It seems too good to
be true, a free train service to the Lake District.
Northern’s driver
shortage problems have resulted in them abandoning service on the
Windermere branch and offering passengers the 'pleasure’ of a
replacement coach service.
Local MP Tim Farron
has worked with a passenger group to arrange for West Coast Railways
to run services on the line between Oxenholme and Windermere.
 |
| 57 316 pulls into Kendal Station on our outbound trip |
The service which is
free, is being run with three ex BR coaches, top and tailed with
diesel locos. Class 33's, 37's and 57's have all been used on the services.
Six out and return
services are being run along the branch each day, the free service
allowing passengers to connect with trains on the West Coast line at
Oxenholme.
I sampled the
service on Monday 25th June joining the very busy train at
Kendal, one of the intermediate stops on the line. The train was
running a few minutes late at Kendal but arrived virtually on time at
Windermere.
On arrival it was obvious how popular the service was
with day trippers, walkers, families and cyclists leaving the train.
A good number of passengers went on to catch buses from the station
to a whole host of Lakeland destinations.
 |
| We travelled from Windermere Railway Station to Bowness Quay on one of the modern Stagecoach open top vehicles |
Stagecoach run an
excellent service within the Lake District many of them calling at
Windermere railway station en route. Their timetable booklet is
widely available and includes maps and details of all services in the
Lake District and beyond.
We took a ride on
one the modern open top Stagecoach vehicles to the lakeside town of
Bowness. Here, the focus of operations is the so called ‘Steamer
Quay’ where passengers board the various sized boats which cruise
along the eleven mile length of Lake Windermere.
We bought return
tickets to Ambleside. Sadly no steam powered vessels sail from
Bowness these days but our return trip from Ambleside was on ‘Tern’
one of the original steam powered boats which was converted to diesel
many years ago.
 |
| M.V Tern was built by Forrest & Son, Wyvenhoe, Essex in 1891, as a steam powered yacht. This was converted to diesel power In 1956. The Tern is 145ft in length and weighs 121 tonnes. On board it is manned by a crew of 4 and can reach a speed of 10 knots with its 2 x 6 cylinder Cummins diesel engines, 2 x auxiliary generators and bow thruster. |
There is a steamboat
museum half a mile away from the Steamer Quay which is currently
closed for re-building but is now moving towards completion. When
re-opened we shall once again enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of
the steam boats which form part of the collection and which will
again give rides along the lake from the museum.
Our return journey
from Bowness to Windermere Railway Station was again on the
Stagecoach open top service. The return train journey to Kendal was
on the free, well used service, running on time and proving how
popular this line could be if promoted as a tourist attraction. It is
very much a vital link to and from the main line rail system.
 |
| Our return train journey was hauled by 57 314 which spent the day on the eastern end of the train |
Northern claim that
they want to start running trains again as soon as possible but in
the meantime thank you to whoever put this train deal together. I’m
sure it has brought valuable extra business to the area and given
much enjoyment to those able to make use of it.
The train was vastly quicker than the replacement coach service and certainly much more enjoyable. What we are not sure of at this stage is who pays for the bill for the service, no doubt the money eventually come from the taxpayers.
David Gambles
