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| At Ais Gill summit, now unfortunately without its lonely signal box and refuge sidings, the line crosses into the valley of the River Eden. After Ais Gill summit, the surroundings gradually become more pastoral after the harsh moorland surroundings of the climb from Garsdale. | |
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Ais
Gill and Wild Boar Fell
A 2 car sprinter approaching Ais Gill summit. Taken from the bridge over the B62259 - looking North to Mallerstang Grid reference SD 971774 This bridge is an excellent vantage point for photographing Southbound trains - they can be seen approaching for a considerable distance. |
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| It passes under the B6259 and then over Ais Gill viaduct, keeping above the valley bottom and sheltering in the lee of Wild Boar fell for the next few miles. The viaduct at Ais Gill crosses the steep Ais Gill Beck. | |
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Ais
Gill Viaduct
Grid reference SD 773975 Height 75 feet Length 87 yards The 1420 p.m. working
from Garsdale crosses the viaduct on 23/07/05
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| Mallerstang is the valley which lies between Wild Boar Fell and Mallerstang Edge. The railway keeps to a position high up above the valley floor. Mallerstang signal box was closed in 1969 following a fire. the group of buildings on the left of the above photo is at Deep Gill. In the hamlet of Outhgill is the smallest church in Cumbria. Outhgill is also notable for being the birthplace of the pioneering scientist Robert Faraday. At the end of the Mallerstang valley, the line enters Birkett Tunnel. | |
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Birkett
Tunnel (South)
3/06/00 Grid reference NY 774033 The tunnel here is 424 yards long and is cut through the Pennine Fault, hence the steeply inclined beds of limestone and shale near the entrance. The gradient in the tunnel is 1 in 100.
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| Below
Birkett Common lies the remains of Pendragon Castle, conveniently located
quite close to the modern B6259 road. Although on private land, public
access to the site is permitted. The castle site dates from the 6th century
but the castle itself is a 12th century construction. Only the shell of
the castle now remains but the remains of the garderobe (toilet) turret
is a notable feature of interest. Pendragon Castle is reputed to have been
the home of Uther Pendragon, the father of the legendary King Arthur.
The factual basis for this claim is rather scanty but it was certainly owned in later times by the Clifford family (of Skipton Castle). After falling into ruin in 1660 it was restored by Lady Anne Clifford. |
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Pendragon
Castle
April 2000 Grid reference NY782026 The romantically situated but rather windswept ruins of one of the castles associated with Lady Anne Clifford (link to be added later).
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| About a mile further North, lies the less accessible Lammerside Castle. This is another 12th century building which was rebuilt and strengthened in the 14th century as a Pele tower, to provide protection against scots raiders. It became the home of the Wharton family who later moved to Wharton Hall, near Kirkby Stephen. | |
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Lammerside
Castle by the River Eden
3/06/00 Grid
reference NY 773048
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| In order to maintain a favourable gradient, the railway continues to keep to the high ground above the river. As a result, the station at Kirkby Stephen had to be located some distance from the town. The old Kirkby Stephen East station on the North Eastern railway route to Tebay which closed in 1959, was much more conveniently situated. Nevertheless, the railway link is an important one for the town and convenient bus connections have been arranged. | |
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