Work is underway at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway to prepare for its 150th anniversary next year.
La’al Ratty staff have been busy with track maintenance work using one of the attraction’s oldest vintage engines, Katie, to help transport materials along the route.
The track gang includes permanent staff and volunteers, ranging from new team members who joined this summer to Neal Glover who has been on the gang for more than 50 years.
Katie was built in 1896 and owned by the Ravenglass & Eskdale Preservation Society Trust. She is usually kept as a static display in the Ravenglass Railway Museum and is only brought out and steamed on special events.
The preparations come ahead of a celebratory programme of 150th anniversary events for the railway, which will get underway with a Whistle Off on January 1.
Other key celebrations to mark Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway’s major milestone will include a special steam gala with visiting engines and the unveiling of a newly refurbished electric locomotive.
A full list of events will be unveiled in the new year.
The celebrations also coincide with Railway 200 – a year-long nationwide campaign to celebrate 200 years of railways.
Operations manager, Keith Herbert said: “150 years ago the original Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway – known as the Owd Ratty– was under construction, before it opened in 1875. While we’re not building a railway this time around, we are renewing part of the track to keep the La’al Ratty alive.
“Echoing the work of a century-and-a-half prior, Katie has been moving materials for this winter’s track renewals in Mill Wood, scheduled to take place in January.
“The unloading of the materials has been assisted greatly by some of our wonderful volunteers, who will help us reach our 150-year milestone.”
The La’al Ratty was forced to cancel its Santa Express trains on Saturday due to Storm Darragh and the company said it was meeting to see what was possible for the customers affected.
