On This Day
Yesterday
15 October 1960
The first general meeting of the fledgling Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society took place at Muncaster School. According to the 1st Edition of the Society newsletter, "250 members travelled from all corners of Britain for this event".
15 October 1964
The bridge carrying the standard-gauge line over the main road into Ravenglass was lifted from its original position to replace the bridge alongside it which carried the 15" gauge tracks over the same road.
The big lift was carried out by a crane from Seymour Plant Hire of Whitehaven. The work of removing the old bridge and fully installing the other in its place took around six weeks.
The plates on the bridge read "Fletcher Jennings & Co., Engineers, Lowca Engine Works, Whitehaven. 1876".
Today
16 October 1985
Following the Railway Company actively canvassing orders for steam or diesel locomotives, the first order was for a simple vertical-boilered 15" gauge tram engine for Ian Fraser (who donated Bonnie Dundee to the railway), to use on the short line in his garden at Arbroath. Flower of the Forest, as the loco was named, first ran up the line on 16th October as far as Muncaster Mill and left Ravenglass for Arbroath on 27th November. Ian's plans were for when he could no longer run it on his railway in Arbroath, Flower of the Forest would return back to Ravenglass.
Tomorrow
There are no anniversaries to show for this date. If you know of something related to the railway for this date, get in touch!