Steam Locomotive Engineering in miniature. Here's "River Irt" at Dalegarth.
In a short while she will take the last train of the day back to Ravenglass.

Dalegarth for Boot
"Douglas Ferreira" is running around his train, preparing to take it back to Ravenglass.
On "heritage railways" diesels are often used on the first trains of the day because, when compared with steam traction, diesels can be started easily - often with a mere "flick of a switch".
Douglas Ferreira (1929-2003) was the longest (34 years) serving General Manager of the R&ER.




Last view of Dalegarth for Boot




About to reach Beckfoot.




Beckfoot
As with Boot, Beckfoot was also associated with mining activity.
However, there's not much to see of this former local industry these days.




West of Beckfoot.
One of many curves to accommodate to the hilly landscape.
It looks as if we have just entered Gilbert's Cutting.




We have just passed through Gilbert's Cutting (seen in the middle distance) which was hewn out of granite. It was created in 1964 to avoid the original sharp bend on the right.
Colin Gilbert was involved with giving the R&ER a new lease of life in 1961 when its existence looked parlous.




At Spout House Farm we pass underneath a bridge which was probably built to the clearances required by the three-foot gauge "Owd Ratty".
Does "Spout" indicate the former or present presence of a water spring here?




The line is still "curvaceous" ere we reach Fisherground.




Fisherground




Entering Fisherground Loop




Leaving Fisherground Loop




Footpath ultimately leading on the left to Nether Wasdale.
All of at least five miles or eight kilometres.




Coming to The Green




The Green




Curving round Eskdale Green - the place, not the station.




Approaching Irton Road




Irton Road
The wagons are used for ballast and also logs.




Irton Road




Irton Road
We waited for the Dalegarth train - hauled by "River Irt" - to pass.




We can now leave Irton Road and head for Ravenglass.
Note the height of the bridge, which was originally built to accommodate
the larger dimensions of the 3ft gauge rolling stock of the "Owd Ratty".




The next "station" will eventually be Murthwaite Halt.
Between Irton road, Murthwaite and Muncaster Mill, the line skirts around the foot of
Muncaster Fell, to the right - and south - of this view.




Onwards, ...




... onwards ...




... onwards ...




... and ever onwards.




Muncaster Fell accompanies us.




Eventually we come to Murthwaite Halt.
This was furthest extent of the quondam standard gauge line (1929-1953) from Ravenglass. Murthwaite was the transhipment point for the granite brought by the 15in line from a quarry opened in 1922 at Beckfoot.




We are sandwiched between the woods on the way from Murthwaite to Miteside.




Miteside
River Mite to the left.




This is just west of Muncaster Mill Halt - behind the bridge.




River Mite opens up on the left.




More open country.
The estuary of River Mite is hidden behind the bank on the left.




The maintenance vehicles parked on the right tell us that
we are approaching the complex which surrounds Ravenglass Station.




This looks like the engine shed for the "Owd Ratty".
I could just espy, hidden in the darkness on the right,
the new arrival from Spain, the 4-6-2 "Whillan Beck".




Here is "Cyril" (Number 9), a diesel built in 1932
and now upgraded to haul light passenger trains.




We are sandwiched between sheds and workshops ...




... before we cross the only road (B/yellow class) into Ravenglass.
We can admire the signal gantry.




Once we have left the bridge ...




... we pass the signal box on the left ...




... and finally reach the station platform.

At Ravenglass the train on the left is filling up with customers/visitors to Dalegarth for Boot. We are looking seawards (towards the west) and the turntable. For safety, almost all passenger coaches open up on the left (southside). This of course, means only one exit per compartment; this reduces the risk of passengers falling from the moving train, and is therefore, in this context, safer than two exits!




We are now looking eastwards, with the loaded passenger train for Dalegarth on the right.
"Douglas Ferreira" will see to the empty train on the left.




"Douglas Ferreira" has been attached to the train of empty stock.




Driving railway locomotives needs skill and practice.
However, many might suggest that diesels are easier to drive than steam locomotives.
The water bottle is "fuel" for the driver.




"Douglas Ferreira" was built in 2005 by TMA Engineering Ltd (Birmingham).




Here is another view of "Douglas Ferreira" positioned at the head of the train of empty carriages.
(East is to the right).




At Ravenglass, "River Mite" is backing on to its train which will form the next departure for Dalegarth (for Boot).




As her headboard tells us, it's her 60th anniversary - she "arrived" in 1966.




"River Mite" carries the "Express Train" designation on the buffers.
It's time to let off some steam before departing on the 7-mile run to Dalegarth.




"Douglas Ferreira" is waiting patiently with its train of empty stock.




"River Irt" has just arrived with a train load of passengers from Dalegarth (for Boot).




Next stop is the turntable ...




... where it attracts approving glances and approving photographers.




Leaning against one of the station buildings is the old sign for Dalegarth.
As you see, it was "Eskdale (Dalegarth)"; now it is "Dalegarth for Boot".
The sign will probably be updated!




Having been turned, "River Irt" is now duly in front of the next train to Dalegarth (for Boot).




"River Irt" was originally a "Muriel" a 0-8-0 tank built at Duffield.
She was transformed in 1927 by the R&ER, to become "river Irt".




Steamed up and getting ready.




Lots of brass fitting requiring a certain skill
to breathe life into this miniature iron horse.




This sideways view emphasizes River Irt's wheel arrangement,
which for a tender locomotive, might well be unique.
It's all the doing of "Muriel" in 1894!




It's off to Dalegarth!

If stones could tell of the goings on ...




... within these walls ...




... there would probably be reams to write.

We are still at Ravenglass,
originally the starting point of the 3ft gauge "Owd Ratty", as the sign indicates.




From a platform on Ravenglass station we look back eastwards to the last signal and the maintenance vehicles we passed earlier.




At Ravenglass, we find two standard gauge pullman cars in permanent residence.
They were built in 1917 and originally part of a WWI ambulance train.
Since then, they had a chequered history, becoming at one time, Pullman Kitchen Cars.
In 2021 they were renovated to become unusual self-catering accommodation.






Naming Pullman Cars was an established custom which is perpetuated here.
"Maid of Kent" suggests that these cars were originally used south of the Thames,
as close as possible to the theatre of war across the Channel.




"Douglas Ferreira" is still looking after some passenger stock.




The cross-overs outside the station give the feel of a busy terminus,
which today like many days, Ravenglass (R&ER) is.




It's four more years to the 150th birthday of the "Ratty".
Then it will be 1½ centuries from iron ore to tourists.
This looks like an expertly worked slab of once much prized Lakeland slate.




Looking up at the cast iron awning supports, we see the monogram "FR" for "Furness Railway". The FR used to be the main line connecting Ravenglass to Carlisle in the north and Barrow in the south - prior to the Grouping in 1924. In 1924, the FR was absorbed into the LMS - the west coast main line which linked London Euston to Glasgow and beyond.




Here is the FR monogram in more cast iron detail. I suspect that the awnings on this platform may have been inherited from the adjacent Ravenglass (now "National Rail") station.




A quiet moment at Ravenglass between successive trains for Dalegarth (Boot).
These carriages are being shunted onto the sidings by the diesel "Douglas Ferreira" of 2005 vintage.




Here is "Douglas Ferreira" reversing his train into the carriage sidings.
One of the Pullmans appears in the background.




On the station, some flowers provide a spot of colour.




"River Irt" comes in with a train from Dalegarth.
I'll shortly be returning on that train.

"River Irt" is being turned at Ravenglass in preparation for the "Boot Run".
However, I can't see who or what is turning it!




Silence seems to have descended on Ravenglass (R&ER) station
as the Dalegarth train pulls out.




Trains cross at Irton Road with "River Mite" returning to Ravenglass.




It's full steam ahead to Ravenglass.




Once arrived in Dalegarth (for Boot), there was time to take a closer look at "River Irt".
First of all, her tender bore the nice "R&ER" monogram on her apple green coat.




Let's start by saying that once upon a time there was "Muriel", born in 1894. She was an 0-8-0 tank engine, built by Sir Arthur Heywood before conversion by the R&ER in 1927 to a tender locomotive, "River Irt". The conversion explains why "River Irt" came to be the only known example of a tender locomotive with no leading "steering" truck, but one pony truck beneath the cab. In addition, because of the relatively long wheelbase, "Muriel" had "radial" driving axles; I'm not sure if "River Irt" has kept this arrangement.




Any here is testimony to "River Irt's" origins.




This is how to drive "River Irt".
In a short while she will take the last train of the day back to Ravenglass.

The hostel nestles in the hills and mountains.




It was getting dark as I left the "Woolpack Inn".




Before leaving, I looked at the pictures decorating the inside of the Inn.
One of these, of Cumberland is now part of Cumbria.
This copy of a Victorian print reminded visitors of which part of England they were in!




"Lion" was built in 1838 for the "Liverpool & Manchester Railway.
It starred in films including "The Titfield Thunderbolt" of 1952.