Post Description

Carlisle to Preston - via Workington, Whitehaven and Barrow.

The railway that runs along the Cumbrian coast is often described as one of Britain's forgotten scenic lines. Similar in many ways to the section of Great Western Mainline that skirts the sea wall at Dawlish and Teignmouth, this northern equivalent is rarely mentioned in the media and has never really been recognised as the wonderful scenic railway that it is.

With just a basic DMU service operating along the top section - and this is often just single coach Class 153s - traditional signalling, manually operated level crossing gates, tiny stations and numerous signal boxes dotted all along this 114 mile railway blend in with magnificent coastal views across the Irish Sea as the railway and seashore go side by side. There is no doubt the Cumbrian Coast is a hidden gem in a modern world.

Produced with the full co-operation of Direct Rail Services we board 47501 at Carlisle Kingmoor depot and travel over the entire line from Carlisle through to Carnforth, then joining the West Coast Main Line through to Preston.

The train itself was the return leg of a Rail-Blue Charters excursion from Leicester to Carlisle and complete with 12 blue and grey liveried coaches and 47712 on the rear, this was certainly a wonderful occasion, bathed in fine sunshine.