La'al Ratty: A Brief History

La'al Ratty, as the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (R&ER) is affectionately known, is one of the greatest little trains in the World. It has given a glorious ride through the mountains of the western Lake District for over a century. In its adventurous history, it has faced closure several times and used three gauges of track. 

In 1873 the R&ER was promoted by the Whitehaven Iron Mines Co. to carry iron ore from its mines in Eskdale. Haematite iron ore was especially valuable then for steelmaking at Barrow. A 3ft gauge track was laid seven miles to the Furness Railway at Ravenglass. It opened for goods in 1875, with a Manning Wardle 0-6-0 loco, Devon.

Buying another loco, hiring coaches and building stations to start a passenger service the next year, made the company bankrupt. 

Managed by a Receiver, it ran on after the mines were closed. Alas the track and locos were neglected and passenger service stopped in 1908. Despite the formation of a new company, even goods trains had stopped by 1913.

The line would have been scrapped but for the whim of W.J. Bassett-Lowke and his railway enthusiast friends. They promoted the model railway hobby by selling models of all sizes - to run round a kitchen table or a pleasure park. They re-gauged the R&ER track to 15 inches for a scale model 4-4-2, 'Sans Pareil'. In August 1914 trains ran again on what was the World's Smallest Public Railway. As the whole track was converted, a daily train service operated. Rolling stock including the 0-8-0 Muriel (later River Irt), came from the pioneer 15in. gauge line of Sir Arthur Heywood. The line flourished with the growth of granite traffic promoted by Sir Aubrey Brocklebank, the shipping magnate. A new loco called River Esk was built, steam and internal combustion locos rebuilt in the line's workshops, and a standard gauge was laid as far as the stone crushing plant at Murthwaite.

Rescue & Restoration

After the second world war it was acquired by the Keswick Granite Company who closed the quarries. When passenger services continued to lose money, they decided to auction the railway in 1960. Railway enthusiasts, drawn together by the Parish Council, saved the line again. Colin Gilbert, Douglas Robinson and Sir Wavell Wakefield formed a new Railway Company to operate the trains, with a Preservation Society for the line's supporters.

Because there were only two steam locos, the new R&ER Preservation Society responded by raising funds for a new steam loco River Mite. From 1967 it has worked a substantial proportion of steam hauled services on the line. After Colin Gilbert, the late Lord Wakefield of Kendal became Chairman of the Railway. The Society sealed a working agreement supporting the company, which endures because his family wished the Railway to continue to operate as it did before his death.

With improved revenues the railway has been progressively restored and the track has been completely relaid with new rails on Australian hardwood sleepers. New buildings were constructed at Ravenglass, including awnings rescued from the local British Rail stations. The railway workshops constructed Northern Rock for the centenary year of 1976 and since then they have built new diesel locos and rebuilt steam locos for the R&ER. They have also worked on contracts including locos for Blackpool Pleasure Beach and the steam locos Northern Rock II and Cumbria for a Japanese leisure park. Operation of the Railway was improved from 1977 by the pioneer use of radio based signalling, a system subsequently adopted by British Rail for some of its minor lines. The season of daily steam trains now extends from March to November and after the rebuilding of Bonnie Dundee, donated by a Society member, up to five steam locos can be in use on the line at peak times.

The Society and Its Work

The R&ER Preservation Society is pledged to support the Railway Company. It has provided financial support, and practical help through the running of River Mite and the volunteer workforce. Every year at the AGM the members elect one third of the Council to run its affairs. The Council in turn appoints a Director to the Board of the Railway Company. 

There is only a small permanent staff who welcome additional help. Working parties of Society members from all parts of the country gather regularly at Ravenglass. During the winter these meet regularly to undertake track work, relaying, reballasting, renewal of fences and telephone equipment. During the period of daily steam trains, from the end of March to the beginning of November, society members give invaluable assistance with operating the railway. Volunteers provide most of the guards, assist with preparation of locos and trains, man stations and do many other jobs. If you have a special skill we would be glad to find you work to suit - otherwise we can give you training. Many members do valuable work in publicising the railway at fetes, rallies and exhibitions in their home areas all over the country. One important annual undertaking is to distribute publicity to all the holiday establishments in and around the Lake District.

Not all members can give active help, but their support in the form of annual subscriptions and donations funds the Society's activities. Your membership entitles you to travel concessions on the R&ER - subject to any restrictions applied by the General Manager - to use the Society accommodation, and to receive four copies of the R&ER magazine each year. If you would like to join us in this venture and make many friends please complete our membership form. The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway is not only a Great Little Railway but a Great Society.

See the Volunteering page for more information.