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Railways in the Lake District
The Lake District is framed in railway terms by the somewhat misnamed West Coast Main Line (WCML) and the Cumbrian Coast Line. The WCML is misnamed because it only briefly reaches the west coast and had George Stephenson’s 1836 recommendations been followed, the Cumbrian Coast Line would be the WCML. He argued that the 22 extra miles were better than the construction and operating problems of surmounting Shap summit.
In the end both lines were built and today, starting at Carnforth, the lines eventually link up at Carlisle. The only line to cross the region was the Workington, Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway. The modern national park area resisted schemes to build other lines, although three branch lines penetrated at Coniston, Lakeside at the southern tip of Lake Windermere and at Windermere itself. In addition there were a maze of lines servicing the iron ore industry in West Cumbria and the narrow gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.
The Lake District arguably came off lightly in the Beeching era to the extent that the Cumbrian Coast Line and WCML survived along with the Windermere branch. The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway and part of the Lakeside branch continue as preserved railways.
The history of railways in the Lake district is based initially on the desire to exploit the region’s mineral wealth, although tourism rapidly became an important source of revenue. A number of excellent studies have been published, charting the fascinating development of the system.
A good introduction is Martin Bairstow’s Railways in the Lake District (ISBN 1-871944-11-2).
For a comprehensive account the essential read is Volume 14 of the Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain The Lake Counties by David Joy (ISBN 0-0946537-02-X).
For a history of the main railway companies consult:
Furness Railway: A View from the Past by Howard Quayle (ISBN 0-7110-2756-0)
Rails Through Lakeland (two volumes) by Harold Bowtell (ISBN 1-85794-066-0)
The Cockermouth, Keswick & Penrith Railway by Robert Weston (ISBN 0-85361-564-0)
Main Line Over Shap by David Joy (Dalesman 1967)
The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway by W.J.K.Davies (David & Charles 1968)
The Kendal & Windermere Railway by Dick Smith (CRA 2004)
The Coniston Railway by Michael Andrews & G.Holme (CRA 2005)
For a pictorial view:
BR Past and Present Volume 1: Cumbria by John Broughton (ISBN 1-85895-097-X)
BR Past and Present Special: The Furness Railway by John Broughton (ISBN 1-85895-126-7)
Images of Cumbrian Railways by John Marsh (ISBN 0-7509-2834-4)
Cumbrian Railways by John Marsh (ISBN 0-7509-2043-2)
Cumbrian Railway Photographer by Kate Robinson (ISBN 0-85361-592-6)
And for a more personal view:
Elephants on the Line: Tales of a Cumbrian Railwayman by John Cottam (ISBN 0-9531836-1-0)
If this reading gets you hooked then why not join the Cumbrian Railways Association.
In addition to the website there is a regular journal, newsletter, events and special publications.
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Lakeside Station today
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