The New Railhead Making Big Progress

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The huge mounds of track ballast where the three sidings will soon be seem to take their inspiration from Pen Y Ghent on the skyline

Well, the new points clearly work for the main line!

An Actual Railway Line!

Work continues today.    The line is open to day to day traffic and the new line into the quarries is here to see!

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Quarries Re-connected to the Railway Line

I have been championing the cause of the stone quarries in the Ribble valley connecting to the railway system.   I have been something of an intermediary between Network Rail, the quarry owners and local pressure groups.

It has been an uphill struggle.   The costs, which fall on the quarry owners, are horrendous.

But today has been a milestone.   A physical connection has been made onto the S&C's down main line to and from Arcow and Dry Rigg quarries.   Risking being told to go away I was allowed to photograph the points being connected:

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The site of the actual connection - the points are just behind the digger to the left of centre.

This gives an idea of the route the new line will take between the points and the railhead inside the quarry.

And here, inside the quarry, are railway lines and sleepers which will form the three sidings.   The Dales roads will be far less congested and the Settle-Carlisle line will start to resume serving the quarries that it was, in no small measure, built for.   The connection to these quarries was ripped up in the 1960s - when motorways were going to be the future.   Remember?

Kings Cross - Leeds - Glasgow via the S&C - It's Pretty Obvious

Kings Cross - Glasgow via the S and C

Increasing numbers of canny Scots and Yorkshire Tykes are discovering the Leeds - Carlisle route via Settle as a very obvious route between London and Scotland.

Click on the above link for details.

A Busy Weekend in Settle

The apartment block next to the water tower is nearing completion externally.   The scaffolding is due to be removed next week so here is the latest:

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Our summer house can be seen top left.   A very splendid looking building, stone built and with a slate roof is waiting to show its face to the world.

Meanwhile, the railway is closed this weekend for several major works to be carried out.   This is the view from Settle station's up platform looking north.   Marshfield Viaduct which crosses Kirkgate by the Victoria Hall is being strengthened and its deck waterproofed.   Necessarily this involves lifting and replacing the track.   The original Victorian waterproofing is being removed, as is the cast iron water pipe that used to bring water down the line to the water tower.   

 The big white crane is conveying mass concrete into the piers and deck of the viaduct.

Meanwhile bathed in sunlight Attermire Scar looks on under threatening skies:

Grandson James

  I could not resist including this brief clip on the Blog.   It shows grandson James (10) earning his corn by opening one of the gates on a gated road nearby when on a trip in the 101 year old Ford Model T Gladys Emmanuel this 'summer'.   Turn up the sound if only to hear the magical noise of a Model T engine, sounding like a Singer sewing machine.

Grandson James opening a gate

I do hope the link works.

Also seen briefly is our second darling grandson Ben.

The look of triumphal glee on James's face at the end of the clip is a delight - but I am biased.

James and Ben live in Buckinghamshire where grammar schools remain.   James has just PASSED his 11+ and we are chuffed to bits with him (but not at all surprised).

Northern Lights settle over Settle

There was a stunning display of the Aurora Borealis over Settle and the Dales last night.   Here is Stephen Cheatley's stunning picture of the Ribblehead Viaduct:

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