Settle-Carlisle line: Timeline of events over the decades

Below is the timetable of some of the events that have taken place:

1989

March - Formation of Lancaster to Skipton Rail Users Group (LASRUG)

March 16 - last MoD train to Warcop runs.

April 11 - Announcement by Transport Secretary Paul Channon that the Settle-Carlisle line should remain open.

BR appoints project manager for the line.

May BR (E) releases paper The Way Ahead for the Settle-Carlisle Line.

October - Rail over road bridge at Langwathby and Culgaith level crossing renewed.

Minister of Transport Michael Portillo inspects progress at Ribblehead.

October 15 to 29 - Ribblehead Viaduct closed for major decking works.

1990

March 14 - Settle-Carlisle Railway Trust established.

May 23 - Formation of the Wensleydale Railway Association.

July 11 - Long Meg signal box closed.

July 23 - Second phase of Ribblehead Viaduct repairs start on piers and arches.

October - Class 156 Sprinters introduced.

Settle-Carlisle Business Liaison Group (SCRBLG), later Settle-Carlisle Enterprise Network (Scene), formed.

1991

The line is designated a conservation area.

The Royal Train brings HM The Queen to Kirkby Stephen.

Settle station platforms lengthened.

August 24 - New Appleby water tower built via Appleby Round Table opened.

1992

Ribblehead Viaduct restoration completed and commemorative cairn erected.

Settle-Carlisle Development Company (SCRDC) formed.

Armathwaite signal box donated to FoSCL.

Dent Head Viaduct waterproofed and re-ballasted.

First Christmas Open Day at Settle station.

Wensleydale Railway Company formed.

1993

February - BR 2-6-4T 80080 shuttles Carlisle-Kirkby Stephen to train steam drivers.

April - Refurbishment of Settle station, Drem footbridge installed, platforms raised.

May - New down platform at Ribblehead opened.

1994

January 18 - First train between Drax power station and Kirkby Thore works of British Gypsum - the first regular freight since May 1983.

April 1 - First new private rail franchises begin following Railway Act 1993. RailTrack formed.

September 25 - Kirkby Thore signal box opens.

October - Hellifield restoration Phase 1 completed.

1995

January 31 - Ais Gill derailment and collision. Conductor killed & 30 passengers injured.

April - Smardale Viaduct repairs.

April 29 - FoSCL Leeds-Carlisle-Edinburgh train.

July 8 - FoSCL shop at Settle station opens.

Dales Railcard scheme launched (SCRDC).

1996

Extensive restoration of Ribblehead station begins (to 1998).

July - 10th anniversary of return of regular local passenger services on the S&C.

1997

Further regular freight returns.

Settle signal box gifted to FoSCL.

Automatic Warning System installed.

1998

Installation of heritage lighting and platform improvements begins and building restoration at Horton.

Langwathby up waiting shelter opened.

Memorial plaque to Mallerstang navvies unveiled at St Mary’s Church Outhgill.

July 14 - Loaded coal train 7Z32 derails at Dent Head.

Restoration of Force Gill Aqueduct at Blea Moor (Bridge 71).

Appleby-Warcop line sold to Sustrans.

1999

January 15 - Derailment at Crosby Garrett - train hits landslide.

April 10 - Naming of 47760 Ribblehead Viaduct at Settle station.

April 17 - Restored Settle signal box opened.

Rain gauges installed at Ribblehead, Dent, Shotlock Hill & Ais Gill as landslide risk warnings.

September S&C Trust sign 125 year lease on Ribblehead station. Leeds-Glasgow service introduced.

November 26 - Guiseley footbridge installed at Kirkby Stephen.

2000

Arriva Trains North take over franchise.

Ribblehead station wins Ian Allan Railways Heritage award.

FoSCL On-Train-Guides scheme commences.

August 27 - Commemorative plaque unveiled at St Leonard's church, Chapel-le-Dale.

Renewal of 50 km of track by RailTrack NW.

December - Last ballast train leaves Ribblehead siding, steam hauled by 8F 48151.

2001

125th anniversary of the opening of the line to passenger traffic.

2002

Heritage lighting completed at Settle station.

Enamel signs erected at Ais Gill Summit.

Group travel scheme starts (SCRDC).

S&C Trust signs 125 year lease on Horton-in-Ribblesdale station.

October 2 - Network Rail take over from RailTrack.

2003

Several plate layers’ huts demolished on behalf of NR. Demolition ceases after protests.

October 24 - Royal Train brings HRH Prince Charles to Kirkby Stephen.

October Arriva begin Class 37 hauled services. Decking of Smardale Viaduct renewed.

2004

April 26 - Trolley service inaugurated (SCRDC).

Internet weather stations installed by FoSCL at Ribblehead and Kirkby Stephen.

September - Class 37 hauled services cease.

S&C Trust sign 125 year lease on Kirkby Stephen station.

2005

March 22 - Visit to the line by HRH Prince of Wales aboard royal train hauled by LMS 6233 Duchess of Sutherland.

June re-opening of Hellifield station tea rooms.

2006

S&C Trust purchase Ribblehead station master’s house.

Extensive track renewals - 82 days of blockades in the year.

Potts of Leeds platform clocks installed at Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Ribblehead, Dent, Langwathby, Lazonby and Armathwaite stations.

Heritage lighting installed on approach to Langwathby up platform.

FoSCL Golden Railcard introduced.

2007

January 28 - Accident at Armathwaite - runaway wagon.

February 23 - Derailment of Virgin Pendolino at Grayrigg results in WCML traffic being diverted between Preston & Carlisle via the S&C.

May 2 - Hornby launch Class 156 S&C liveried models.

July 22 - First public walk across Ribblehead Viaduct.

Class 158 Sprinters appear on the line.

2008

Nine new intermediate block signal sections installed, doubling the line’s capacity.

Biomass stoves installed at Settle & Appleby stations (SCRDC).

July - Channel 4’s Time Team excavate navvy settlement above Rise Hill tunnel.

August - 40th anniversary of the end of steam train hauled by Oliver Cromwell.

2009

April 11 - Opening of restored Garsdale station and unveiling of bronze statue of dog Ruswarp.

September 23 - ABC News lists the World’s top ten railway journeys, the S&C listed second only to South Africa’s Blue Train.

Settle and Appleby station refurbishments instigated (SCRDC).

2010

Completion of five years of track renewal works.

New approach and enlarged parking areas provided at Garsdale station.

2011

Restoration of Settle station water tower commences.

Two restored MR water cranes erected at Settle station (ex Skipton).

‘Welcome to the S&C’ gateway constructed at Carlisle station.

2012

Settle station water tower restoration broadcast on Channel 4’s Restoration Man.

2013

Episode of BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners' Question Time recorded on a S&C train.

Michael Portillo’s Great Railway Journeys S&C episode first broadcast.

BBC1’s Country File comes from the S&C.

2014

Permanent S&C exhibition established at The Folly Museum, Settle.

25th anniversary of line's reprieve celebrated.

October - GWR Wootton Hall moved from Appleby to Ribble Steam Rly, Preston for restoration.

2015

Rail re-connection of Arcow and Dry Rigg quarries at Helwith Bridge.

FoSCL joinery workshop opens by Settle station.

2016

February 9 - Major landslip at Eden Brows causes long term closure of the line.

April 1 - Arriva Rail North take over the franchise.

2017

February - Tornado hauled Plandampf trains between Skipton and Appleby - steam at everyday ticket prices.

March 31 - line re-opens fully after Eden Brows landslide with Flying Scotsman hauled special train.

November - Christmas Comet special train Carlisle - York (SCRDC).

2018

March - HRH Prince of Wales visits Langwathby by royal train (surely qualifying for frequent S&C traveller status).

RMT Union strikes disrupt services.

Yorkshire Dales National Park 2019-24 Plan includes creation of a railhead at Horton Quarry.

2019

February - RMT strikes suspended.

March - Appleby waiting shelter commenced.