By 1971 the days of the last industrial steam in West Cumberland were very limited.

Two locations remained, the National Coal Board (NCB) at Workington and the docks at Whitehaven. The latter were served by both the Workington Docks & Harbour Board (WD&HB) and the National Coal Board.

Added some pictures dating from the last days of 2004 taken at a Richard Newton photo charter at the Foxfield Railway.

The Tanfield Railway seems packed with potential from the one visit I’ve made there. 

Perhaps it’s because it was a sunny day.  Perhaps its because they went out of their way to make sure we got great shots.  Don’t know, but I will be back.

As a fourteen year old, I used to ride my bike to British Gypsum’s works at Cocklakes, just outside Carlisle.  It was a good ride, but worth it. 

They still had two Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST that tripped between the works at Cocklakes and the exchange sidings at Howe & Co’s Sidings on the Settle to Carlisle line.

The Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway is under threat.

The landowners want to sell the site for re-development.  Will one of heritage railway’s longest operators have to pack up and move out?