Front Cover :

GWR Hall class 5972, Olton Hall, takes on water at Garsdale,Autumn 1999 on a Hellifield/Carlisle special as a class 156 approaches on a local Carlisle/Leeds service.

This pristine GWR loco would soon lose its Green livery and metamorphise into that of Red Hogwarts Express.

Photo: K. Geddes

To view the photograph at higher resolution, please visit in this website Picture Gallery No. 5

Steve Butcher, Northern’s Area Director North

writes:

I am delighted to invite you to a very special day out to celebrate 21 fantastic years of Ribble Valley Rail and the astonishing accomplishments the dedicated members have achieved during this time. I and many more railwaymen/women before me have been absolutely bowled over by the sheer hard work and determination that these people have displayed over the years, and I share with you below a very brief history of the work to date.

Way back in 1962 as part of Dr Beeching’s reforms, parts of the railway network were sadly closed. On the 10th September that year, the last passenger service ran between Settle and Carlisle, included in this, was the closure of the Blackburn to Clitheroe route.

Some 24 years later, in December 1986, following a public meeting, a small group was formed who started to lobby British Railways to consider re-opening the railway. After four long hard years of making the case, a summertime shopper service began to run on Saturdays during 1990 between Manchester and Clitheroe. This Saturday Shopper was the start of great things, and following long hard negotiations between Lancashire County Council, Regional Railways North West, Ribble Valley Borough Council and Ribble Valley Rail, a regular passenger service was introduced. A further £1 million was secured for development of the four stations along the route, which includes Ramsgreave and Wilpshire, Whalley, Langho and Clitheroe, and, on Monday 30th May 1994, an hourly passenger service was introduced.

Since this historic day, Ribble Valley Rail have worked tirelessly to look after the stations with friends of stations groups but have recently expanded to include Darwen, Entwistle and Bromley Cross. The stations are an absolute tribute to the members who look after them and are held up as examples of just what can be achieved by volunteers who give up their own time to tender them. Ribble Valley Rail have always had excellent working relations with the Train Operator as well as Lancashire County Council who include them on their management group for the Community Rail Partnership for the line.

I just want to finish by saying just how proud I am as an individual and also as a director of Northern to work in partnership with Ribble Valley Rail User Group and all its dedicated members. I hope you enjoy your trip across this stunning railway line on this DalesRail service to Carlisle for a light lunch. I look forward to many more successful years working with these extraordinary people.

Thank you all so much

Steve Butcher.

Ken’s superb photographs, taken on the Ribble Valley Line spanning over forty years, are a joy to behold, and have been pivotal to the development of Ribble Valley Rail News.

His photographs form a pictorial record of the line’s development, showing not only trains but the communities involved, and we feel it is fitting in this leaflet to showcase a few of his pictures, taken away from Ribble Valley metals, and apt that they feature locations we will pass today.

Below:
Railway signage has changed dramatically over the years but who can argue with the sentiments expressed below Horton’s station sign, in particular with regard to freight traffic.

Above: So much pride and enthusiasm has gone into creating Horton’s station sign, which is bursting with information.

The immaculate flower displays complement the scenic backdrop on 27th July 1952.

Below: Class 4P 4-4-0 3 cylinder compound 41196, of Agecroft shed(26B), drifts towards Settle Junction during July 1953.

These services are supported by Northern Trains, and local businesses such as Booths, Byrnes and Dawsons.

The trains are scheduled to run again this year on Saturdays 8th and 15th December (specific timings will be available nearer the dates).

Hope to see you on the trains.

Right:

An eagerly-awaited Santa Service train arrives at Ramsgreave & Wilpshire on 16th December 2006

For details on how to join RVR, please visit their website