Stainmore Railway Company (Kirkby Stephen East)

Morning All

I realise that this one doesn't get as much publicity probably for those of us not on facebook. Still though i've always thought it's gonna be one to look out for in the very near future as they're making a lot of progress atm.

Stainmore railway co are expanding their base at kirkby stephen east station & gradually laying trackwork on the old tebay route. I believe from what's been said on facebook etc that their eventual aim is to re-open the eden valley route & reconnect to the old formation & link up with the eden valley railway at warcop who are also slowly but surely extending.

Big issue for eden valley though is unfortunately the s word SUSTRANS! They've apparently purchased the old trackbed with the aim of turning it into a cycleway, but surprise surprise so far nowt's been done. The stainmore railway is deffo on my to do list of pres lines this year along with the eden valley. I'm currently slowly working my way round the smaller pres lines/sites as I find they've got just as much to offer as the big boys & a brilliant atmosphere.

https://www.facebook.com/KirkbyStephenEast/

Link for their facebook page which has regular updates.

 

I've been following them on Facebook for a long while now, very impressed with what they've done so far, they seem a highly motivated and aspirational bunch, their attention to detail is very high for a small group in regards to the water tower they are building right now, their aren't many heritage railways that have a station roof, and the original one at that! (Or half )

One of my favourite small pres lines along with Cambrian but they aren't as punctual with photo updates as stainmore

 

I'm really impressed at how far they've gotten, including the new pointwork they just completed. I'd love to see them build a locomotive shed near the site, and if possible, try to push towards Stainmore Summit, where the tracks could be laid on a new alignment that would prevent squeezing the tracks against the motorway there.

 

Yh totally agree, doing things detailed is the way forwards. Can't remember though did kse have a signalbox anywhere?

Rebuilding outwards from kirkby stephen will be a challenge due to the terrain. Also is their trackbed intact? Currently they've got a few hundred yards.

 

Well... Tebay Viaduct was sadly demolished. Other than the RV park across from KSE (Kirkby Stephen East), the formation just needs vegetation clearance.

 

Aron33:

IIRC that's kinda the plan, to rebuild the line, how far is the summit from kse?

 

After the A685, Stenkrith Bridge, Podgill, Merrygill, Aitygill, and Belah Viaducts, Barras Station, and Mousegill Viaduct. That's what's between KSE and Stainmore Summit.

 

They had two or three originally, and they want to reconstruct one or two as they were, the route is blocked towards stain more summit/Barras by a caravan park on the adjacent land. Although a few viaducts are intact past the park, the only route is to warcop, the Tebay route has been used for a road alignment.

 

My mistake. It was the Belah Viaduct that needs replacing to reach Stainmore.

 

Well it's no worse than Whitrope, I suppose? (Albeit without the perceived 'romance' of the Waverley route?)

 

From what's been posted by stainmore railway co on their facebook page it appears the plan is to revive the warcop route & link to the eden valley railway. Questions are though:

*What about sustrans, they apparently own the trackbed somewhere along the route & want to turn it into a cycleway. Surely they could run it alongside the line like other pres lines do.

*How much of the trackbed is intact along the warcop route nowadays etc?

Managed to find this:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=R...DcAKHYl1B384ChD8BQgIKAM#imgrc=0y-vPlnw_FfYtM:

Not the most detailed map ever but only 1 I could rummage up after a quick google search for the eden valley route map in any description. Also sure wasn't there a signalbox knocking about somewhere at kirkby stephen east too? For now though obvious priorities for the group are to get a loco shed built to free up some of the old platform as that's currently where the steam loco lives, & to get the water column finish then from would guess it'll be on with tracklaying again.

How much of the old tebay route they'll be able to relay is completely unknown to me, progress has been fairly rapid thus far with the track that's been laid. Looks to be really good quality work too, if the eden valley & stainmore railway groups can reconnect to each other it'll make for probably 1 of the most stunning train rides in the country for scenery wise & performance off any loco slogging it's way over the hills.

 

If you go up there, you might get stuck in a Snowdrift at Bleathgill!
http://www.npemap.org.uk/tiles/map.html#386,512,1

 

Did take a walk up to Belah a few years back. The shell of the signal box was still there, the stone wall is the edge of the gap where the viaduct was. The second shot is looking downhill towards KS.
What a loss this line was.

Scott

 

I've got something that would be right at home there.

 

Snow plough?

 

Yes.
It's even the right one.
It was moved from Newbridge for the KS 150 event a few years back.
Now back home at Newbridge

 

That, along with both 78018 and 78019 steaming back to the same summit, would be spectacular.

 

And if they were to rebuild towards Stainmore, dealing with the missing Belah Viaduct will be a nightmare.