[O]n Saturday 22nd July a new steam locomotive undergoing restoration for the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (La’al Ratty) will be towed from Carlisle to Ravenglass behind steam traction engine ‘Providence’, which also delivered locomotive ‘River Mite’ to the Ratty, all the way from York, in 1966!
The entourage sets sail from Carlisle at circa 4.30pm and will travel to Thursby on the A595, then picking up the A596 and passing through Micklethwaite, past Wigton, through Waverton, Aspatria, Prospect, Crosby, Maryport, Flimby and Siddick before stopping overnight in Workington.
On Sunday 23rd July ‘Providence’ will continue on its way at around 10am, delivering the Ratty’s Train From Spain to Ravenglass after passing through Distington, the top of Whitehaven, Bigrigg, Egremont bypass, Calderbridge, Gosforth crossroads and Holmrook.
Each of the two legs is expected to take around four hours.
A spokesman for the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Preservation Society said: “Volunteers from the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Preservation Society, bought the steam locomotive to restore it and run it on the Ratty for years to come.
“We want to encourage people to come out to see this very unusual and exciting steam spectacle.”
For more information see Train From Spain Appeal on Facebook.
