Settle To Carlisle: including The Branch To Hawes (Northern Lines)

Book: Settle To Carlisle: including The Branch To Hawes (Northern Lines)

Roy Davies

The Middleton Press' Northern Lines series continues as Roy Davies covers "the roof of England" in great detail in his book "Settle to Carlisle and the Branch to Hawes". I think that second part of the title is important as this modern reflection on the line which is known around the world includes the branch from Garsdale, formerly Hawes Junction, to the Yorkshire market town of Hawes which is so often overlooked.

This book was particularly interesting to me as a resident on the line and despite having lived 100 yards from the railway for a number of years now I still learnt tremendous amount from it.

The book is split into five sections, which directly reflects the five contracts for the construction of line. The book however begins with a lengthy introduction which delves into the challenges of bringing the railway to life. Roy explains how, had it not been for Parliament's rejection of the Abandonment Bill, the line may never have been constructed.

158845, on a Leeds to Carlisle service on 4th November 2024, passes under the new footbridge at Horton-in-Ribblesdale as it slows to call at the station. While the work takes place the boarded foot crossing has been moved to the north end of the station, but will be removed altogether when the new structure is completed.
04/11/2024 Mark Bartlett

The five sections are ordered from south to north and although not definitive chapters they break the book up nicely. Each section includes detailed descriptions on stations, signal boxes, junctions, tunnels, viaducts and sidings. I was particularly intrigued by Roy's extensive coverage of the various accidents that have occurred on the line and when paired with the numbers of "navvies", as well as their families, who died whilst the line was being constructed we are served a reminder that this beautiful railway has come at a cost.

The inclusion of various old tickets printed throughout the book is a nice touch which allows us as readers to be transported back in time and be put into the shoes of those who came before us. The many maps displayed throughout the book help the reader to understand the layout of many locations mentioned in the book and offer a chance to reflect on what hives of activity many of the stations on the line were. Unfortunately nowadays the surviving stations are much quieter but they and the closed ones are covered in detail.

The pictures in the book range from Midland Railway days through the LMS and British Railways eras to the modern day. In fact the story is completely up to date as it covers the 2022 derailment at Petteril Bridge Junction and the construction of the new footbridge at Horton-in-Ribblesdale in 2024. The printing of many of the modern photographs in colour adds extra depth to the pages and draws the reader in which, when paired with Roy's comprehensive writing, help to tell the story of this iconic railway.

Following Wednesday's accident, cement tanks fell off the Petteril Bridge, even turning upside down, as a result of the derailment at the nearby junction. This was the scene four days later, and the recovery will take a long time.
22/10/2022 Duncan Ross

In 2025, the railway celebrates its 150th anniversary of opening for freight traffic and, whilst there is little to be said about the current freight services on the settle to Carlisle as traffic has dwindled in recent years, the book reminds us that this now heritage-like railway was once a vital part of the Midland Railway network.

The Settle to Carlisle Railway is renowned worldwide, and I can imagine that when Roy was asked to cover it, he may have felt a little daunted - I know I would have!

However, he has certainly done an excellent job. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with even the slightest interest in railways, whether they're eight years old or eighty-eight!