrgb/>{{cite needed|reason=dates, colour and status; not covered by Miniature Railways of Great Britain & Ireland|date=May 2024}}
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#Shelagh of Eskdale|ICL 7]]
|''Shelagh of Eskdale''
|Diesel-Mechanical
|align=center|{{whyte|4-6-4|DM}}
|[[Severn-Lamb]]
|align=center|1969
|align=center|1969
|[[British Railways|Two-tone Green]]
|Operational, at [[Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway]]
|<ref name=ctmrgb/>{{cite needed|reason=dates, colour and status; not covered by Miniature Railways of Great Britain & Ireland|date=May 2024}}
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#Lady Wakefield|ICL 8]]
|''Lady Wakefield''
|Diesel-Mechanical
|align=center|[[UIC notation#B-B|B-B]]
|R&ER
|align=center|1980
|align=center|1980
|[[British Railways|BR Green]]
|In service
|<ref name=ctmrgb/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/03/locomotive-no-8-lady-wakefield-emerges-from-ravenglass-and-eskdale-railway-paintshop.html |title=Locomotive No 8 Lady Wakefield emerges from Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway paintshop |date=12 March 2021 |publisher=Rail Advent Ltd |access-date=4 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312151601/https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/03/locomotive-no-8-lady-wakefield-emerges-from-ravenglass-and-eskdale-railway-paintshop.html |archive-date=2021-03-12 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#Cyril|ICL 9]]
|''Cyril''
|Diesel-Mechanical
|align=center|{{whyte|4w|DM}}
|[[R A Lister and Company|R.A. Lister]]
|align=center|1932
|align=center|1985
|Green
|Owned by the Murthwaite Locomotive Group. Station shunter.
|<ref name=ctmrgb/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://rerps.co.uk/cyril/ |title=Cyril |date=29 August 2021 |publisher=The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society |access-date=4 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028053523/https://rerps.co.uk/cyril/ |archive-date=2023-10-28 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#Les|ICL 10]]
|''Les''
|Diesel-Mechanical
|align=center|{{whyte|4w|DM}}
|[[R A Lister and Company|R.A. Lister]]
|align=center|1960
|align=center|1999
|Green
|Workshop pilot
|<ref name=ctmrgb/>{{cite needed|reason=dates, colour and status; not covered by Miniature Railways of Great Britain & Ireland|date=May 2024}}
|-
|align=center|[[Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway locomotives#Douglas Ferreira|ICL 11]]
|''[[Douglas Ferreira]]''
|Diesel-Hydraulic
|align=center|[[UIC notation#B-B|B-B]]
|[[TMA Engineering]]
|align=center|2005
|align=center|2005
|[[Furness Railway|Indian Red]]
|Owned by the R&ER Preservation Society. Under repair.
|<ref name=ctmrgb/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://rerps.co.uk/douglas-ferreira/ |title=Douglas Ferreira |date=8 August 2021 |publisher=The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society |access-date=4 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228235058/https://rerps.co.uk/douglas-ferreira/ |archive-date=2024-02-28 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{cite needed|reason=Under repair; not covered by other cites|date=May 2024}}
|}

===Passenger carriages===
The operational passenger stock of the railway currently comprises the following –

*7 20-seat heated saloons (102; 110; 111; 113–115; 136)
*2 18-seat heated saloons (106; 107)
*1 14-seat heated brake saloon (112)
*3 20-seat saloons (119; 121; 122)
*2 14-seat brake saloons (104; 120)
*1 16-seat brake saloon (103)
*1 22-seat heated "maxi" brake saloon (133)
*1 20-seat heated "maxi" special saloon (130 ''Eskdale Belle'')
*1 17-seat heated disabled saloon (118)
*1 14-seat heated disabled saloon (138)
*2 19-seat disabled saloons (123; 137)
*7 20-seat semi-opens (101; 108; 109; 116; 117; 124; 125)
*3 20-seat disabled semi-opens (127–129)
*8 20-seat opens (166; 269–469; 170–370; 387)
*5 18-seat brake opens (169; 271; 371; 199; 287)
*1 14-seat heated observation saloon (131 ''Joan'')
*1 12-seat heated director's saloon (132 ''Ruth'')
*1 18 seat heated first class saloon (140)

Open coach 287 is owned by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society and is hired to the railway.

===Other vehicles===
[[File:R&ER engineers van.JPG|thumb|A utility van for use by engineers.]]
The permanent way department currently utilises nine four-wheeled flat wagons, eight of which have removable tops for ballast carrying, a four-wheeled railbender wagon, a bogie man-rider wagon, two bogie flat wagons, a utilities van, and a mess saloon coach (105).<ref name=STOCKBOOK >{{cite book
 |author1=van Zeller, Peter  |author2=Higginson, Martin
  |name-list-style=amp |title=Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Stockbook
 |publisher=Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Preservation Society
 |year=2006
|edition=4th
 }}</ref>

{{anchor|Arlesdale Railway}}

== The line in fiction ==
{{Redirects|Arlesdale Railway}}
The [[Arlesdale Railway]] in [[The Railway Series]] by the Rev. [[Wilbert Awdry]] is based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.<ref name=SODOR >{{cite book
  |author=Awdry, Wilbert and George
  |title=The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
  |isbn=0-434-96348-8
  |publisher=Heinemann
  |year=1987
}}</ref> In ''[[List of Railway Series Books#Small Railway Engines|Small Railway Engines]]'' (1967), Awdry relates part of a holiday he spent visiting the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway with the Rev. [[Edwin Boston]]; the two appear in the book as the Thin Clergyman and the Fat Clergyman, respectively. The Arlesdale Railway was also the focus point in ''[[List of Railway Series Books#Jock the New Engine|Jock the New Engine]]'', with an incident that was inspired by an accident that happened on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, when ''Perkins'' crashed in the back of the shed, and  with cameos in other books.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Wilcock|first=David|url=http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/awdryobit.htm|title=The Rev Wilbert Awdry – Thomas the Tank Engine's Creator – Dies at 85|journal=Steam Railway|date=June 1997|via=pegnsean.net|accessdate=13 April 2008|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080410033410/http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/awdryobit.htm |archivedate=10 April 2008|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

The fictional railway's locomotives are each based on Ravenglass locomotives: ''Bert'', ''Rex'', ''Mike'' and ''Jock'' are the steam locomotives ''River Irt'', ''River Esk'', ''River Mite'' and ''Northern Rock'', while the Sudrian diesels ''Frank'', ''Sigrid of Arlesdale'' and ''Blister'' 1 & 2 are the Cumbrians ''Perkins'', ''Shelagh of Eskdale'' and ''Cyril''.<ref name=SODOR /> The Arlesdale Railway stations are also visibly based on the Ravenglass ones: Arlesburgh is Ravenglass, Ffarquhar Road is Muncaster Mill, Marthwaite is Irton Road, Arlesdale Green is Eskdale Green and Arlesdale is Dalegarth.<ref name=SODOR /> ''Bert'', ''Rex'' and ''Mike'' first appeared in the [[Thomas & Friends]] TV Series in the special ''[[Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure]]'' and later appeared in Season 20.

The line features in ''[[The Plague Dogs (novel)|The Plague Dogs]]'' by [[Richard Adams]]; the canine protagonists evade the force of paratroopers searching for them by riding from Eskdale to Ravenglass on an empty train.

In the first two instalments in the [[RollerCoaster Tycoon (series)|RollerCoaster Tycoon]] franchise of theme park simulation series, ''[[RollerCoaster Tycoon]]'' and ''[[RollerCoaster Tycoon 2]]'', the model for the basic "miniature railway" ride is based on the engine ''No 10 Northern Rock''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Game Info - The Evolution of RollerCoaster Tycoon - Part 2 |url=http://rollercoastertycoon.com/test/info/editing_room2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000413065115/http://rollercoastertycoon.com/test/info/editing_room2.html |archive-date=13 April 2000 |access-date=11 March 2022 |website=rollercoastertycoon.com}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Duffield Bank Railway]]
* [[Eaton Hall Railway]]
* [[Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway]]
* [[Sand Hutton Miniature Railway]]
* [[Shuzenji Romney Railway]] in Japan
* [[Bush Mill Railway]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{cite book |last=Davey |first=C.R. |title=Reflections of the Furness Railway |year=1984 |publisher=Lakeland Heritage Books |location=[[Barrow in Furness]] |isbn=978-0-9509926-0-0 }}
* {{cite book |last=Welbourn |first=Nigel |title=Lost Lines: British Narrow Gauge |year=2000 |publisher=[[Ian Allan Publishing]] |location=Shepperton |isbn=978-0-7110-2742-8 }}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway}}
* [http://www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk/ Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Company Ltd.]
* [http://www.rerps.co.uk/ Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Preservation Society]
*[https://ravenglassrailwaymuseum.co.uk/ Ravenglass Railway Museum]
* [https://www.flickr.com/groups/rander/ Photos of the railway in dedicated flickr group]
* [http://www.thecumbriadirectory.com/Tourist_Attractions/Museums/museums_view.php?museum=ravenglass_railway_museum The Cumbria Directory – Ravenglass Railway Museum]

{{Heritage railways in England}}
{{15 inch gauge railways}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway| ]]
[[Category:Heritage railways in Cumbria]]
[[Category:15 in gauge railways in England]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1875]]
[[Category:Eskdale, Cumbria]]
[[Category:Muncaster]]