Quote Originally Posted by anthonykay View Post
I knew someone who used to celebrate 11th April as Settle and Carlisle Day: it was the day in 1989 when, after a long campaign, the decision was eventually made that the Settle and Carlisle railway line would not be closed. I first met this friend at Derby station; I wouldn't usually start a conversation with a stranger on a railway platform, but he was wearing a "Settle and Carlisle Railway" sweatshirt and I was on my way to Horton-in-Ribblesdale for the Pen-y-Ghent fell race. He was also a runner, but cross-country and road rather than fell.
It is still not an economic line with few trains and few passengers (and some quarry aggregate traffic) although busier in summer with walkers and with people travelling on the line just because it is so famous.

And trains pulled by steam engines. In summer, if you wish, you can sometimes observe two different steam hauled excursions on the same day and Hellifield station has a cafe that survives just by serving the sometimes hundreds of people who turn out to watch steam trains pass through.

All very bizarre but very British with the combination of a steam engine and the Ribblehead viaduct appearing to be irresistible.