Settle Station - The Line that refused to Die (Settle / Carlisle Line) - 19th May 2023

[@cyrilthompson1869]

Brilliant video, I love that area.

[@stephenbennettrailways]

@@cyrilthompson1869 Thank you Cyril. This area is really beautiful and I have particularly enjoyed filming along the Settle / Carlisle line. Best Wishes.

[@LostsTVandRadio]

Do people tend to pay their fares on the Settle up line and do they tend to relax on the Settle down line?

[@stephenbennettrailways]

@@LostsTVandRadio Very Witty!!

[@djburland]

I visited in July, it was great 👍

[@stephenbennettrailways]

@@djburland Thank you. Yes, it is a really beautiful station on such a stunning line. We are so fortunate that the line was saved from closure.

[@jerryhayes9497]

Excellent video thanks 👍

[@stephenbennettrailways]

Thank you Jerry, very much appreciated. Best Wishes.

[@stephenpark8133]

We stayed on a Farm in Selside in 1971, and was very fortunate, on a daily bases, go to the Signal Box and sit with the Signal man. He would tell us all sort of information, he often spoke to the drivers on freight train which stopped right by his window as they waited for him to change the signals. Nice video, brings back lots of happy times, being 14 year old.

[@stephenbennettrailways]

Some lovely memories Stephen. Settle Station is one of those places where it is a real pleasure to spend quality time reminiscing about railways of a bygone age. I am so pleased you enjoyed the video. Best Wishes.

[@Nastyswimmer]

Settle used to have three stations - Giggleswick station was originally called Settle, then when the S-C was built it had a station at the junction - Settle Junction - and another in the town.

[@stephenbennettrailways]

@@Nastyswimmer Many thanks for the info. I think the stations at Settle and Giggleswick are only about a mile apart but are on separate routes. The other station at Settle Junction closed around 150 years ago.

[@stevenequinepics]

Very enjoyable and interesting video. Thank you for making and posting it.

[@stephenbennettrailways]

Thank you John, very much appreciated. Thanks also for subscribing to the channel. Best Wishes.

[@CheshireCars]

Excellent video. In 1978 my family moved up to live in Armathwaite.My father worked as a controller at Carlisle station. I spent many days at Armathwaite station taking numbers. I saw the notice to close the station still on the door in 1978! Passenger services still operated back then. From memory, class 40/45/46/47/25 and dmu. I visited again in 2016 actually getting off the train and walking down station road into the village at Armathwaite.

[@stephenbennettrailways]

@@CheshireCars I am so pleased you enjoyed the video and that it brought back such wonderful memories. I have visited Armathwaite Station on a couple of occasions and also filmed the station along with the village for a series of videos that I made on the Stations of the Eden Valley a couple of years ago. The station is featured in Part 2 of the 3 part series and the video is available on my YT channel. A special event is being held on Tuesday 16th July to mark the 125th anniversary of the Armathwaite Signal Box and I am planning to go along and make a video of the day. Best Wishes.

[@CheshireCars]

@@stephenbennettrailways The box, I walked up those steps many times before the refresh was completed. Should be a good event to celebrate the 125 years. Amazing it’s 125 years. I noticed the goods shed has been turned into a home for a family.

[@davidhewson8605]

Fantastic tiny film. My Dad was from Cumberland. Brought up with coal in Wales. Steam magic !!. Thanks playmates. Dave

[@stephenbennettrailways]

Many thanks David. Glad you enjoyed the video and for sharing your memories. Best Wishes, Stephen

[@ldegmtrainspotter]

Super rail movie! Nice captures and places! Big LIKE

[@stephenbennettrailways]

Thank you. That’s very kind and much appreciated. Best Wishes.

[@frogandspanner]

0:15 The last time I used Settle station (about 1978) there was no footbridge, and crossing the line was via sleepers between the tracks. It's a grand bridge. It was a wonderful starting point for walks. Pals and I would aim for a 25 miler on a Saturday, with at least two pubs on the way. We had become so adept at planning that we could spend 5 minutes looking at a map, checking for pub symbols, and we were off. Until the fateful day that we planned a route that spanned two maps. We planned for three pubs (Malham, Grassington and Ilkley) and got walking. When enjoying a pint in Grassington we pulled out the map to detail the stage to the pub in Ilkley, and realised it was a different scale! After downing our drinks we trotted along the Wharfe and got to Ilkley for _last orders_ (in those days 22:30) and the last train to Leeds. It turned out to be about 35 miles.

[@stephenbennettrailways]

The area around Settle is wonderful and I am so pleased that the video has evoked such memories for you. Best wishes.

[@RURALCOMMUTER]

Very enjoyable documentary! This railway line is a masterpiece. I am very grateful to the many workers who built it in the first instance and to the campaign group who saved it when threatened with closure. However I do feel very concerned nowadays about the future of this line. I started commuting on this late about 15 years, when living in Settle and working in West Yorkshire but since 2022 many commuters have stopped using this line...and it is not just because of the effect of the lockdown and new working from home arrangements. From talking to fellow passengers and other rural residents, the changes to the T&C of the Dales railcard have discouraged many people from using it in the morning. It's a real shame. I am often the only person waiting on the platform at Kirkby Stephen and on the first coach. Northern Rail are penalising commuters and the local rail user group doesn't seem to be as effective as it was? First train from Carlisle to Leeds should be full of people going to work, to college, going to hospital appointments in Bradford/Leeds but instead it's painfully empty. Well done for the documentary on Settle - beautiful place!

[@stephenbennettrailways]

@@RURALCOMMUTER Thank you for the review and I am so pleased you enjoyed watching the video which I recorded last year. The S&C line has a very proud history and I have thoroughly enjoyed recording videos at many of the stations along the line over the past couple of years. I recently returned to the Westcountry for a holiday after leaving the area around 25 years ago and was absolutely blown away by the large numbers of passengers using the railways in Devon & Cornwall, particularly on the branch lines to Looe, Falmouth and St Ives. The frequency of trains on these routes were very good and I have often thought that running additional services on the S&C line might help attract more passengers, particularly tourists during peak season. Best Wishes.