Did I find the Orient Express! Cockermouth, Keswick to Penrith Abandoned Railway

A railway running out of the area was originally deemed unprofitable. The communities however were not for keeping quiet hence a letter from J.M. of Keswick:
Printed as "Railway Accommodation in the Lake District". Carlisle Journal. 6 November 1857.
"Here we are buried - shut out from the world, as it were - 15 hours from a morning paper while other people know at an instant what happens at the other end of the kingdom"
However investors soon came to the idea of running a mineral train from the West of Cumberland to the Coke-ovens of South Durham - and with the backing of the London and Northwestern Railway the company's Bill was unopposed, and its Act received its Royal Assent in August 1861.
So the The first sod was cut here (Church Ln Great Crosthwaite in Keswick) by the company chairman on the 21st May 1862.
The construction of 31 1⁄2 miles of railway between here in Cockermouth to the West Coast Main Line at Penrith was started and four years later on the 2nd January 1865 the Cockermouth Keswick & Penrith Railway was up and running.
In this video I will travel along the lost line via it’s stations, aged structures to explore what remains of it today.
Thank you to the www.threlkeldq... 'Dikon' for appearing / supporting the video.
Nodrog ©️

[@frankfitzgerald5832]

Well done gordon really enjoyed that .. your videos are very well made mate.....the history and details are so informative ...and you get the feeling that your walking right along side you ..so thank you for the realism that these short films bring ... i look forward to your future work ....stay safe ...with kind regards ...Frank & Lee.......

[@nodrog]

Cheers buddy. Much appreciated.

[@HENRYSONICVR1122]

Iam Gordon's child and in his videos 👦

[@simaesthesia]

I always feel an element of sadness to think of the immense effort that was invested in constructing the railways, only for them to be closed with such coldness and inconsideration. Really moving and fantastic video as ever Gordon, thanks.

[@robinjones6999]

Indeed true, but many lines were never completed, or were mad vanity projects which never made any money from day one

[@brianthetrain9283]

Totally agree. Swipe of a pen and all that skill wiped away.

[@Terry.W]

Considering the appalling traffic congestion in Keswick it definitely needs a light rail service...and I am sure it would pay for itself in 5 years

[@senianns9522]

Hah! Just found this! I stayed at Braithwaite station whilst it was being renovated in the early 70's. My pals were working on it and we had a campfire situation and guitar playing! Good memories!

[@djburland]

Such a sad tale, they should have kept that line open!

[@jamesgilbart148]

Great exploration! Very glad that those viaducts survive and hope that one day sense will prevail and the line gets reopened.

[@euromodellertrainz]

A superb piece of journalism. I am looking forward to the next one!

[@jaketel]

Great video, seems such a waste to have closed these old lines.

[@tominnis8353]

Excellent video. Thank you. (I was there on the last day of services to Keswick, on a cold snowy day in March 1972)

[@RoboticManiacFC]

Your music in the video is so good all your videos are fantastic I love trains and that's why I like watching your videos

[@alistairshaw3206]

I really enjoyed your video, well presented, your work gets better all the time, well done Gordon! Many bridges on the line were built by Sir Thomas Bouch, builder of the first Tay Bridge. I always felt sorry for him as he was a great engineer, unfortunately the Tay Bridge Disaster finished him. All his other work has stood the test of time. The amazing Belah viaduct on the Stainmore route was unfortunately demolished.

[@THIRV]

Another fabulous presentation, I was riveted. Really should be on mainstream television. Great stuff. I’m delighted that there’s a backlog of your work for me to see as I’ve only watched three. So far. Can’t wait to watch some more. 👍😎

[@nodrog]

Brill buddy. Thank you. Just edited next Thursdays now 🥳

[@THIRV]

@@nodrog amazing! Keep em coming! As you said during this one, it’s tough sometimes being away from the family to do it. But as you also said, they come along sometimes, and I’m sure they’re right proud of your work. Can’t thank you enough for all of these. If all of these were ever published in a DVD box set, I’d buy them in a heartbeat. Keep well buddy. 😎👍👍

[@lesfez1875]

Very interesting video. Cant help thinking when I went to the Lake District on school journey 1963/4 that line was open. We didnt have cameras in those days so no way to record events and places - just memories.

[@stewartshackleton7825]

Lovely story and scenery. Bonus - door step sandwiches! Thank you.

[@sandraisaacs9931]

That is a beautiful, beautiful video Gordon. So sensitively edited and narrated. Liking it just does not seem enough, I would love to put it up for an award somewhere. Please keep making these videos.

[@peterrossall9399]

Wonderful stuff Gordon, and very informative. I was doing a reconnoitre for our Fell Walking Club as recently as last Friday and used, for the first time since its repair following the dreadful damage that Storm Desmond did to it in 2015, part of the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail. It's cost a lot of money to do - £8m - but I'd say they've made a great job of it, particularly the opening up of the Bobbin Mill tunnel. I have to say that despite many trips up to the Keswick and Cockermouth areas, I knew nothing of the still visible (in parts) railway structures. Thanks for enlightening me, and all the rest of us. Keep up the good work.

[@davidcook380]

Great Video Gordon

[@michaelmiller641]

Another good one nodrog!

[@nodrog]

Thank you 🙏

[@Thailandescapades]

Brilliant video Gordon.. stunning part of the Uk if not the world even

[@andrewseddon7989]

Another great vlog Gordon what a lovely part of the northwest Let's hope that some stage a new track gets re- layed even if it was single track with passing loops As especially whit the way things are currently happening with the de-carbonisation movement 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 Keep the good posts going please

[@MARTINEDWARDSVIDEOS]

This has to be one of your best videos well done.

[@michaelreid3906]

Excellent video Gordon well researched and presented

[@chrisnicholls8636]

Great video Gordon, love these lost railways a great insight into our past. Keep them coming great viewing mate

[@wam2610]

nice work Gordon, I have seen the old station building at Keswick, brings back memories of when it was safe to play out, hope these days are back real soon, missing my visits to Keswick and The Lakes so so much.

[@stevewareing8525]

Great video Gordon, It's been years since I visited the Threlkeld Quarry & Mining Museum, wonderful little quarry railway and probably the best collection of vintage excavators in the world! 👍

[@morrislouiseeagle7161]

Thank you for sharing this with us 👏😁x

[@brianthetrain9283]

Cracking video Gordon. You can’t beat lovely stone work like on those viaducts.👍

[@Jimyjames73]

Hiya @ 3:25 - I like the idea of Having a Loco (even thou not original) sitting outside the old station!!! 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@bobsrailrelics]

My old stomping grounds from the early 80's. Bringing back loads of memories

[@ironmantrains]

I've gone on holiday in the Lake District and I stayed in the exact holidayhouse you mentioned, the station cottage at Troutbeck. I would love it if they reopened the railway between Penrith and Keswick, going through Troutbeck.

[@jacobporrett]

You should get this commissioned for TV Gordon. People will love it. I know I will. Excellent video.

[@nodrog]

Thank you buddy. That would be nice!

[@mywayno9922]

Great video always look forward to watching them 👍

[@Sim0nTrains]

Brilliant video, really enjoyed watching this. Would be lovely if they get theRailway reinstating one day and there some lovely bridges and disused stations on route :)

[@Tom-gr6nx]

fantastic video and drone footage love these lost railway videos well done gordon and much appreciated.

[@mtem2253]

Absolutely brilliant! Really enjoying theses videos.

[@tracya4087]

we have a secret viaduct in wigan , it a beauty and the first crossing of a locomotive over a viaduct was in wigan too along with the first steam locomotive built in lancashire , smashing video gordon , all the best always

[@nodrog]

Thank you. Much appreciated.

[@seany84uk]

This is a fantastic series you have started! If this line re opened they would use the morecambe to lancaster stock to run upto there and incorporate it into one lakes service. I think it would need to be a 30 min interval service for it to be useful. Just like the proposed fleetwood reopening that needs to be a 30 min service not proposed hourly.

[@louisthetravelspotter]

awsome vlog gordon mate

[@keithporter9822]

Great work as always Gordon! Really enjoyed that :)

[@robinjones6999]

Lovely video Gordon

[@ROBERTSCOIN]

I like your video's because on a lot of them you go out and track some of the old railways that have long gone and some times I will look on google maps just to see where the stations and tacks used to be it would be nice if some of these trackbeds were in working order again great video as always.

[@jaygreen2648]

Top job lad...

[@JohnSmith-bx8zb]

Gordon check out Haverthwaite to Plumpton Junction. Again with increase of tourism this would allow for a link from Windermere to the South Lakes Coast Line Foxfield to Coniston is worth a look, I don’t know if there is any movement pushing to open the route.

[@Gibbymyson]

Great Video mate!

[@nodrog]

Thank you 😊

[@PEPEMUFAN]

Great Video Nodrog, fascinating piece of History to this iconic Railway lovely to find a piece of victorian infrastructure proudly maintained hopefully a small section will open up in futures to come:)

[@MatthewRailways50033]

Nice video 👍👍👍👍😎😃

[@nikbennett4894]

I have walked bits of this around Keswick. Gorgeous video. The bit about all the research, Google Earth, family man and bringing your kids out, the flask of tea, and proper butties with a view like that - kindred spirit mate. Only now, I do this in Ontario, Canada.

[@nodrog]

Wow. You’ve got a great spot to have your butties too! Somewhat a little more scenic I’d think. Enjoy your heritage.

[@nikbennett4894]

@@nodrog Thanks. Originally from Tameside, Manchester. Born in a house in a triangle of railways. Ontario, particularly Southern Ontario, had a mint railway system once. Nearly all gone now but yes, scenic as heck!

[@steveatkinson689]

An act of pure vandalism if ever there was !

[@richardbutcher7891]

Brilliant video again. A fraction of the budget of like a bbc film and very good quality work. Thanks.

[@nodrog]

Thank you buddy. Much appreciated. Can you imagine what content I’d provide with a BBC budget 🤔🚂👍🥳👷🏼‍♂️😊

[@nigelwright7557]

Sad its gone but not surprising as it was a mainly a mineral line and that disappeared. Been gone 50 years now and its still easy to get to Keswick by road so a reinstatement is very unlikely.

[@Marcus.D.P]

I absolutely love how you make your videos Gordon 👍they are nothing short of brilliance...I could watch them again and again....also I agree..this was your best yet ..well done sir...looking forward to seeing what’s coming next now 😊

[@nodrog]

As I type I’ve just finished editing the next! This is pretty fine too! Can’t wait to share it.

[@owenrichardson1419]

Thanks for your work, inspiring

[@nodrog]

My pleasure buddy. Cheers for watching.

[@williethomson8353]

First time Ive seen you doing this Gordpn I.prefer it to your weeklys. Theres a future for you in ths fire escape trade...

[@Andrewjg_89]

I probably would think that Network Rail and the government should bring back the railways in the North of England. Including the former railway line that went from Penrith and Workington to Keswick and Cockermouth. And to reopen some of the stations including Penruddock (for Motherby), Threlkeld, Braithwaite, Bassenthwaite Lake (for Dubwath), Embleton, Brigham, Broughton Cross, Marron Junction and Camerton. And many other former railway lines in England, Wales and Scotland that could reopen in the future. Including the East-West Rail link which would link Cambridge and Oxford via Bedford.

[@jasonmitchell4727]

What's happened to the weekly updates / round up really enjoy that show

[@nodrog]

Sorry. I’ve stopped doing them for now. They were mainly during lockdown.

[@_sandie_123]

Believe it’s built out of brick names Penrith red and in some sunsets it does glow

[@toxictony4230]

A few years ago I found this archive film on KZbin and posted it on a walking page I'm a member of on facebook, broaching the question that if this line was still in operation who would use it. Well the response surprised me. People frothing at the mouth didn't do the feed back justice. Folk just went mental about the subject and complained bitterly that it would destroy the fabric of the area and on and on the argument went. It seems that now, the car is king and a railway is bad for the environment, which is odd when you see just how congested Keswick is these days and parking is appalling, url: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIDaeZ-Njpqjd6c

[@1701Wren]

Cockermouth takes its name from one of the rivers that flow into the town - it's the mouth of the River Cocker as it flows into the River Derwent. The River Derwent (which flooded 12 years ago) flows into the a terminus of the CK&P Railway, a town called Workington. (I live a couple of miles south of Workington) I've just watched your video, loved it & I'll watch it again & I'll email you with a couple of facts & a few urban legends you've missed And don't talk with your mouth full 😂😂😂😂

[@FastTrackUK43]

The replica steam locomotive at Bassenthwaite Lake station is actually taken from the 2017 film starring Kenneth Branagh and Johnny Depp and NOT the 1974 film that you stated

[@nodrog]

Oh okay. Details were from the local rag. Can you share a link? Cheers.

[@FastTrackUK43]

No problem, heres a couple of links, ones's from a local from the lakes and the other is the offical trailer of the film kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3K0aJZ7grughsU kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6KXnmavdtSKbqc

[@williethomson8353]

Wrong film. Imagine Branagh directing when he was 11 that would have been one heck of a film

[@JohnSmith-bx8zb]

1st June 2020 a local newspaper reported that plans to reopen the line from Penrith to Keswick have been submitted to the Department of Transport supporters include local MPs

[@srfurley]

Cedric Martindale has been promoting the rebuilding of the line from the East to Keswick for many years.

[@JohnSmith-bx8zb]

@@srfurley here’s hoping this time

[@spearhead787]

​@srfurley 25 years to be precise.

[@JohnSmith-bx8zb]

@@spearhead787 did the project get on the government’s list of railways to be reopened?

[@spearhead787]

@JohnSmith-bx8zb It was on the list of projects for the north west. There was a bid put forward to the govts resoring your railways fund in 2020 john. It was backed by all four local MP's and CKP Railways. It didn't receive backing from the DfT. The main reason being lack of political backing from the C C C (Cumbria County Council). They were always frosty on the project. But now the CCC has been abolished,and we have two unitary authorities running things. Cumberland council, and westmorland and furness council. Both have now come out in favour of the project. So there is new hope that things will move forward. Solid local political backing is what the DfT need to see before permission to build a railway would be granted.

[@sallyhobbit1956]

Doing this Friday / Sat 1st October. Starting from Cockermouth Thanks

[@nodrog]

Enjoy! Hope it goes super well!

[@sallyhobbit1956]

@@nodrog Back now, a bit wet but well worth a visit!

[@roberthindle5146]

"Cockermouth".....ffnarrr!