On This Day
Yesterday
20 November 1876
Having opened to mineral traffic the previous year, in 1876 it was decided to introduce a passenger service from Ravenglass to Boot which commenced operations on 20th November 1876. From this date the intermediate stations on the line were Muncaster Mill (1.75 miles), Irton Road (4 miles), Eskdale Green (4 miles) and Beckfoot (6 miles from Ravenglass). Muncaster Mill was more in the nature of a "halt", but there was a single siding, facing Ravenglass, at the other intermediate stations. At Boot there was a running-round loop and siding leading to the loading ramp at which ore from the Nabb Ghyll Mine could be tipped into the wagons.
Whitehaven News, 23rd November 1876 – ‘The long talked-of Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway was opened for passenger traffic on Monday last. The first train, gaily decorated with flags, left Ravenglass at 8:35am, stopping at all stations and reached Boot, the Eastern terminus of the line, at 9:20am. Lord Muncaster, MP, the Rev H.Bell, Mr J.Ross and several other local gentlemen accompanied the train, Lord Muncaster riding upon the engine. A service of trains in connection with the trains on the Furness Railway is now running regularly into Eskdale. It is hoped that this little enterprise will be a means of bringing a large number of visitors to the truly beautiful valley of the Esk. We may add that the district was quite en fete over the event, flags being displayed at Ravenglass and various places along the line. In one instance, viz, that of Mr Vicars, Gill Bank; the flag was hoisted on the top of a high cragg known as ‘The Burrows.’
20 November 2001
The first passenger train from Ravenglass to Boot ran on 20 November 1876, To mark the 125th anniversary of this great event, a special train ran on the morning of Tuesday 20th November 2001, hauled by Northern Rock, which was celebrating her 25th birthday. Guests included Peter Hensman (Director of the Railway Company), Phillida Gordon Duff Pennington, Jonathan Fisher (Group General Manager), Doug and Dawn Ferreira, and Ian and Margaret Smith, who travelled up the line with Trevor Stockton (Railway General Manager) in the Eskdale Belle.
Today
21 November 2017
Whillan Beck was delivered to Ravenglass. More...
Tomorrow
22 November 1955
On 22nd November 1955, the Royal Train carrying HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, stabled overnight in the main line loop at Ravenglass prior to his visit to Sellafield the following day. Image from Trains Illustrated magazine January 1956.
22 November 2016
The Train from Spain (now Whillan Beck) was steamed for the first time in 84 years at its new home, Ravenglass.
