Twixt viaduct and tunnel

The viaduct, 13 miles to the north of Settle Junction, is a quarter of a mile in length with 24 arches. I have just compiled a well-illustrated book about this famous structure, which was originally known as Batty Wife viaduct.

On rare occasions, people have been allowed to walk across the viaduct. I once had the rare privilege of walking through the tunnel in the wake of an official inspection team.

Allowing walkers to cross the viaduct came about when Network Rail allowed special access. It was a guided walk held twice - in 2007 and 2009. It celebrated the restoration of the viaduct to its former glory and also the £100 million that had been spent on the whole line by Network Rail.

The events were planned over a long period by volunteers from the Friends of Settle-Carlisle Line and Network Rail employees. The most impressive invasion of folk with permission to cross came in July, 2007. The number of viaduct-crossers numbered several thousand.

A photograph in my new book shows the cutting of the entry ribbon by Tom Lister, the star of TV’s Emmerdale.

Seen observing the event were ITV’s local weatherman Jon Mitchell and Tony Freschini, resident engineer involved in the great work.

The viaduct is greatly exposed to gales from the west. Strong winds have been known to stop trains as they left Ribblehead station and moved towards the viaduct, on either side of which are high steep embankments. Scores of wagon sheets have been torn away and blown across country, a windfall for Dales farmers in a literal sense.

I heard tales of children who, on their way to school in breezy conditions, were half-filling the pockets of their coats with stones to off-set the effects of a strong wind that was moaning through the chosen arch.

Passengers who were thrown out of a de-railed train just south of Blea Moor, long years ago, decided to sunbath on the banking, awaiting the arrival of a rescue team. The train went on its side but happily no one was injured. A baby in a carry-cot was among those who survived the experience. No deaths had been reported yet the first glance of the rescuers, as they trudged towards the area of the wrecked train, made them shudder. It was a warm, sunny day and sunbathing had taken place an embankment. The sunbathers resembled a row of dead people.

The train illustrating this article was photographed by my old friend Peter Fox. The railway traversed embankments and cuttings. Taken in the springtime of 1984 the photograph shows a train, hauled by a locomotive known as the Evening Star, climbing steadily to Aisgill. The train is in fine fettle. Farming had long been the main occupation.on either side of most of the Settle-Carlisle line. The contrast is symbolised by the photograph of the farmer on horseback. He is framed by a water-pump, the type used by railway traffic in the days of steam. .

The mouth of Blea Moor tunnel is seen by walkers who, heading for the summit of Whernside, notice that the line is in a deep cutting. There used to be a platelayers’ cabin beside the track. I had several times walked across the top of Blea Moor, on the line of the tunnel, its presence indicated by circular and netted topsw of the ventilation shafts.

My walk, with the official inspection team, began from the north end. One track was out of use. On it moved rail wagons with platforms on which workmen stood, probing any needful areas. For me, it was a novel experience to look up a ventilation shaft and see the special guttering that had been installed to control the descent of water to the guttering..

We were walking south, being well clear of a passing goods train which was heading north. At Blea Moor, south of the tunnel, was a remote signal box and the remnants of houses that had been built for railway families. A small community of railway families was based here. Some fascinating tales have been told of the long walks that brought them to Ribblehead, the nearest station. Children walked beside the railway on the first stage of their journey to school.