After last year’s celebrations, 200 years since opening of the Stockton & Darlington and 150 years after the Settle and Carlisle opened for goods, another major anniversary is only a few months away. The Midland Railway’s passenger services over the S&C commenced on 1 May 1876, marking the completion of the company’s independent route to Scotland with the help of its Scottish partners, the North British and the Glasgow & South Western Railways (the latter having its own occasion to mark this year – the 150th anniversary of St Enoch Station in Glasgow, northern end of many journeys over the Midland’s new S&C line).
Already since early January we have been reminded of the proud history of the S&C, and hopes for its future, with the diversion of Avanti West Coast main line trains over the S&C during renewal of the Clifton Bridge over the M6 near Penrith. Part of the case for retaining the S&C when it was threatened with closure was its potential to handle diverted traffic from the West Coast, and well as to serve the area through which it passes. The line was of course built not only for local trains but to carry the Midland’s own cross-border expresses, and the diversion shows the potential for such services to be introduced again.
The Midland Railway Society is cooperating with the Friends of the Settle & Carlisle Line in planning events throughout the year to celebrate the latest anniversary, and further details will be appearing on this website and in the Society’s Newsletter. Many will obviously be taking place on the S&C itself, but some will be in Derby and other places along the Midland’s main lines, reflecting the importance of the S&C to the company’s network as a whole.
Images: Ribblehead Viaduct and Station with diverted Avanti West Coast services – Steve Sienkiewicz.
