Furness Railway
Encyclopedia
The Furness Railway was a railway company operating in the Furness
area of Lancashire
in North West England
.
to Dalton-in-Furness
, this was later extended to Rampside
. A later line was built from Dalton to Barrow
. That portion was opened on August 11, 1846. Passenger traffic began in December 1846.
in April 1854; the Whitehaven and Furness Junction Railway was taken over in 1865 thus extending the Furness Railway to Whitehaven
, Carnforth
(where the Furness linked with the London and North Western Railway
and thence to Lancaster (see below), Coniston
and Lakeside
). The line was linked to Lancaster on August 27, 1857 by the Ulverston and Lancaster Railway
, which was bought out by the Furness Railway in 1862.
The Furness Railway was connected to the Midland Railway
by the Furness and Midland Joint Railway in 1867. Also in 1867 the Hincaster Branch
from Arnside
to the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
at Hincaster
was opened.
was not opened until 1882, when through working became possible.
There were also carriage and wagon-building shops, and repairs and maintenance was carried out on the equipment of Barrow Docks.
; six on Windermere
; three Barrow steam tugs
Barrow-Fleetwood.
Coniston Water
Windermere
Other Furness Railway ships
The Furness Railway operated as an independent company until December 1922, when it was merged as one of the constituent companies of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
following the Railways Act 1921
.
Furness
Furness is a peninsula in south Cumbria, England. At its widest extent, it is considered to cover the whole of North Lonsdale, that part of the Lonsdale hundred that is an exclave of the historic county of Lancashire, lying to the north of Morecambe Bay....
area of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
in North West England
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
.
History
The company was established on May 23, 1844 when the Furness Railway Act was passed by Parliament. The line, as originally laid, was intended principally for mineral traffic (slate and iron ore), and extended from Kirkby-in-FurnessKirkby-in-Furness
Kirkby-in-Furness is a village in the Furness area of Cumbria, England. It is about 5 km south of Broughton in Furness and 8 km northwest of Ulverston. It is one of the largest villages on the peninsula's north-western coast, looking out over the Duddon estuary and the mountains of the...
to Dalton-in-Furness
Dalton-in-Furness
Dalton-in-Furness is a small town of 8,394 people, north east of Barrow-in-Furness, in Cumbria, England.-History:Dalton is mentioned in the Domesday Book, written as "Daltune" as one of the townships forming the Manor of Hougun held by Earl Tostig. Historically, it was the capital of Furness...
, this was later extended to Rampside
Rampside
Rampside is a village in Cumbria, England, located a few miles south-east of the town of Barrow-in-Furness, in the north-western corner of Morecambe Bay on the Furness peninsula.-History:...
. A later line was built from Dalton to Barrow
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
. That portion was opened on August 11, 1846. Passenger traffic began in December 1846.
Extensions
Subsequent extensions took the railway to UlverstonUlverston
Ulverston is a market town and civil parish in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria in north-west England. Historically part of Lancashire, the town is located in the Furness area, close to the Lake District, and just north of Morecambe Bay....
in April 1854; the Whitehaven and Furness Junction Railway was taken over in 1865 thus extending the Furness Railway to Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
, Carnforth
Carnforth
- References :...
(where the Furness linked with the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
and thence to Lancaster (see below), Coniston
Coniston, Cumbria
Coniston is a village and civil parish in the Furness region of Cumbria, England. It is located in the southern part of the Lake District National Park, between Coniston Water, the third longest lake in the Lake District, and Coniston Old Man; about north east of Barrow-in-Furness.-Geography and...
and Lakeside
Lakeside, Cumbria
Lakeside is a small settlement at the south end of Windermere, England. Now in the English county of Cumbria, before county reorganisation of 1974 it was in Lancashire, as part of the region known as Furness...
). The line was linked to Lancaster on August 27, 1857 by the Ulverston and Lancaster Railway
Ulverston and Lancaster Railway
The “Ulverstone” and Lancaster Railway Company was short-lived as a business but the line that it built is still in daily use. The line runs from Lindal-in-Furness to Carnforth where it joins what was then the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway...
, which was bought out by the Furness Railway in 1862.
The Furness Railway was connected to the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
by the Furness and Midland Joint Railway in 1867. Also in 1867 the Hincaster Branch
Hincaster Branch
The Hincaster Branch was a single track railway branch line of the Furness Railway which ran from on the Furness main line to a junction with the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway at Hincaster. Intermediate stations were provided at and Heversham...
from Arnside
Arnside
Arnside is a village and civil parish in Cumbria, England. It faces the estuary of the River Kent on the north eastern corner of Morecambe Bay, within the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
to the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
The Lancaster and Carlisle Railway was a British railway company authorised on 6 June 1844 to build a line between Lancaster and Carlisle in North-West England...
at Hincaster
Hincaster
Hincaster is a small hamlet and civil parish in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, England, located between Kendal and Milnthorpe. It has a population of 195. Hincaster is most famous for the Hincaster Tunnel which is the longest tunnel on the Lancaster Canal.-Hincaster Tunnel:The building of...
was opened.
Barrow Central railway station
The original main line did not run through Barrow, though its headquarters and engineering works were adjacent to St. George's Square. Through trains had to run into the terminal station and then out again to continue their journey. The new Barrow Central railway stationBarrow-in-Furness railway station
Barrow-in-Furness railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, England. It is located on the Furness Line to Lancaster and the Cumbrian Coast Line to Workington and Carlisle...
was not opened until 1882, when through working became possible.
Locomotives
The first locomotive superintendent, recruited from Bury, Curtis and Kennedy in 1846, was later to be knighted as Sir James Ramsden, a leading civic figure and first Mayor of Barrow. No locomotives were actually built in the local works itself: they were generally standard designs, purchased from other manufacturers. By 1921, fifteen different works were represented. However, W. F. Pettigrew, who had taken over operations in 1896, was to introduce some measure of standardisation.There were also carriage and wagon-building shops, and repairs and maintenance was carried out on the equipment of Barrow Docks.
Line details
- Viaducts: The line crosses several major estuaries - the rivers KentRiver KentThe River Kent is a short river in the county of Cumbria in England. The river originates in hills surrounding Kentmere, and flows for around 20 miles into the north of Morecambe Bay. The Lake District National Park includes the upper reaches of the river within its boundaries.The river passes...
and LevenLeven-Surname:* Earl of Leven a title in the Peerage of Scotland* Jackie Leven, a Scottish singer / songwriter* Narcisse Leven, a lawyer.* Peter Leven, association football player for Milton Keynes Dons-Places:* Leven, Fife, a town in Scotland...
being among them - over substantial viaductViaductA viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
s. - Tunnel: the Bransty Tunnel in Whitehaven is 1333 yards (1,219 m) in length
- Total mileage (lines owned or worked) (1912): 190.25 miles (306.2 km).
Barrow Docks
Details given are those shown for 1912:- Total area of water: 278 acres (113 ha)
- Four docks: Devonshire; Buccleuch; Ramsden; and Cavendish. There was also a Timber Dock.
- Length of quays 2.25 miles (3.6 km)
- The firm of Messrs Vickers built major ships for the Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
here - There was also a deep water berth in Walney Channel
Ships
Barrow-Fleetwood service - four paddle steamers; lake steamers - two on Coniston WaterConiston Water
Coniston Water in Cumbria, England is the third largest lake in the English Lake District. It is five miles long, half a mile wide, has a maximum depth of 184 feet , and covers an area of . The lake has an elevation of 143 feet above sea level...
; six on Windermere
Windermere
Windermere is the largest natural lake of England. It is also a name used in a number of places, including:-Australia:* Lake Windermere , a reservoir, Australian Capital Territory * Lake Windermere...
; three Barrow steam tugs
Barrow-Fleetwood.
| Ship | Launched | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lady Evelyn | 1900 | 295 (1900–04) 342 (1904–40) |
Lengthened in 1904, requisitioned by the Admiralty Admiralty The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy... in 1914. Sold in 1920 to W H Tucker & Co Ltd. Sold in 1923 to P & A Campbell Ltd and renamed Brighton Belle. Hit a wreck in The Downs The Downs The Downs are a roadstead or area of sea in the southern North Sea near the English Channel off the east Kent coast, between the North and the South Foreland in southern England. In 1639 the Battle of the Downs took place here, when the Dutch navy destroyed a Spanish fleet which had sought refuge... on 28 May 1940 and sank. |
| Lady Margaret | 1895 | 369 | Bought in 1903 from P & A Campbell Ltd. Sold to the Admiralty Admiralty The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy... in 1908 and renamed Liberty. Renamed Wanderer in 1913 and Roamer in 1919. Scrapped in 1923. |
| Lady Moyra | 1905 | 562 | Built for the Barry Railway in 1905 as Gwalior. Bought in 1910 for £22,750 and renamed Lady Moyra. Requisitioned during the First World War and subsequently returned to the FR. Sold in 1933 to P & A Campbell Ltd and renamed Brighton Queen. Bombed on 1 June 1940 and sunk at Dunkirk. |
| Philomel | 1889 | 564 | Bought from the General Steam Navigation Company for £5,250 in 1908. Scrapped at Preston in November 1913. |
Coniston Water
| Ship | Launched | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gondola | 1859 | In service until the First World War, then resumed service after the war until 1936. Converted to a houseboat in 1945. To the National Trust National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland... in the 1970s. Restored and returned to service in 1979. |
|
| Lady of the Lake | 1859 | In service until 1908 when replaced by another boat of the same name. | |
| Lady of the Lake | 1908 | In service until 1939. |
Windermere
| Ship | Launched | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Britannia | 1879 | Built for Colonel Ridehalgh at a cost of £12,000. Bought by FR in 1908 for £550. Scrapped in 1918. | |
| Cygnet | 1879 | Capacity 326 passengers. Scrapped in 1955. | |
| Raven | 1871 | Cargo boat, withdrawn in 1927. Preserved at the Windermere Steamboat Museum Windermere Steamboat Museum The Windermere Steamboat Museum was formed by the boat collector G. H. Pattinson, and was located on the former Sand and Gravel Wharf between Bowness-on-Windermere and the town of Windermere, on the eastern shore of Windermere in Cumbria, England. In 2007, the museum was taken over by the Lakeland... . |
|
| Rothay | 1865 | Built for Windermere United Steam Yacht Co in 1865. Bought by FR in 1869. Withdrawn in 1900 and scrapped in 1922. | |
| Swift | 1869 | Capacity 781 passengers. Scrapped in 1938. | |
| Swift | 1890 | Built by TB Seath of Rutherglen, Glasgow 1900. Capacity 780 passengers. Diesel engine Diesel engine A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber... fitted in 1958. Scrapped in 1998. |
|
| Teal | 1879 | Capacity 326 passengers. Withdrawn in 1927. | |
| Tern | 1891 | Built by Forrest & Sons, Essex 1891. Capacity 633 passengers. Still in service on Windermere. |
Other Furness Railway ships
| Ship | Launched | Tonnage (GRT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1854 | 136 | Sold in 1858 to James Fisher, Barrow in Furness. Sank on 6 March 1860 after colliding with ST Independence off the West Hoyle Bank. | |
| Cartmel | 1907 | 304 | Sold in 1934 to Leith Salvage Ltd and renamed Bullger. Struck a mine Naval mine A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel... on 13 March 1941 and sank off in Druridge Bay Druridge Bay Druridge Bay is a long coastal bay in Northumberland, England, stretching from Amble in the north to Cresswell in the south.Northumberland Coast Country Park is situated within the bay, and part of the bay is owned by the National Trust... . |
| Furness | 1898 | 225 |
Other statistics
- As at 31 December 1911 the Railway owned rolling stock as follows:
- 130 locomotives; 348 coaching vehicles; 7766 goods vehicles; 2 steam rail motor cars
- Locomotives painted Indian red; passenger vehicles ultramarine blue with white upper panels
- Passengers carried (year ending 31 December 1911) 3,297,622
The Furness Railway operated as an independent company until December 1922, when it was merged as one of the constituent companies of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
following the Railways Act 1921
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
.
See also
- Cumbrian Coast Line (history)
- Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont RailwayWhitehaven, Cleator and Egremont RailwayThe Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway was a standard gauge railway in Cumberland, England. It opened for goods traffic in 1855 and for passenger traffic in 1857.- Route :...
- Cleator and Furness RailwayCleator and Furness RailwayEgremont - Beckermet - Sellafield.This line was the joint properties of the Furness Railway and the Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway. It was worked by the WC&ER intil the company sold out to the London & North Western Railway and Furness Railway in 1878/9 after which it became part of the...