Cumbrian Model Railways

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Cumbrian model railways

Cumbria is a region which can look back on a fascinating and multi-faceted railway heritage. Everything from narrow gauge railway tubs dragged by women and children in coal mines stretching out for miles under the Solway Firth to a very successful, modern, private freight company using the latest locomotives. Narrow gauge railways have been used in Lakeland mines for centuries and visitors can still ride the famous Ravenglass & Eskdale miniature railway in the West of the County. West Cumberland once boasted a dense network of standard gauge mineral lines linking coal mines, iron ore mines and limestone quarries to a vast Iron and Steel industry on the coast. Narrow gauge and Standard gauge locomotives were once manufactured on the coast and some examples still survive to this day. Rails are still manufactured in Workington and you can ride behind steam locomotives in the county. The electrified London to Glasgow, West Coast Main line slices through the East of the county while considerable effort is being put into a campaign to link Penrith and Keswick by rail once more. The scenic Settle & Carlisle line, built by the Midland Railway is internationally recognised as one of the finest scenic railways in the world. Microsoft Train Simulator game allows would-be train drivers to experience the thrills of driving the Flying Scotsman A3 Pacific locomotive over the line from the comfort of their home PC.

Cumbrian railways have it all.

Surprisingly, models based on Cumbrian railways are not common but here are a selection that we know of.
If you know of others, past and present, we would like to learn more about

	Derwent Main by The Derwent Railway Society.
	Copperas Hill by Phil Baggley
	Kelton Mine by Ian Blenkinsopp
	Arlecdon Parks by Ian Blenkinsopp
	Marsh & Quay by Ian Blenkinsopp
	Parton Hurries by Ian Blenkinsopp
	Solway Sands by Ian Blenkinsopp
	Bassenthwaite Lake by Don Annison
	Ehen Bridge by Mike Peascod
	Settle & Carlisle by Ed Mulholland
	Workington Main by Workington M R C
	Kentside by Karl Crowther

Links to Cumbrian model railways on the web.

Port Solway	Newcastle and District Model Railway Club's new P4 finescale layout
Gorcott	Redditch Model Railway Club's Settle & Carlisle based layout in OO scale
Kirkby Stephen	Halifax Model Railway Club's O scale layout based on the Settle & Carlisle in Midland Railway Company days.
Coniston	Grange-Over-Sands School's model railway project
Kentside	Karl Crowther's evocative EM gauge layout inspired by the Furness region in BR's steam & diesel era. More details about this fine layout.
Oxenholme	The Blackburn & East Lancs. MRS. finescale oo gauge layout.
Tebay	The Shipley Model Railway club's hugely popular oo layout based in BR Steam days.
Keswick	An N scale "might have been" had the Penrith - Keswick line remained open to the present time. Dave Watson