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The Settle - Carlisle Railway
Settle Junction to Settle
The line starts its climb away from the junction straight away and after passing over the new A65 road bridge at Cleatop, it enters a cutting in gritstone.
A Class 66 locomotive approaching Settle Junction, hauling empty Gypsum containers from the works at Kirkby Thore 

March 2000 OS grid reference SD 813609 

The main Settle and Carlisle line diverges to the right and climbs away rapidly on a gradient of 1 in 102, away from the Leeds to Morecambe line.
 
 

 
Cleatop Bridge

OS Grid Reference SD 813617

The Settle and Carlisle line passes over the A65 via a new bridge (Bridge No.2) which was installed in 1998.

The original structure at this location was installed in 1871 and used wrought iron for the main structural members. The original bridge was strengthened in 1902 by the addition of a central steel girder as part of a general capacity improvement programme.
 
Near Cleatop Bridge 16/06/01

OS grid reference SD 813617

A 2 car Pacer forming the 5.53 p.m. departure toGiggleswick rattles around the curve, having just left Settle Junction. The Leeds - Morecambe line (the "Little North Western") runs parallel with the A65 Settle bypass for about a mile from this location.

In the baclground is the impressive outline of Pendle Hill, which is 1,827 ft. high.
Sprinter South of Anley Bridge 5/5/00

OS grid reference SD 814622

View taken from the bridge which is approximately 100 yards from the start of the lane leading to Lodge Farm.

Anley Bridge is located just past the point where the track curves away to the right.
After a short cutting Anley Bridge is crossed. The bridge over the B6749 on the outskirts of Settle marks the final approach over an embankment into the station.
Anley Bridge, viewed from the South

OS grid reference SD 814628

Anley House was the residence of the Birkbeck family who were major landowners and associated with the local Craven Bank.

They were petitioners against the Midland Railway's Parliamentary Bill.
 
Settle Station OS Grid Reference SD 817636

The friends of the Settle - Carlisle line have erected a fine station nameboard with a pictorial view of the classic backdrop.
On the east side of the line, just before the station, was a signal box and a small goods yard with a single road goods shed.
Although the goods shed has since been demolished, the signal box has been retained. It has been painstakingly restored to original condition although it has been moved away from the running lines for safety reasons. Once again the Friends of the Settle - Carlisle Line (FOSCL) are responsible for the excellent work. Immediately to the left of the station entrance , now partially obscured by development, is the original water tower (see below) which served the goods yard that is now occupied by a small industrial estate.
Settle Signal Box
5/05/01
Although the goods shed has since been demolished, the signal box has been retained. It has been painstakingly restored to original condition although it has been moved away from the running lines for safety reasons. 

Once again the Friends of the Settle - Carlisle Line (FOSCL) are responsible for the excellent work.

The box is sometimes open to visitors but you need to watch carefully for announcements or ask at the FOSCL shop at the station.
The Water Tower
20/05/00
 

Amazingly, the original water tower has survived the removal of the goods yard, shed and signal box and the development of the yard into an industrial estate.
 
The station display

04/05/01

The famous display is now fully refurbished and shows the distances to London and Carlisle.

The days of the daily Thames-Clyde Express, serving London and Glasgow are now a distant memory.
66192 at Settle, September 2000

This certainly made the waiting passengers jump when it came rattling through the station at speed.
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