For our hotel guests and day visitors who enjoy the delights of a leisurely day out in the Lake District, have you considered taking a trip on a Lake District steam train down at on of Cumbria's many heritage railways? They are a great way to see the Lake District whilst learning about the area's culture and history.
Known locally as La’al Ratty, this 15” minimum heritage grade, well-loved little railway was opened in 1875 to ship iron ore from Eskdale. Its 3’ guage predecessor was Owd Ratty. The oldest steam train is River Irt, parts of which date from 1894, while the newest is the diesel-hydraulic Douglas Ferreira, built in 2005. There’s a selection of carriages to suit all weather conditions from open coaches with no roof or windows, semi-open, to the heated closed saloons.
Enjoy the railway museum at the Ravenglass end of the line with interesting photos, artefacts and an audio visual presentation.
Originally a branch line of the Furness Railway carrying passengers and freight to Barrow, the remaining 3.5 mile Lakeside and Haverthwaite steam train journey from Haverthwaite to Newby Bridge gives a glimpse of life from a bygone age.
A great way to experience the railway is as part of the Sail and Rail package, taking a cruise from Bowness to Lakeside followed by the twenty minute train ride.
Threlkeld quarry railway is definitely one for the railway enthusiast, not just pretty Lakeland view seekers, the railway has three lovingly restored steam locomotives. SIR TOM is a completely restored 0-4-0 saddle tank narrow guage locomotive; Hunslet 50hp, 0-4-0, is a 1945 an ex-National Coal Board locomotive from the South Yorkshire area which was retrieved from the underground prior to two colliery closings. The current passenger diesel in use is Ruston 48 DL, 1947, an ex-Royal Navy Armaments Depot Loco currently used to transport passenger trains from the middle quarry to the inner quarry.
Threkeld Quarry was opened in the 1870s to supply railway ballast to the Penrith – Keswick line. Rock was blasted from the quarry face with gunpowder and the broken rock loaded into wagons on the narrow gauge railway. The wagons then pulled the empty wagons via a cable back to the rock face for refilling. After WWII the railway was dismantled, excavators then taking over the task previously undertaken by the railway.
Visitors can also enjoy the quarry and mining museum, complete with a lighting, drilling and explosives room.
This Railway line hosts beautiful coastal views as well as a legitimate historical interest. Running close to ancient British stone circles, Hadrian’s Wall and historic ports along the way, there is much of intrigue for both railway enthusiasts and travellers interested in Cumbria’s past.
Commencing your journey in Carlisle, the western gateway to Hadrian’s Wall country, it is worth stopping off at Whitehaven, one of Britain’s 40 ‘Gem’ towns and learning about its history as one of the most important trading harbours in the past. The Beacon explains the history of Whitehaven and its harbour and The Rum Story shares fascinating tales of the UK rum industry centred in Whitehaven.
Also worthy of note is St Bees with its long sandy beach, the red sandstone cliffs being the summer home to northwest England’s largest colony of nesting seabirds. On a clear day you can also see the Isle of Man. You will be treated to spectacular Lakeland scenes through the Lake District National Park before reaching Barrow-in-Furness, still famous for ship building and specialising in submarines.
They call themselves ‘Lakeland’s best kept secret’, Millerbeck Light Railway is a private railway run by the Gorse family in the grounds of Millerbeck House in the village of Staveley-in-Cartmel. Perhaps its secretive nature is due to the fact that it is only open for occasional family days throughout the year, so more a labour of love than a commercial venture. A beautiful Lakeland setting, visitors are treated to a ride of about a mile through the meadow, woods and over the stream. There’s a selection of steam, diesel and electric locomotives running on this narrow gauge railway.
We tried the Via Ferrata Extreme at Honister in The Lake District.
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