The Settle to Carlisle Line! England's most scenic railway journey?
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- čas přidán 20. 05. 2021
- This week, we take a ride from Carlisle to Leeds, which includes travelling the full length of the Settle to Carlisle Line, which is often considered to be England's most scenic railway journey!
Date of Travel: 31 March 2021
Class of Travel: Standard Class (2nd Class)
Rolling Stock: Class 158 Express Sprinter
Cost of Ticket: £21.30 ($29.40, €24.50; including railcard discount of ⅓)
Origin: Carlisle, Cumbria, United Kingdom (England)
Destination: Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom (England)
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All thanks to Michael Portillo who, when Minister of Transport, saved this line.
I believe Michael Portillo is often a welcome guest of one or two people who own properties along or not far from the line.... He is said to love the area.
@@Brian-om2hh Great!
Being an American, I have to say everything in the UK always looks so Tidy!!
The reason is simple: very few passengers during the pandemic. Had it been a packed commuter train there would have been discarded newspapers, food cartons and drink cans or bottles everywhere.
Very few places are actually tidy and people sadly dump whatever they want wherever they want
You haven't been to Luton mate, that's just one enormous crap hole!!!
@@barblx_t7892 you say very few but there are more that a few
@@ThePennineWanderer that’s because they don’t have thousands per day using them, the more users at the station the dirtier the station
When you said they had put two trains together I thought they expected a large crowd. Instead you practically had the train to yourself, even moving from one "private car" to another when the first was too hot. The scenery was beautiful, from flat to rolling hills to rugged, getting a bit greener as you went south. Love the look of those Yorkshire sandstone houses in the green countryside. Thanks for including a still of the Ribblehead Viaduct so we could appreciate it.
Out of all trains of a similar age, 158s and 159s really have aged so well!
Built in the days of railway engineers & managers not government departments & company accountants!
Thank you for including the local scenery around the stations both before and after your journeys. It adds a lot.
Glad you like it 😁
You must be a lucky man to have gotten such a beautiful SUNNY afternoon in England!!!!
Don't believe all you read about weather in UK.
One of my absolute favourite journeys. The trolleys are back on now, so people can enjoy a cup of tea or beer as they watch the stunning scenery pass by. If you want another absolutely cracking journey then the Cumbrian Coast and Furness Lines between Carlisle and Lancaster are also worth a visit.
Thx. I'll be putting that on the bucket list too: -)
Trolleys on a Northern Train ?? 🤨🤨
@@Sam-bz1hr Yep. The Settle & Carlisle Railway Development Company run the trolleys. They also give route commentary on selected journeys.
@@NorthumberlandSnapper as a Northern employee I never new this!! I need to take a trip up there soon I think 😀 thank you
I also want to recommend the Newcastle - Carlisle line too, regular services and pretty wonderful views.
Carlisle has a lot of scenic rail journeys it seems!
Thank you, Michael Portillo, for saving the line.
And the fact the line now carries around a million passengers per year, is full vindication of his decision..... Living not too far from the line, I have visited all the stations in my area. Most are now run/staffed by volunteers, and are beautifully kept. Some have small museums/exhibitions in parts of their old waiting rooms, and one - Ribblehead - has a tea shop/cafe, again run by volunteers.....
I did this trip many years ago -well in the opposite direction. It was 1979 & I was 16 years old returning to Edinburgh from an Air Training Corps gliding course just outside Nottingham. Return trip was on the through Nottingham to Glasgow Central service before changing at Carlisle for the Edinburgh train. Class 45 diesel loco hauled BR Mk1 coaching stock - with compartments! You would have loved it Dylan.
Too right I would have! I miss compartments.
thanks for another brilliant video Dylan and for coming to Carlisle, my home town!
I travelled on this line from Ribblehead to Carlisle and back and was certainly not disappointed! It’s gotta be the most beautiful railway journey I’ve ever been on
Not surprised about the catering, I did this journey back in 2018 before northern refurbished their trains, it was a lot more comfortable back then! They even offered a trolley service with snacks and hot drinks in branded “Settle and Carlisle” cups. (All costing an arm and a leg of course)
You should do a segment concerning your time spent between legs of your journey and how you plan your routes. Would also be interested in your favorite, or not so favorite hotels, hostels, and dining facilities that you use in your travels. Love your videos, keep up the good work!
G'day Dylan, I'm a few days late with my comments on your latest offering as I've been busy with a Steam Train extravaganza down here over the last week (and only a month after the 3801 relaunch and Southern NSW Tour). I did the Settle and Carlisle in the opposite direction to you in September 2018 in a Class 158 that was partially refurbished, with comfortable seats, a guide that joined the train at Settle and alighted at Appleby, and had a trolley service. The down side to the trip was delays enroute due to storm damage, but, thankfully, that did not impact too much on the enjoyment of my day. Indeed, I was blessed to be able to complete the round trip (York-Leeds-Carlisle-Newcastle-York) without being stranded away from my digs in York.
I see you were on an afternoon southbound service, avoiding a direct facing the sun experience. You were indeed blessed to have such a nice day to travel at the end of March. You also had the benefit of being able to choose where to sit, seeing the train was almost empty. Obviously, tourism is at a lull due to COVID.
I admit to shedding a tear or two at the story of Ruswarp. I was exposed to the story of Greyfriars Bobby during my tender years last century and visited Greyfriars while I was in Edinburgh. We downunder have a similar hearbreak story with Red Dog, a kelpie that stayed by his master's grave in the Pilbara region of Western Australia until death in the 1970's.
Here's a quick rundown of my own day on the Settle and Carlisle. After travelling down from York, the 10 49 Leeds to Carlisle was delayed departing Leeds until 11 30 due to a tree down on the overhead at Kirstall Gorge, then we had to wait line clear at Settle Junction on a quarry train shunting clear of the main line at Horton-in-Ribblesdale (GBRF loco 66714) and, if that wasn't enough, we saw a lot more of Lazonby and Kirkoswald than we cared to due to another tree across the line up near Barron Wood Tunnels. Despite the frequent showers after the worst of the storm passing, we had many bursts of sunny weather just when it was needed at the most scenic spots and I was able to get some good photos of the spectacular rolling hills, valleys, rivers and waterfalls; and the quaint farm buildings, rockwalls and Midland Railway buildings. Arrival at Carlisle was 2hrs 52mins late at 16 25, just enough time for me to connect with the 16 47 service across to Newcastle. Fortunately for me, there was sufficient light for me to grab a photo of the section of Hadrians Wall where it crosses the railway at Gilsland. At Newcastle, I was fortunate that one of two HST units was available to get me back to York as electric services were suspended due to overhead power outages.
Thanks again for another excellent travelogue and I look forward to this week's offering. Stay safe.
I did this route twice, it's always gorgeous, be it Spring or Summer, but even in gloomy Autumn or Winter, you really get an appreciation for the hardship the navvies had to undergo while building this line. My trips were both northbound. Normally there is a trolley service with refreshments, provided by the Settle & Carlisle Railway Trust, so you can get local snacks, it's glorious. They also have a souvenir shop in Appleby station.
Next time, if you have the time, spend some time in Appleby. It's a charming little town, just the right size to keep you entertained in between trains. Kirkby Stephen seems to be nice, too, but be careful, the station is 1.7 miles away from the station, and almost 100 m height difference... Skipton is another nice place. I would not advise Shipley, it's a dump. I had to change trains, there, coming from Bradford, but there's really no reason to linger.
Some of the stations can be rented as holiday cottages for ramblers (e.g. Dent station) from the Trust, seems like a fun thing to do, too.
Other nice lines in the area: Middlesborough-Whitby, the Cumbrian Coast line, Newcastle to Carlisle via Hexham... York to Scarborough isn't very impressive in itself, but the town of Scarborough is worth a visit, and the TransPennine Express trains plying this route are very good.
If you're interested in heritage railways, you have the museum line in Keighley, known as the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, with occasional steam excursions on the Settle & Carlisle, you have the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and many, many more.
Have had the pleasure to travel on the Settle and Carlisle many times. No matter how many times you do it, it never gets boring. Worth seeing in the snow as well.
So happy to see a somewhat local station Leeds here!
I’d pack myself a tasty lunch, 🥙🥪🍎🍇🍪🥤, hop onboard, and try to forget the rock hard seats as I watched that beautiful scenery pass by. Thanks for taking us along and thanks to Mother Nature for being so nice that day. 👍🏻
We did that trip in reverse (Leeds to Carlisle) in July 2018, having started our journey at London King's Cross station. Thanks for reminding us of our journey! You did have a great day to enjoy it.
Nice views. For me the most scenic is the Tamar Valley Line near Plymouth which I did today for the first time dispite the heavy rain. The views are stunning.
The most iconic railway in Northern England. Beautiful scenery as well.
Lovely to see all that glorious countryside.
I agree. The scenery is superb. The train however is quite noisy so it may hampered the enjoyment quite a bit.
A lovely train trip for a 75 year old kid, half way around the world in Queensland (Australia), who just loves
train travel. And how about the statue of the famous loyal collie, Ruswarp! The landscape was beautiful,
and the train wasn't super-fast. Who wants to flash through life like it's all going to end within the hour?
Ride a train is the only way, and pause to smell the roses I say.
Wow! A pastoral introduction to Carlisle, stunning scenery - the fells, the drystone walls, and a glimpse of the magnificent building in Saltaire.
Absolutely LOVE that area and that railway line. Shame you didn't get a shot of Wild Boar Fell.
Sorry you ended up with a sore bottom! LOL
It's beautiful isn't it 😁
Saw this on Great British Railway Journeys. Series 1 Episode 7. Absolutely breath taking! The viaducts are an absolutely incredible feat of engineering! Particularly the one at Ribblehead!
Lovely video, great views. Thanks for taking this trip
Thank you for your efforts in bringing this video so others can enjoy it. Well done.
Many years ago, I went on a special trip from the South to Carlisle via the Settle & Carlisle. It was an early start, and the carriages were very warm and stuffy - so I fell asleep and missed the most scenic bits!!! Doh! Still it was fun non-stop trip back from Carlisle to Euston!
A beautiful ride through the English countryside. Well done.
Great work enjoyed it immensely, thanks for allowing enough time to read your informative messages!
Thanks for your kind words 😁
It doesn't get more scenic than this! Wow!
Many years ago, I did that journey on a stream train. Was a great experience.
me too....does it still operate....great scenery and also great to drive.....the beer and pies are also top notch..
I enjoyed that trip Dylan very good thanks
Shipley station is in the shape of a triangle, certainly a station that I won't forget.
That's a lovely journey!
Travelled this line a lot in the past and every time it was fabulous a great vid👍👍🇦🇺
What a great trip report! I do love the distinct rumble of the Class 158. Takes me back to traveling on the Regional Railways 158s back in the late 90s / early 2000s :)
I like your videos and I hope I can visit England soon.
Great to see you in what was my home city. It's a long walk from the park to the station unless you know the shortcut via the castle. Great video as always, take care and stay safe Dylan.
If I moved to England, I would want it to be to the north of England. So lovely!
Bring a coat.
@@stevecooksley It isn't a problem. It only rains on days ending in AY.
A beautiful video! The scenery was spectacular and it’s amazing how untouched it was by “civilization”- no highways, cars, cellphone towers - until you got to Gargrave.
And I’m impressed by how carefully and lovingly the stations are maintained.
There's a Trust who manages the historic structures along the line, if you're interested, they rent out some of the station buildings as holiday cottages to ramblers. It's one of the things I would like to do one day. Their main locale is in Appleby station, where they have a shop. You can buy shortbread, pens, books and other memorabilia. And it's a quaint little town as well, so definitely worth a short pause (for lunch or tea).
You mentioned there not being catering on this journey. There normally is in the form of a well stocked trolley between Settle and Carlisle. However it was withdrawn due to Covid restrictions. If you want a more comfortable seat catch the service which uses the 3 car sets as these have the old seats, with new foam and covers. They are much more comfortable. I’m glad you noticed Ruswarp up at Garsdale but did you also notice the turn table well? This was the location of fabled incident where the wind caught a loco while it was being turned and it ended up spinning out of control for some time. After that a fence was erected to shield it from the wind. The turntable itself can be seen further down the line as it’s now been installed at Keighley on the Worth Valley Railway
I love this route. I rode it in 2019 on an open ticket from Leeds to Carlisle. I did this travelling from Greenfield to Glasgow. WCML was closed that weekend for engineering so this and the run north from Carlisle to Glasgow via Dumfries was a great alternative route. The open ticket let me get off and explore Settle and Ribblehead viaduct on the way. Highly recommend it. Great video thank you.
5:37 Really interesting that the train was hooked upto overhead powerlines (outdoor view) yet it sounds like it's pulling out under diesel power !
This train isn't capable of running on overhead power lines.
I had the pleasure of travelling this line last week. Its even more beautiful than I thought and luckily the weather was gorgeous. I went all the way to Leeds
As a drone pilot who lives in Ilkley (change at Shipley or Leeds to get there) I am always on that line filming British India Line and Flying Scotsman on their stunning tours. That’s definitely the way to do it. Ribblehead Viaduct looked stunning with British India chugging up it…
Hi Dylan, we did this trip.Skipton-Carlisle-Skipton in May this year, had a day in Carlisle spotting. The journey is stunning!!! views are something else!!
These little stations are very picturesque ! Thank you for sharing ! 👍😉
Just beautiful scenery Dylan, so envious of your journeys and your railway system
It is funny in northern Trains because they always use the same voice “we will shortly be arriving at” and “if you are leaving the train here, mind the gap between the train and platform edge! “ Also great trip report :)
I once stood underneath Ribblehead Viaduct photographing it in the winter a few years ago. Very eerie with the wind whistling through the arches and the graves of the Irish navvies who died building it in the graveyard across the road...
Thanks, Dylan! It starts with magnificent landscapes, then we continue through a magnificent train station. I really liked this station. The landscapes that you showed us are magnificent. I really like the landscapes of Great Britain. Thanks to you !!!
The scenery is amazing 🤩 one ☝️ of my favourite journeys
Good video its always a great way to see new trains
You even got a Cummins 158 rather than a Perkins one! Beautiful sound. Rode on these for 3 years commuting to and from uni. Awesome trains
I travelled that route way back in 1979 on an old train of post-war compartment carriages hauled by a diesel locomotive. The scenery was awesome, what I could see of it through the incredibly grimy windows. The seats in those old coaches were the opposite of your experience -- thick, padded cushions, and you just sank into them.
What beautiful scenery! Glad you were able to enjoy it on a sunny day!
What a beautiful landscape during the route. Thanks for sharing ☺️
Great video Dylan! I’ve not been on a 158 Sprinter before but I would like to one day 😀
Thanks!
We did this journey on 19th May, fantastic! You're right, the scenery is stunning. I agree about the seats, not the most comfortable, but they're OK. We had catering on the train, a small trolley serving hot & cold drinks and crisps (accepted cash & card payments). As for price, we paid £48.40 for a Cumbria Day Ranger, that allowed us to do this, and the Cumbria Coast line (a journey you need to do if you haven't already!) We travelled on 3 TOC and 13 hours in a massive round trip!.
That train sounded like a broken vacuum cleaner and a 4 cylinder car with no muffler on the exhaust
Very scenic train trip indeed love the rolling hills grass scenery throughout the video and the refurbished train looks nice
this line is special to me as carlisle is my favourite station and leeds is my home
Great video as always. Cheers.
Did this journey many many years ago and you could not hear the commentary over the engine noise, but scenery georgous.
Brilliant video. Thank you.
Another great video Dylan and thanks for keeping on producing your content. Have done this journey a few times in the past one of those was on a Pacer. None the less the views are stunning. It's lovely being on a warm train when the weather has been wet and windy and looking out on it. I remember when the class 158's were introduced always thought they were a great addition and the seats in those days were well know for being comfortable.
I did the loop one Saturday back in the mid 1970s while a student at Lancaster University, Lancaster => Barrow => Carlisle => Settle => Lancaster. If you get decent weather, it's well worth doing.
Great video love this route
Lovely trip and nice to see 158789 still going strong I remember that unit when she came new to SWT in Cental Trains green.
Great video Dylan definitely want to do this trip now
Beautiful intro--many thanks for showing it.
I've been on the route a few times and in all types of weather but it's always amazing
The views look amazing! great video :)
I’ve always wanted to do this from Leeds to Carlisle. Gone as far as Appleby from Leeds. As you say, the scenery is absolutely stunning. The walks around the area are absolutely beautiful too.
Nice trip report, enjoyed the ride, thanks for the free ride.
Lovely scenery indeed!. It reminded me of my last train journey, which I travelled with LNER, from Edinburgh to York. I enjoy watching your videos, they are really informative and pleasant to watch. Greetings from Argentina.
Stunning scenic route. A bit like the German Eifel. The engine sounds like a Dutch "Blauwe Engel" (Blue Angel) DMU from the 1950s. And yet it's British all over.
I enjoy your videos very much. Keep them up.
Thanks!
Beautiful scenery! 🌞
Thank´s a lot for the trip on rail in the area, only yesterday I "left" that part of England, onboard a narrowboat on the Lancaster Canal.
Nice!
Pastoral England. So pleasant to see it all still exists! Wonderful photography as usual! It appears that you might've been solo besides the crew! I always wish I could be in one of those empty seats. With a ticket of course!! Best to you and safe journeys.
It's quite a feat that the line is still open considering the times it was almost closed by BR and that the Midland Railway tried to pull out of building it in the first place after the railway bubble burst. Not only stunning views but some stunning railway architecture too..
I keep meaning to do this journey. I've done Trans-Siberian in Russia and East to West Coast USA by Amtrak, but never Settle to Carlisle despite living a relatively short distance from Leeds.
We do this trip every time we are in the uk we love it and didn’t notice the hard seats but will take notice next time this year.👍👍🇦🇺
Great video, really well documented! Pre-Covid, there used to be a catering trolley between Settle and Appleby on certain Northern services, courtesy of the Friends of the S&C Line. It was really appreciated with lots of locally sourced snacks, so hopefully it makes a return :)
I work in Skipton and have travelled a number of time on those trains that go to Leeds. I find it very helpful since those trains skip those smaller stations (Cononley, Steeton & Silsden, Crossflats & Saltaire). They get me to my destination around 10 minutes quicker than the train service i usually get. On a couple or so occasions i have been on those Carlisle Leeds services that have 4 carriages otherwise it will consist of 2 or 3 of them. Not to forget that a few of journey's on them were with those USB sockets. This is the exact train service that i sometimes get that gets in for around 10 to 5 which waits for a few minutes until its departure at 16:59.
Did this journey this week, a three car 158 wasn't too busy so comfortable. The conductor also helpfully gave some commentary about Dent being the highest station and the Ribblehead viaduct. Sadly it was cloudy, misty and at times wet but that is the chance you take.
Great trip report. This is on my list of trips to do in the next few months
It is well worth it!
I have been on this up to ribblehead from leeds on a super sprinter
Congratulations on your work, young man! Very sad to see planes and trains empty because of this pandemic.
Great video Dylan. Hope to try the Settle and Carlisle line in July :-)
Carlisle station was the setting for the Homebase advert a few years ago where they decorated the platforms with furniture etc. I believe the grass area is from that advert.
I used to use Carlisle station a lot I remember the grassed area being used for a Virgin Trains promotion possibly to do with the 2012 Olympics
@@pedanticradiator1491 I think I remember that promotion, after the advert was filmed they closed it all off until they cleared it. Advert is here: czcams.com/video/choh5268NN8/video.html
I think I was actually at the station an hour or so after the homebase ad had been filmed
Also Leeds is my favorite station, I really like this video.
Clapham junction or Crewe the best stations
When I last did the journey it was in a train of MK1 coaches hauled by a Class 47 ! Still nice to see the stations seem in better condition than they did back then.
Sounds like fun 😁
Brilliant video Dylan....
Thanks 😁
Another brilliant video Dylan
Thanks!
Nice to see some of the old LMS fencing (with the diagonal palings) still in use.
Great video great scenary