r


to


T h e a t t r a c t i o n o f s t e a m . . .


WHEN British Rail­ ways said farewell to its last steam trains in l!)(iS, few would have predicted the m u s h r o o m i n g o f preserved rail lines up and down the country.


North East Lanca­


shire steam fans are luckier than most — for there are a whole range of attractions


with easy reach. It is hai'd to say what


the attraction is. What makes a steam locomotive more of a draw than a die­ sel or electric one? Most steam Ians agree that an engine powered by coal and water is a living, breathing thing. Dirty and


By PETER DEWHURST


smelly they may have been, but steam engines have their own magic. Most steam railways are


run by volunteers, and the sort of people they attract varies widely. Teachers, engineers, solicitors, den­ tists, policemen and fac­ tory workers all give tip their spare time to train as drivers and firemen, sig­ nalmen and guards, plate­ layers and porters. But you don’t have to be


train-mad to enjoy the atmosphere, the nostalgia, of a steam railway. It is like taking a step back in time. For those who remember the days of the Iliads ami 1 Otitis when steam was still powering


trains, it is a walk down Memory bane. For the rest. . . well, it is a chance to see how past genera­ tions travelled, to smell the smell of the railway, to get smuts in your eyes, to listen to the beat of the pistons. Within a half-hour


drive, and accessible as well by public transport, we have three preserved railways, and of course there are regular steam operations on the Settle- Carlisle line. The oldest of the pres­


erved lines is the Keighley and Worth Valley, a five- mile former Midland Rail­ way line which has cashed in on n o s ta lg ia and


recreated the feel of a branch in the early days of the century. It has six sta­ tions along its short length, and runs from the industrial environment of Keighley, where it shares a station with modern British Rail diesels, to Oxenhope in the country­ side at the head of the valley. On the way it passes


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Ingrow station, where the station building brings back memories for visitors from the Pendle area. It stood at Foulridge before being removed stone by stone by the Keighley and Worth Valley, and rebuilt. On to Damens, and Oak- worth — scene of the film “Tbe Railway Children” and its famous porter Perks — and into the Haworth of the Brontes. This is the workshop of the KiliWVR, for here is its engine shed, busy res­ toring and maintaining locomotives from days gone by. F i n a 11 y , t h e t r a i n


arrives at Oxenhope, where there is a fine museum containing a host of historic locomotives and examples of railway signs and antiques. Still in Yorkshire, but


this time near Skipton, is the Embsay Steam Rail­ way,another former Mid­ land line. At two-and-a- half miles in length, it is a very much morn rural affair than the Worth Val­ ley. It runs through spec­ tacular Dales country, overshadowed by quarries and fells and offering a chance to spot pheasant, rabbits and a host of other birds and animals. At Holyeil Halt there is a lovely picnic area. Its engines arc mainly


industrial types, and it holds regular “Thomas the Tank Engine” days. Us volunteers are busy plan­ ning an extension to Bol­ ton Alibey station, where thousands of visitors used


AN almost timeless pi Embsay Steam Railw


to start Dales days out m the latter days of steam trains. Often they were Royal visitors on tho way to a shoot on the Duke of Devonshire’s estate. The society has also just


begun work on building a large new engine shed, and that could attract more visiting engines in tlie future. A relative newcomer is


the East Lancashire Rail­ way, once Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway terri­ tory. Its eight miles of line have attracted a great deal of grant aid from local authorities in a bid to attract tourists to tbe Irwell Valley. it l)oasis some big


engines, and its newly- built stations at Ramsbot- tom and Rawtenstall are a delight, recreating the style of Victorian station buildings. Further afield in the


North West there are other railways and steam centres.The West Lanca­ shire Railway is a narrow- guage concern between


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dure — in lad, this is an nv’s delightfully rural Iln with gas lamps.


Preston and Southport. There is also the South- port Railway Centre, with a fine collection of engines and stock. Moving north arc the


S t e a m t o w n Rail w a y Centre at Carnforth — base for many of the big engines operating mainline steam trains — and the p re t ty Lakeside and


up-(o-d;ilc shot of Ihc lywdl Hull complete


Haverthwaite line m the Lake District.


Deeper into Yorkshire,


there is the North York Moors line, a long, moor­ land railway. It stretches for IS miles from Picker­ ing to CrosmotU, and lias a fine stock of engines haul­ ing express-sized trains through sp ec ta cu lar scenery.


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