The Opening of Eskdale Green Station (now The Green)
On Saturday 15th June 1968, following the Society's AGM, Eskdale Green station was officially opened by Mr. Harold D. Bowtell, Chairman of the Stephenson Locomotive Society in the North West and a founder member of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society.
Many members and others travelled to the opening ceremony on the 4:30pm behind River Mite with Dick Nicholson driving and Graham Withers as guard. Mr. G. A. Garratt, Chairman of the West Yorkshire Group of the Preservation Society, was at Eskdale Green to welcome those who travelled on the train.
The project to create the new station building and platform at Eskdale Green was undertaken by the West Yorkshire Group of the Preservation Society. Following the West Yorkshire Group's adoption of the station in 1963, plans were drawn up and approved in 1964 and work commenced on the platform during the Easter period of that year. This was followed by the laying of the foundations for the building in 1966.
When performing the opening, Mr Bowtell recalled from pictures the short platform and dilapidated shelter of the Station at Eskdale Green during the 3 foot gauge days. He remembered the grass-grown siding in the early 1950s and then the apparent abandonment of the station until a name board was erected in "recent years". He concluded by asking all those present to pay tribute to the perseverance and successful efforts of the West Yorkshire Group members who had built the new platform and station building, after which he declared the station open by cutting a tape across the door and entering the building.
After the official proceedings, the driver and guard joined the official party for a 'small sherry' in the station office. In the evening the film 'La'al Ratty' was shown to a capacity audience in the Village Hall and a silver collection for the River Mite Fund raised £10.8.9 (£10.44).
Text taken from:
"It's Been A Lot of Fun" published by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society, 2000
R&ER Newsletter Number 30, 1968.