Shortly after leaving Beckfoot, heading in the direction of Dalegarth the railway comes to “Gyhl force junction”. Here the line to Boot diverged from the line to the mines at Gyhl force. Today part of this section is still in use as part of the newe
The site of the junction today. The line to Boot follows the course of the dirt road. The line to Ghyl force went off to the right. The course of the line to Boot had a steep climb away from the junction that ran behind the cottages at Dalegarth. Fo
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The trackbed curving away from the cottages towards Boot. It is still possible to see the sleeper indents in the grass. In a number of places, short sections of track have been relaid.
A farm bridge on the line has been rebuilt with a short section of track in it’s deck. This is looking back down the valley in the Ravenglass direction
And one of the short sections of reinstated track, I told you they were short!
The site of Boot station today. The raised, overgrown area on the right of the above image is the remains of the Platform. On the left of the image was the loading dock/wharf, which is where Iron Ore from the mines would have been loaded onto the tr
Another view of the platform, this time from on top of the loading dock/wharf. The station had a basic wooden shelter and a separate WC. The track layout is believed to have changed a few times. Initially it was two long sidings with a third shorter
Model of the station in the museum at Ravenglass
The remains of the old Nab Gill mining offices still stand just east of the station site. The incline up to the Nab Gill mines was located on the other side of the building. (pictured below)
Looking up the incline
The first locomotive on the line was an 0-6-0 tank engine made by Manning Wardle of Leeds. The engine was named “Devon” and had the works number 545. It was joined a year later by an identical engine named “Nab Gill” (W/N 629). The second engine wa
These tank engines were known as the “3FT Special” and were also built for railways in Russia and the Island of Malta. Unfortunately neither Nabb Gill or Devon survived into preservation.
The restored/rebuilt “Big Saloon” body in the railway museum at Ravenglass. The darker coloured sections are from the original body. When the original railway closed, the coaches were sold off to local farmers. The only one to survive is the “Big Sa
The railway also had a 4 wheel brake van/goods van which had a “bird cage” look out giving the guard a full view of the train. It is believed to have ended its days as a permanent way hut near Murthwaite. The railway also had a number of 4 wheel goo
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