Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

Over het museum

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway was built in 1873 to 1875 to carry iron ore from the mines above Boot down to the coast at Ravenglass, where it was passed on to the main line. It started carrying passengers in 1876 and was the first public narrow gauge railway in England, originally laid to a gauge of three feet.

The railway closed in 1913 as the ore ran out and passenger numbers fell. In 1915 the miniature railway engineers W J Bassett-Lowke and R Proctor-Mitchell took over the line as a test track for their small locomotives and re-laid it to a gauge of 15 inches, and by 1917 trains again ran the full length to Dalegarth. Quarrying for granite restarted in the 1920s, and a granite company owned the line until it stopped quarrying in 1953.

When the line was offered for sale in 1960 and the owners announced that the season would be the last, local people and enthusiasts came together to save it, and it was bought at auction. The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society was formed that year. Today the railway runs steam and diesel trains over seven miles through the Eskdale valley and keeps a heritage fleet that includes River Irt, built in 1894 and described as the oldest working 15-inch gauge locomotive in the world.

Hoogtepunten

• Seven-mile steam train journey from Ravenglass to Dalegarth for Boot, about 40 minutes each way
• River Irt, built in 1894 and the oldest working 15-inch gauge locomotive
• Free Ravenglass Railway Museum at Ravenglass station
• First-class seats and a Pullman observation carriage
• Cafés, shops and play areas at both main stations

Vaste collectie

• Ravenglass Railway Museum – A museum at Ravenglass station on the railway’s history and its links with the valleys it serves, with artefacts, locomotives and interactive features. Entry is free.

Opgericht

1875

Beheerder

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Company

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

The standard fare shown is a single journey; the full line return is £26 for adults and £16 for children. Entry to the Ravenglass Railway Museum is free for everyone, and donations are welcome. Bikes cost £5 per journey and must be booked. Local residents can apply for a residents’ pass.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: niet aanwezig
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

Public areas at Ravenglass station are on one level and there is a ramped walkway from the main-line platform. There is a Changing Places facility on platform 1 (RADAR key, 09:00 to 17:00), accessible toilets with baby changing at both stations, a hearing loop in the ticket office, cafés and shops, and a wheelchair to borrow at Ravenglass ticket office. Wheelchair-adapted carriages must be booked in advance by phone. Dalegarth station has a ramped platform, and accessible parking there is not marked out. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Verschoonruimte
• Speeltuin / speelhoek

The railway describes itself as suitable for all age groups. There are outdoor play areas at both main stations, children’s activity boxes in the museum, and under-fives travel free. Pushchairs do not need to be booked but must be folded and stored in the guard’s van.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The station entrance is a concealed turning on the left between two railway bridges, reached from the A595.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig
• Museumwinkel
• Wifi

There are cafés at Ravenglass (the Turntable café) and Dalegarth, and gift shops at both ends of the line. Free Wi-Fi is available at both stations, although mobile phone reception varies.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten

The railway offers private hire and group packages.

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