Home Open Account Help 337 users online

European Railroad Discussion > Afternoon at Ribblehead


Date: 10/03/24 17:03
Afternoon at Ribblehead
Author: DavidP

The Settle and Carlisle line in Yorkshire is known as one of the UK's most scenic routes.  Perhaps it's best known gem is Ribblehead Viaduct, whose soaring arches span a wide valley in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.  On July 30th, my wife and I were driving from Leeds to Scotland, and decided to stop by Ribblehead.  It's one of England's most remote stations, surrounded only by grazing sheep, some well-marked walking trails, and an excellent pub.  The station itself has a tearoom and small museum, maintained by the Settle and Carlisle Preservation Trust.  Local passenger service is provided by Northern Trains, with several DMU runs each way traveling from Leeds to Carlisle.  It's a great destination for a few hours of train watching, trail walking, and a pub lunch.

1) A Leeds-bound Northern Service crosses the Viaduct, which was built in 1870.

2) In the 1990's, Network Rail wanted to abandon the Settle and Carlisle due to the high cost of needed repairs to Ribblehead Viaduct.  It took an act of Parliament to fund repairs and keep the line open.

3) Northern operates mostly 2 and 3 car DMUs on the line.  West Coast Rail operates several steam excursions per year over the route.

Dave
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/04/24 04:26 by DavidP.








Date: 10/03/24 17:06
Re: Afternoon at Ribblehead
Author: DavidP

4-6) We also caught to two goods trains, powered by EMD class 66 diesels, during our time at Ribblehead.








Date: 10/03/24 17:14
Re: Afternoon at Ribblehead
Author: DavidP

7) The beer garden of the Station Inn is a great place for a pint and some lunch, while keeping an eye out for trains on the viaduct.

8) Lonely Blea Moor Signal Box is at the north end of the bridge.  It is no longer used, but has been preserved.  

9) I don't think this semaphore is in use either, as there was a more modern LED signal at the same location.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/03/24 17:15 by DavidP.








Date: 10/03/24 17:19
Re: Afternoon at Ribblehead
Author: DavidP

10) Useful signage at the station describing the surrounding area.

11 - 12) If a day trip isn't enough for you, you can rent the old station master's house for overnight stays.








Date: 10/03/24 17:26
Re: Afternoon at Ribblehead
Author: DavidP

Here's a short video of Northern DMUs at Ribblehead.  When I rode the line in 2012, our train was made up of two 2-unit cars.  It's possible that trains this day were smaller as the line was being bussed north of Appleby due to maintenance work.

Dave

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!




Date: 10/04/24 05:17
Re: Afternoon at Ribblehead
Author: TexasRocket

Very nice. Looks like a lovely day out with the missus. I'll have to check that area out when I'm back on that side of the pond again.



Date: 10/04/24 13:48
Re: Afternoon at Ribblehead
Author: JUTower

Excellent series.  Spent a few days there with my wife back in 2012, and very much enjoyed it.



Date: 10/04/24 21:04
Re: Afternoon at Ribblehead
Author: 55002

Glad you enjoyed Ribblehead. Great place to chill out. A friend helps out at the cafe, and the view from the gents toilet at the pub is not to be missed!! Chris uk.

Posted from iPhone



Date: 10/07/24 13:32
Re: Afternoon at Ribblehead
Author: march_hare

If one were to rent the stationmasters quarters form few days, is there any way to predict when the goods trains will show up?  This seems like a wonderful photographic opportunity. 



Date: 10/07/24 14:17
Re: Afternoon at Ribblehead
Author: 86235

march_hare Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If one were to rent the stationmasters quarters
> form few days, is there any way to predict when
> the goods trains will show up?  This seems like a
> wonderful photographic opportunity. 

Freight trains run to fixed schedules, although not necessarily daily. So it's relatively easy using apps like realtimetrains to know when they will turn up.



Date: 10/07/24 14:23
Re: Afternoon at Ribblehead
Author: exhaustED

march_hare Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If one were to rent the stationmasters quarters
> form few days, is there any way to predict when
> the goods trains will show up?  This seems like a
> wonderful photographic opportunity. 

As has been mentioned all trains can be tracked in realtime over the line. Ribblehead gets daily freights/light engine movements. Stone and timber trains are most frequent. Steam railtours are not unusual also.



Date: 10/07/24 15:51
Re: Afternoon at Ribblehead
Author: march_hare

Thanks. I’ve successfully ridden the line once ( behind steam) and failed once (line out of service for maintenance) but have always wanted to just sit in the grass and watch things roll.

Maybe next year.

Posted from iPhone



Date: 10/07/24 16:04
Re: Afternoon at Ribblehead
Author: exhaustED

march_hare Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks. I’ve successfully ridden the line once (
> behind steam) and failed once (line out of service
> for maintenance) but have always wanted to just
> sit in the grass and watch things roll.
>
> Maybe next year.
>

Sounds great, feel free to message if you get that chance to sit in the grass. 



Date: 10/07/24 19:26
Re: Afternoon at Ribblehead
Author: SOO6617

Freightmaster shows four freights
scheduled through Ribblehead in
daylight, but three are "Q" meaning
that they may be cancelled for that
day;

4N00 mt Cement tanks MW only Q
6K65 Departmental (MOW in US) Q
6J37  loaded Timber Q
3J11 Railhead Treatment Train

All are Southbound, the last three
are afternoon trains.
 



Date: 10/07/24 23:54
Re: Afternoon at Ribblehead
Author: 86235

SOO6617 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Freightmaster shows four freights
> scheduled through Ribblehead in
> daylight, but three are "Q" meaning
> that they may be cancelled for that
> day;
>
> 4N00 mt Cement tanks MW only Q
> 6K65 Departmental (MOW in US) Q
> 6J37  loaded Timber Q
> 3J11 Railhead Treatment Train
>
> All are Southbound, the last three
> are afternoon trains.
>  

The Railhead Treatment Train only runs between the end of September and the beginning of December. Probably not the time to be sitting on the grass watching the trains, unless you're partial to getting damp.



[ Share Thread on Facebook ] [ Search ] [ Start a New Thread ] [ Back to Thread List ] [ <Newer ] [ Older> ] 
Page created in 0.1065 seconds