Stainmore Railway
The Stainmore Railway is a small but historically significant heritage operation based at Kirkby Stephen East, Cumbria. The site is a surviving fragment of the celebrated Stainmore line, the Stockton & Darlington Railway's spectacular trans-Pennine route from Darlington to Tebay, which crossed the highest standard-gauge railway summit in England at Stainmore (1,370 ft).
The Stainmore Railway Company restored the magnificent overall-roofed station building from a derelict state and reopened it as a working visitor attraction. Demonstration train rides are operated over a short section of restored track, and the long-term aim is to extend further along the trackbed toward Smardale.
History
The Stainmore Railway Company was formed in 2000 with the aim of saving the Grade II listed Kirkby Stephen East station building, which had been derelict for decades. After extensive restoration, the building reopened to the public, with track relaid in the platforms and demonstration trains running. Locomotive Cumbria (Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST), formerly named "Wilbert" after the Reverend W. Awdry, has long been associated with the line.
Original line history
The Stainmore route was opened in 1861 by the Stockton & Darlington Railway (later NER) to carry coke from the Durham coalfield to the iron furnaces of Cumberland. It crossed the famous Belah Viaduct, a 1,040 ft iron lattice structure, and reached the highest standard-gauge summit in England. Passenger services ended in 1962, and the line, including Belah Viaduct, demolished shortly afterward, was lost in one of the most regretted closures of the BR era.
Stations and infrastructure
Kirkby Stephen East retains its impressive overall-roofed train shed, a feature unique among surviving country stations of the period. The signal box, water tower and goods shed are also preserved.
Route and stations
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Special events and operations
Open weekends with demonstration trains, photographic charters, model railway exhibitions and special steaming days form the bulk of the operating calendar.
Visitor information
Kirkby Stephen East is on the south side of the town, off the A685, and is distinct from Kirkby Stephen station on the National Network Settle–Carlisle line. Open weekends are advertised on the railway's website.