Location : Kirkby Stephen
Map - Ordnance Survey - NY 769075.
The Stainmore Railway Company is a volunteer run non-profit company who’s aims include restoring the former Kirkby Stephen East Railway Station and to develop the site as a Heritage Centre and working railway representing the early 1950’s.
Kirkby Stephen East Railway Station formed a key junction with the routes westwards to Appleby/Penrith and to Tebay and eastwards via Stainmore Summit and Barnard Castle to Darlington.
The South Durham & Lancashire Union Railway opened a single line between Barnard Castle and Tebay in 1861. It was taken over by the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1863 and later the same year was absorbed by the NER. The line closed to all traffic in 1962.
In 1996, the building and site were purchased by Stainmore Properties Ltd (SPL) for use as the eastern terminus of a proposed preserved railway from Appleby East. The Heritage Centre opened to the general public at Easter 2009 and August 2011 saw passenger trains return to the East station after an absence of almost 50 years.
The station originally consisted of an island platform having Waiting Rooms, Booking Hall and Office etc, with separate Darlington and Penrith / Tebay platforms both with separate overall roofs (166 ft long). The site also boasted an engine shed with turntable and extensive sidings. At one time, a carriage shed also existed alongside the station.
This was subsequently removed in the 1930’s and, in the 1950’s, the roof over the Penrith / Tebay platform was also dismantled.
The restored station building
Fletcher 901 class 2-4-0 no 910, on loan from the National Railway Museum at York.
Fletcher 901 class 2-4-0 no 910, on loan from the National Railway Museum at York.
Peckett 0-4-0 'F C Tingey' no 2084 - built at the Atlas Works in Bristol in 1948.
Take a short ride in a steam hauled train
Visiting steam trains for the open days - 27-29th August 2011
General view of the station from the viewing point/picnic area
The Eden Valley Railway trust is making efforts to re-open the section of line between Appleby and Warcop.
Read more about the Stainmore Railway and the Eden valley Railway.
LNER 4348 at Kirkby Stephen East station in 1935.
Picture by H Casserley. Used with permission of the Stainmore Railway Company
Old map of Westmorland, showing the two railway routes from Appleby to Kirkby Stephen,
with the East Station route continuing to Stainmore, and having a branch joining from Tebay.
Photos by Julian Thurgood.
Related Links :
- Facebook - Photos of the Stainmore 150 special event - 27-29th August 2011
- Stainmore Railway Company at Kirkby Stephen East
- Disused Stations - Kirkby Stephen East
- The Northern Viaduct Trust
- The Eden Valley Railway trust
- Belah Viaduct
- Belah Viaduct
- The Eden Valley and Stainmore Railway - History
- The Stainmore Railway - The South Durham & Lancashire Union Railway
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