Lowgill Station

Well, it was once!

When we went to see the little church near Sedbergh, it was because of the beautiful stained glass windows, but we were intrigued with its connection to the railway. Which railway? That was the question we asked. And of course I had to investigate. I found a book and I bought another book and we looked at the map. In this way we discovered: The ‘Little’ North Western Railway.

In 1846 there were plans to build a railway branch line from Clapham to Low Gill in order to link the Skipton/ Lancaster line with the Lancaster /Carlisle line thus joining the Yorkshire industrial towns with Scotland. Over the years there was much wrangling between the various railway companies and very little happened (perhaps Grayling was in charge!). It was not until 1861 that the line was actually built. It closed in 1967.

We knew nothing about this railway, but then realised that we knew the viaducts and bridges and we began to piece it together. 

So, here is the start of the line – at Lowgill, near Tebay, where the branch line linked with what is now the main West Coast line. The row of houses, Railway Terrace, was built for the railway workers. And rather nice they are too. A guy who was working on one of them told us how well built they were. Sadly he said only a few of them are actually lived in, the rest have been bought up by ‘people from Manchester’ who only visit occasionally. 

The station was apparently sited where the cars are now, although I am not sure it was that close to the houses. Through the fence you can see the track of the disused line and just a few feet beyond that is the current West Coast line. Several trains came past as we were walking along. Trains would arrive here from Ingleton and passengers would transfer to a main line train bound for Carlisle. 

More later . . . 
 
Little North Western Railway 1