Northern Rock at Dalegarth

It turned out to be a good day on the Ratty and in Eskdale. A little fraught when we arrived as the ticket office was busy and the train about to depart. We’d booked tickets but didn’t know if we had to get them printed out.

We sat down on the train seconds before it departed from Ravenglass in the rear most coach looking out over the track as it unwound behind us. Northern Rock was in charge of our train, a relatively new locomotive built in 1976.

While at Dalegarth we met a couple from the Kent and East Sussex Railway who were staying in Keswick and had come up on the same train as us. Somewhat of a coincidence!

After lunch we had a very enjoyable walk through the woodlands, valleys and defiles of Eskdale visiting Stanley Force and Gill Force, both very impressive even with such low water flow and through some fine woodlands with many bluebells still in flower.

A rapid return was made to Ravenglass hauled by a diesel. Good views and plenty of sheep on the line which didn’t seem to deter the driver.

I don’t think there will be an opportunity for me to become a signalman there as they are all paid staff and are able to fulfil all roles of driver, guards and signalman (or controller as it is he who regulates the trains)

It was all too beautiful again!