Lancaster to Oxenholme

Our journey heads north on the former Lancaster and Carlisle Railway (L&CR). The scheme was authorised in 1844 and, at its peak, 10,000 workers were involved in its construction. Completion was achieved in only two and a half years, an incredible achievement. In 1846 the 20-mile section from Lancaster to Oxenholme was opened and the branch to Windermere completed less than a year later.
A line from Hest Bank with access to Morecambe Harbour opened in 1864 for the export of minerals; a business that did not materialise. Not to be put off, the LNWR opened the south curve from Bare Lane to the West Coast Main Line in 1888, thereby taking full advantage of the ever-increasing holiday and excursion traffic. Today, the resort is served by the former LNWR branch. Included within are many maps and photographs covering the area’s fascinating history over many decades.

Reviews:

'Lots of opportunities seem to have been taken to include images from the mid-1960s era that still haunts so many of us, who went north for a last look at grimy and nameless 'Britannias' and sometimes-polished 'Black Fives' on their final workings...
   'This volume is rather special.'
(Howard Johnston, Steam World, July 2023)

'If your interests cover this area it is, as usual, highly recommended.'
(SLS Journal - The Journal of The Stephenson Locomotive Society, July/August 2023, No.942, Vol.99)

'This volume covers a relatively short section of the WCML along with the ex-LNWR Morecambe and Windermere branches. It follows the familiar format with a brief geographical but more detailed historical background, timetable extracts, maps, tickets and photographs with well-written captions.'
(The Railway Observer, September 2023, Vol.93, No.1135)

'The book formula packs in information like station plans, old and new photographs, gradient diagrams and sometimes timetables reproduced.'
(National Railway Museum Review - The Journal of the Friends of the NRM), No.184, Summer 2023)