Ribblehead railway station
Encyclopedia
Ribblehead railway station is located at the southern end of the famous Ribblehead Viaduct
in North Yorkshire
, England. It is operated by Northern Rail
who provide all passenger train services.
It was re-opened in 1986 with only one platform (the southbound one) in place - the northbound one having been demolished after the station's original closure in May 1970 to allow for the construction of transfer sidings for a nearby quarry (these still exist and have recently been restored to use for timber trains - see below). A replacement second platform was opened in 1993 a short distance south of the original site.
In previous years, Ribblehead served as a meteorological station, with the stationmaster transmitting coded reports to the Air Ministry
. In 1957, the task was carried out by a former Royal Air Force
navigator. Monthly services were held in the station's waiting room by the Vicar of Ingleton
. These were accompanied by a harmonium concealed behind a billboard in the waiting room, which was brought to the station by a missionary who came as a minister to the construction gangs when the railway was being constructed through the moors in the early 1870s. British Rail
charged 2 shillings for the use of the waiting room, which saw as many as 50 worshippers at harvest festival
s.
This station is now leased by the Settle and Carlisle Railway Trust who have completely restored and refurbished it. There are resident caretakers, a small shop selling memorabilia, and its Visitor Centre includes exhibits about the history of the line and the fight to keep it open. One exhibit in the Visitor Centre is the original station sign and a small exhibition about the Midland Railway company, builders of the line and originally the train operators.
(five departures on Mondays to Fridays with an additional service on Saturdays - two weekday and one Saturday trains run through non-stop) and southbound to Leeds (seven Mon-Sat). One service each day also terminates and starts back from here (the last train of the day from Leeds) - this runs empty across the viaduct to reverse at Blea Moor signal box
, where the driver changes ends before returning south.
Three trains each way call on Sundays all year round, with two additional Dalesrail services each way also serving the station in the summer.
Ribblehead Viaduct
Ribblehead Viaduct is a railway viaduct across the valley of the River Ribble at Ribblehead, in North Yorkshire, northern England. The viaduct is a Grade II* listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.-Description:...
in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England. It is operated by Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
who provide all passenger train services.
It was re-opened in 1986 with only one platform (the southbound one) in place - the northbound one having been demolished after the station's original closure in May 1970 to allow for the construction of transfer sidings for a nearby quarry (these still exist and have recently been restored to use for timber trains - see below). A replacement second platform was opened in 1993 a short distance south of the original site.
In previous years, Ribblehead served as a meteorological station, with the stationmaster transmitting coded reports to the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
. In 1957, the task was carried out by a former Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
navigator. Monthly services were held in the station's waiting room by the Vicar of Ingleton
Ingleton, North Yorkshire
Ingleton is a village and civil parish in the Yorkshire Dales in North Yorkshire, England. It is famous for walking, hiking and caving. Favourite walks are the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail and the climb up Ingleborough which is one of the famous Three Peaks. Directly from the village visitors can...
. These were accompanied by a harmonium concealed behind a billboard in the waiting room, which was brought to the station by a missionary who came as a minister to the construction gangs when the railway was being constructed through the moors in the early 1870s. British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
charged 2 shillings for the use of the waiting room, which saw as many as 50 worshippers at harvest festival
Harvest festival
A Harvest Festival is an annual celebration which occurs around the time of the main harvest of a given region. Given the differences in climate and crops around the world, harvest festivals can be found at various times throughout the world...
s.
This station is now leased by the Settle and Carlisle Railway Trust who have completely restored and refurbished it. There are resident caretakers, a small shop selling memorabilia, and its Visitor Centre includes exhibits about the history of the line and the fight to keep it open. One exhibit in the Visitor Centre is the original station sign and a small exhibition about the Midland Railway company, builders of the line and originally the train operators.
Service
Generally there is a train every two hours northbound to CarlisleCarlisle railway station
Carlisle railway station, also known as Carlisle Citadel station, is a railway station whichserves the Cumbrian City of Carlisle, England, and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line, lying south of Glasgow Central, and north of London Euston...
(five departures on Mondays to Fridays with an additional service on Saturdays - two weekday and one Saturday trains run through non-stop) and southbound to Leeds (seven Mon-Sat). One service each day also terminates and starts back from here (the last train of the day from Leeds) - this runs empty across the viaduct to reverse at Blea Moor signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
, where the driver changes ends before returning south.
Three trains each way call on Sundays all year round, with two additional Dalesrail services each way also serving the station in the summer.