Number of Images on this Page = 20


Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway will always have a deep, deep place in my heart because of the wonderful thrill I had of riding on the footplate of the Northern Rock from Ravenglass to Eskdale and back. Once the staff discovered that I was from Oz, they went out of their way to show me around, and organize a trip on the footplate. In spite of the diminutive size of the locomotives, there was a surprising amount of room on the footplate, and my host Trevor Stockton was most genial and accomodating!

The trains are controlled by radio, which is intriguing enough in its own right, but that coupled with the narrow gauge nature of it all makes the railway doubly intriguing from an enthusiast's viewpoint!

My thanks to Joe Hodgkinson for forwarding Trevor's name to me. Joe writes:

Nowadays (Trevor) doesn't drive Northern Rock permanently and so splits his time filling in for our permanent signalman at Ravenglass, working and organising permanent way teams and filling in on our loco drivers duties when they are absent.

Thanks Joe! I should add that in July 2002, I visited the "Ratty" again, and made a point of catching up with Trevor again. He was again very hospitable, which more than offset the somewhat damper weather we had on this occasion. (I'll get round to adding the pictures from that visit soon!)

"Nethers" also writes:

I was delighted to see from your site that you enjoyed your time at Ravenglass. I am an active volunteer - one of those poor souls put into slavery by Trevor!!!! - and I am glad that the railway has brought pleasure right around the world.

Just 1 small point - the railway is NARROW GAUGE not miniature. (My apologies, "Nethers", I've fixed the text now! ajh) May not seem like there's much of a difference to you, but the point is it is not a scale model, it is a full size profile on a narrow gauge track. Northern Rock, and the 2 sister locos built at Ravenglass and now operating in Japan are the most powerful 15" narrow gauge locomotives in the world. Not bad for "miniatures"!!!

Thanks also to "Nethers" for his comments. BTW, If any reader has comments on these or any other railway page of mine, please feel free to write to me. I try to respond to every comment received, although I have to admit that sometimes I am a bit tardy about that promise.

  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 158694 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 1 Jul 1980, catalogued 07 Feb 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9546
  • Description : "Northern Rock" on the 15 inch narrow gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 155180 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 1 Jul 1980, catalogued 07 Feb 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9547
  • Description : "Northern Rock" on the 15 inch narrow gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 36762 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 1 Jul 1980, catalogued 07 Feb 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9566
  • Description : "Northern Rock" on the 15 inch narrow gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 27649 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 1 Jul 1980, catalogued 08 Feb 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9567
  • Description : The view through the cab window of "Northern Rock", enroute to Dalegarth.


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 68768 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 1 Jul 1980, catalogued 08 Feb 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9571
  • Description : Approaching a picturesque overbridge.


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 171960 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 1 Jul 1980, catalogued 08 Feb 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9573
  • Description : Picturesque scenery adjoining the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 93665 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 1 Jul 1980, catalogued 08 Feb 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9575
  • Description : Approaching Dalegarth, picturesque scenery abounds the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway!


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 103192 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 1 Jul 1980, catalogued 08 Feb 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9577
  • Description : At Dalegarth, "Northern Rock" is turned for the return journey to Ravenglass.


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 131227 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 1 Jul 1980
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9578
  • Description : Trevor Stockton, the driver of "Northern Rock", tends the fire at Dalegarth.


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 119134 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 1 Jul 1980
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9583
  • Description : Trevor Stockton, the driver of "Northern Rock", who was most congenial and helpful in hosting my visit to the R&ER. Trevor, your kindness from all those years ago is most fondly remembered!


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 51499 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 1 Jul 1980, catalogued 09 Feb 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9588
  • Description : "Northern Rock" approaching Muncaster Mill.


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 53581 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 1 Jul 1980, catalogued 09 Feb 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9593
  • Description : "Northern Rock" at Ravenglass.


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 79489 bytes, 800x600 pixels
  • Date : 23 Jul 2002, catalogued 03 Jan 2004
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : digital camera (Canon S40), image location IMG_2444
  • Description : The signal says go, but passengers are in no hurry to join the train hauled by Northern Rock.


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 87292 bytes, 800x600 pixels
  • Date : 23 Jul 2002, catalogued 03 Jan 2004
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : digital camera (Canon S40), image location IMG_2445
  • Description : Northern Rock poses by the starting signal at Ravenglass.


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 89875 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 1 Jul 1980, catalogued 07 Feb 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9560
  • Description : "River Mite" lighting up on the 15 inch narrow gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 140206 bytes, 800x600 pixels
  • Date : Jul 2003, catalogued 27 Dec 2003
  • Photographer : Stewart Hughes
  • Medium : email digital image, image location 101-0137R&ER
  • Description : River Mite on the turntable at Eskdale


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 91413 bytes, pixels
  • Date : 1 Jul 1980, catalogued 09 Feb 1999
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : Kodachrome, slide number 9585
  • Description : "Northern Rock" crosses "River Mite" at Irton Road


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 91177 bytes, 800x600 pixels
  • Date : Apr 2002, catalogued 03 Jan 2004
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : digital camera (Canon S40), image location IMG_2443
  • Description : One of the most dimunitive locos I've ever seen. The silver plate on the cab side covers the hole where you wind it up.


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 130929 bytes, 800x600 pixels
  • Date : Apr 2002, catalogued 03 Jan 2004
  • Photographer : Stewart Hughes
  • Medium : email digital image, image location 101-0144R&ER Cyril
  • Description : Stewart writes:
    I think it's important that you a have at least one loco in you collection called Cyril - and here it is, from your beloved Ravenglass etc railway. Cute isn't he? If not a little 'plain.' I like the cute little signal behind him too. The signal box belongs to the real live railway you can see on the right.
    To which I have to say: he's not a little plain, he doesn't have wings! Ba boom.


  • Image : dir=br/rer/ page=index 87488 bytes, 800x600 pixels
  • Date : 23 Jul 2002, catalogued 03 Jan 2004
  • Photographer : John Hurst
  • Medium : digital camera (Canon S40), image location IMG_2446
  • Description : Northern Rock passing the loco depot at Ravenglass. Note the narrow gauge 3-way points on the left. Now there's a nice training exercise for all you budding trackwork builders!


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