Beckfoot railway station

Beckfoot railway station is a railway station on the 15" gauge Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway in the English county of Cumbria. It is situated in the civil parish of Eskdale and the Lake District National Park, and is within a 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) walk of the eastern terminus of the line, at Dalegarth station.

Beckfoot Halt
Station on heritage railway
Beckfoot railway station sign
General information
Location	Eskdale, Cumbria England
Coordinates	54.393°N 3.283°W / 54.393; -3.283
Grid reference	NY 168 004
Owned by	R&ER
Operated by	R&ER
Managed by	R&ER
Platforms	1
Key dates
1876	Opened (3 ft gauge)
1913	Station closed
1916	Reopened (15 in gauge

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
Cumbrian Coast line to Barrow-in-Furness Headshunt 0 mi 0 ch 0 km Turntable Workshop Ravenglass 0 mi 3 ch 0.06 km Ravenglass Cumbrian Coast line to Carlisle Ravenglass Main Street Engine & carriage sheds (1 in 48) Black Bridge 1 mi 0 ch 1.61 km A595 Muncaster Mill 1 mi 6 ch 1.73 km Mill Race Mill Wood Bank (1 in 43) Miteside Halt 1 mi 49 ch 2.6 km Miteside Loop 1 mi 67 ch 2.96 km 2 mi 0 ch 3.22 km Katie Caddy Bridge Wet Cutting Murthwaite Siding 2 mi 43 ch 4.08 km Murthwaite Oak Tree (1 in 43) Murthwaite Quarry Murthwaite Halt 2 mi 55 ch 4.33 km 3 mi 0 ch 4.83 km (1 in 40) Walk Mill Summit (1 in 51) Black Bridge (derelict) 4 mi 0 ch 6.44 km Irton Road 4 mi 8 ch 6.6 km Mere Beck The Green 4 mi 59 ch 7.62 km Eskdale Valley Road Hollin How Bank (1 in 43) 5 mi 0 ch 8.05 km Hollin How Bridge Hollin How Summit Fisherground Incline (1 in 55) Fisherground Loop 5 mi 28 ch 8.61 km Fisherground 5 mi 35 ch 8.75 km Ban Garth Incline Spout House Curve (1 in 52) Spout House Bridge Gilbert's Cutting 6 mi 0 ch 9.66 km Beckfoot Quarry (1 in 67) Beckfoot 6 mi 30 ch 10.26 km Beckfoot Bank (1 in 53) Ghyll Force Junction Boot Beckfoot Summit Dalegarth Cottages Whillan Beck Dalegarth 6 mi 68 ch 11.02 km Turntable Ghyll Force mines

The station opened to passengers in 1876. In the days of the 3 ft gauge railway, this was the last place where the railway met the main valley road, and as such had a greater number of facilities than other stations, including a goods yard and shed, and a chocolate vending machine in the waiting shelter.

Between 1918 and 1922, Beckfoot was the upper terminus of the railway prior to the extension of the line to the present terminus at Dalegarth. The original station building survived for some time into the 15 inch gauge era, but had been demolished by the time the preservationists took over in 1960.

The station is unstaffed at all times, and is only 20 metres (66 ft) long. It can be accessed either by steps or from, the road which crosses the line, east of the station. It differs from the other stations in that passengers will only be picked up here on down journeys (Dalegarth-Ravenglass) and will only be set down here on up journeys (Ravenglass-Dalegarth). This is because the station is close to Dalegarth, and to save stopping for passengers completing very short journeys. There is a level crossing at the eastern end of the platform, marking the beginning of the private road from Beckfoot to Dalegarth cottages which runs for half a mile eastwards. This road is known as Beckfoot Lonnin and walkers can continue behind the Cottages at the end of the Lonnin up to the original 3' gauge railway station at Boot village.

The station is 6.5 miles (10.5 km) from Ravenglass and 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) from Dalegarth.

Accessibility

Due to the length of the platform, the railway are unable to accommodate wheelchair passengers, for health & safety reasons.

Gallery

• 
  Beckfoot railway station, looking west to Ravenglass
• 
  Beckfoot railway station, looking east to Dalegarth

References

Preceding station	Heritage railways			Following station
Fisherground		Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway		Dalegarth for Boot