The La'l Ratty, better known as the Ravenglass and Eskdale

kevsmith Aug 18, 2017

  1. kevsmith

    kevsmith TrainBoard Member

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    In my thread on the DRS open day I featured the Krauss built 4-6-2 recently acquired for the Ravenglass & Eskdal and thought you might be interested in a closer look at this little gem of a preserved line. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Cumbria it has an interesting history



    The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway was originally built way back in 1873 and was commercially opened on the 24th May 1875. The Railway's main purpose was to transport iron ore, that was being mined in the hills above the village of Boot, down to Ravenglass where it could be transferred onto the Furness Railway's mainline to Barrow. The Railway was also open to passenger traffic (beginning in 1876) and was built to the narrow gauge of 3ft (between the rails), this made the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway the first public narrow gauge Railway in England!

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    The Railway was forced to close in 1913 due to diminishing quantities of iron ore and falling passenger numbers, the Railway's trackwork and rolling stock had also begun to fall into disrepair and a couple of mishaps had not escaped the authorities attention. However this was not the end for the Railway as in the midst of the Great War came an unexpected twist of fate.
    In 1915 miniature railway engineer and prolific model makers WJ Bassett-Lowke and R Proctor-Mitchell, (representing Narrow Gauge Railways Ltd) acquired the Railway line as a base for testing their little locomotives under fairly harsh operating conditions. These engines ran to a smaller gauge of 15'' or 381mm. They steadily began to re-lay the line and on 28th August 1915 the first train ran as far as Muncaster Mill - this service was commemorated with a re-enactment in 2015. By 1916 the re-gauged track ran as far as Irton Road, and the following year these miniature trains were running the full length of the line. However there was a slight deviaiton from the original course - the original 3ft trackbed carried on beyond Beckfoot, up Beckfoot Bank, and along the fellside to the village of Boot. Bassett-Lowke thought that the continued climb away from Beckfoot might be too far for his tiny locomotives so he curved the track away from the fell, in front of the former miners cottages and over Whelan Beck to its terminus and present day position at Dalegarth for Boot.

    Ravenglass, the start of the line seen in the 1930s and you can see the relationship between the standard gauge Cumbrian Coast Line in the foreground and the "L'al Ratty" ,as the line is called in the local Cumbrian dialect, in the background. An ex LNWR Prince of wales 4-6-0 on the Workington Barrow Postal heads south.

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    Even in the early post war years after the formation of British railways the yard was still part of the Standard gauge network. There is a lot of interesting detail about this picture. The loco is a Lancashire and Yorkshire Aspinall 0-6-0 transferred a long way away from its home railway. In front of the goods shed is a Clerestory coach that looks like a Midland railway one judging by the roof profile and the freight train on the up main is an unfitted one, i.e no automatic brakes just a brake van!

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    I first visited the line in 1994. in that year you can see the relationship between British Rail and the line which has now taken over the Goods shed and yard.
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    More in a Mo. This will probably turn into a long thread so please keep coming back if you find it interesting

    Kev
     
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  2. kevsmith

    kevsmith TrainBoard Member

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    In 1958 and again in 1959 the line and fittings were offered for sale but unfortunately without any serious potential purchaser, it was announced that the 1960 season would be the last. The Railway was to be sold by auction in September. The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society was formed by enthusiasts looking to take over the Railway but hopes were not high. Fortunately, two interested parties (Colin Gilbert a midlands stockbroker and Sir Wavell Wakefield a local landowner) stepped in on the day of the auction with the balance of the purchase price, £12,000, and the Railway became theirs.



    The pictures will tend to jump between 1994 when we took our granddaughter Chelsea for her visit and this year when we took her son Brooklyn. It is a sign of how dynamic a society they are when you see how each end of the line has developed over the last few years



    From rather humbler beginnings Ravenglass station has become an impressive area. This was seen in 1994 with 'Northern Rock' arriving from Dalegarth

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    Ravenglass now

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    When I first visited Dalegarth at the other end of the line it was little more than an Army surplus hut, The new building is much more impressive with a cafe and shop (The bacon sandwiches are pricey but very nice)

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    The line is single with a passing loops giving you the chance to catch any trains coming the other way

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    more soon

    Kev
     
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  3. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Wow, that is a neat system that I would love to become better acquainted with. Kev, you have caused me to add this to my Bucket List. Is this location, and possibly a visit to your neck of the woods convenient using a Brit Rail Pass?
     
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I had never heard of this operation. It seems to be quite the survivor. :)
     
  5. kevsmith

    kevsmith TrainBoard Member

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    Some original facilities still exist like they have done for decades like the loco running shed

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    The goods shed is another story. A few years ago we were just about to send our afternoon Sellafield to Crewe freight train out when we got a call saying the line was shut due to a lineside fire at Ravenglass. With no idea when the line would re-open a few phone calls revealed that it was the goods shed and it there were large quantities of Oil and Oxy-Acetylene cylinders in there as well. A few days later this was the sorry sight

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    £500,000 of damage resulted with the loss of many vital patterns. One loco was in the shed and was pushed out to safety but another loco was under restoration and may of the boiler fittings and valve gear components were wrecked. Luckily the chassis and boiler were elsewhere.

    Rebuilt and now active again

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    The sad part of the story was the fire was arson set by one of the workers on the railway who was subsequently convicted by jury and sent down for ten years. It emerged during the trial that he had tried a couple of times before.

    More soon
     
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  6. kevsmith

    kevsmith TrainBoard Member

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    So..Locos



    quarter full size and built to the same standards as the equally famous Romney Hythe and Dymchurch railway the fleet is diverse but very reliable and efficient



    Our motive power the other day was 'River Mite' a 2-8-2 built by Clarksons in 1966 seen on the turntable at Ravenglass

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    It is 22 1/2 ft long and 3'3" wide with 8 1/2" x 6" cylinders

    You can see the air brake reservoir on the rear of the tender as it stands at Ravenglass while the crew have a well earned break

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    'Northern Rock' is a 2-6-2 built in the railways own workshop in 1976 and is seen here raising steam in the yard using a blower to provide some draft

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    Back in 1994 it is seen arriving from Dalegarth with a full train

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    Kev
     
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  7. kevsmith

    kevsmith TrainBoard Member

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    'River Irt' also seen in 1994 is an interesting one, originally built by Sir Arthur Heywood in 1894 it was extensively rebuilt as an 0-8-2 by the companies workshops in 1927

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    The valve gear is interesting to say the least!

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    River Esk is a 2-8-2 built by Davey Paxman Co. in 1923 as works no. 21104

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  8. kevsmith

    kevsmith TrainBoard Member

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    My own favourite loco is Synolda a 4-4-2 built by Bassett Lowke in 1912 seen here with our Brooklyn climbing aboard

    This is in the newly opened museum building where kids are allowed to get onto the exhibits. Not something many museums allow.

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    23 years earlier Brooklyn's mom Chelsea sat on the very same loco !

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    Despite appearance this diminutive 4-4-4T is actually petrol driven and was built by Basset Lowke in 1909

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    A 0-4-0T built by Sir Arthur Heywood in 1896 for the Duke of Westminster's Eaton Hall Railway. It came to Ravenglass in 1916 and left in 1919. Few photographs survive of it working in Cumbria, however the remains of the locomotive returned to the railway in 1982 after spells at Llewellyn's Miniature Railway, Southport and the Fairbourne Railway, Wales. In 1992, the R&ER Heritage Group formed, with an aim to restore the locomotive to original condition, as seen on our recent visit

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  9. kevsmith

    kevsmith TrainBoard Member

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    Diesel power is also used



    Lady Wakefield is a 4w-4wDH built in the companies workshops in 1980 and puts in a lot of work



    seen on the turntable at Dalegarth

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    When I first saw it this red livery was applied

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    Douglas Ferreira is a B-B diesel hydraulic ordered in 2004 from TMA engineering with a 4 cylinder turbocharged Perkins engine and styled on one of our full size class 66 locos

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    Perkins, a 4w-4DM built at Ravenglass is the Civil engineering loco

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    Anita is not self propelled anymore this Ruston Hornsby built in 1949 has been converted to a flail mower

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  10. kevsmith

    kevsmith TrainBoard Member

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    ICL no 1 is a 4-4wPM built at Ravenglass in 1925 with some rather odd styling

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    Rather akin to one of Sir Vincent Raven's Electrics on the North Eastern railway

    More conventional and another of my favourites is 'Quarryman' a 4wPM built by Muir Hill in 1926

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  11. kevsmith

    kevsmith TrainBoard Member

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    Coaching stock is a mix covered coaches and 'toastrack' open coaches



    a typical covered coach

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    A typical open carraige


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    And you can hire this lovely saloon if you wish

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    This coach has become the Mess Coach for the track gang

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  12. kevsmith

    kevsmith TrainBoard Member

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    various freight wagons are dotted about to support the P-Way volunteers[​IMG]



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    Some historical rolling stock seen in '94

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    and in the new museum

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  13. kevsmith

    kevsmith TrainBoard Member

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    Of course none of this would happen without the efforts of the permanent staff and the volunteers



    River Mite's driver gives it a polish at Dalegarth before the return journey to Ravenglass

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    Back in 94 the loco is turned by hand by the train crew

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    two decades later the train crew do the same operation at Ravenglass[​IMG]

    Kev
     
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  14. kevsmith

    kevsmith TrainBoard Member

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    Video, with a running commentary by our Brooklyn of our recent visit



    If your in the U.K the Railway is accessible by rail on the Cumbrian Coast line changing off the West Coast Main line at either Carlisle or Lancaster. Chances are you might be on one of our Class 37 hauled passenger trains as well. During the summer season there are 13 trains in each direction every day

    Kev
     
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  15. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Kev, thanks for a wonderful photo essay. Is this a predominately volunteer operation, or is there a significant paid staff? There seems to be much more TLC than I would expect from a commercial operation. :love:

    Your video is a delight. First time I have seen a driver hop off a moving locomotive to throw points. Obviously an all volunteer organization....:cool:
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2017
  16. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I am almost speechless. Great photos, of a wonderful operation! Thank you for sharing!
     
  17. kevsmith

    kevsmith TrainBoard Member

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    Happiness is......

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    The Lal' Rattys's November gala. Triple headed steam power this afternoon

    River Esk, River Mite and Whillan Beck

    More to come on a wonderful day out

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  18. kevsmith

    kevsmith TrainBoard Member

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    So the green loco above is 'Badger' a visiting loco normally based on the Kirklees light railway in Yorkshire. This very advanced design was built by Brian Taylor in 1991. The 15" gauge 0-6-4T features a simplified gas producer combustion system, Marshall valve gear, Lempor with Kordina exhaust and extensive use of roller bearings. Steam sanders and a duplex air pump

    Also present from Kirklees was 'Fox' another Brian Taylor advanced design, this time a 2-6-2t with two cylinders it uses the same gas producer combustion system and the same exhaust arrangement but has Walschearts valve gear

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    From another age completely is Katie. built in 1896 for Sir Arthur Heywood for the Eaton Hall estate railway in Cheshire it was sold to the Ratty but had a chequered career and was dismantled in 1929. The restoration using some of the original Heywood patterns for the castings took 25 years but it finally entered service in 2018

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    More soon

    Kev
     
  19. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Lovely engines, Kev. Thank you.
    Now, please explain "simplified gas producer combustion system".
    Thanks.
     
  20. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Beautiful. That triple-header view is impressive.

    Something which has always had me curious is the choice of colors applied. Is there any explanation for how such schemes are created?
     

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