Sunday 28 August

'Cutting the First Sod' Re-enactment

SOME OF THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE IS STLL TENTATIVE AS THE FINAL DETAILS OF SOME EVENTS ARE STILL BEING ARRANGED. PLEASE CHECK BACK HERE IN AUGUST TO RE-CONFIRM FINAL TIMINGS
The second day of the 'Stainmore 150' weekend will feature a re-enactment of the procession held on 25 August 1857 and the ceremony of 'Cutting the First Sod' to mark the beginning of the construction of the new railway, together with other related entertainment.
cleveland09:00 Kirkby Stephen East Heritage Centre is open to visitors.
10:00 Train services for passengers
11:00 Re-enactment of the ceremony of 'Cutting the First Sod' (further details to follow!) Train service will pause. Kirkby Stephen Silver Band will play for visitors.
12:15 Bus Excursion departs for Smardale to visit the Cumbria Wildlife Trust Smardale Gill National Nature Reserve (picnic lunch available for sale on site and parking available). Bus returns to Kirkby Stephen East at 14:30, arriving back at 15:00

12:30 Entertainment provided by former students of Kirkby Stephen Grammar School (further details to follow!). Train service will pause

13:00 Bus Excursion departs for Hartley for Northern Viaducts Trust conducted walk. Arrive back on foot at Kirkby Stephen East about 15:00. If you wish to make this walk independently later in the afternoon you can ask any bus returning to Kirkby Stephen Town Centre car park to continue to Hartley to drop you at the beginning of the walk.
14:00 Second bus excursion departs for Smardale for the Cumbria Wildlife Trust Guided Walk.
Train services throughout the afternoon.
17:00 Kirkby Stephen East Heritage Centre closes for the day
 
 
Attractions on site will include railway society, trade and craft stalls. There will be a vintage children's playground offering rides. Caterers will be serving a variety of food and drink and there is a Beer Festival planned at the 'Railwayman's Pub' - the Croglin Castle Hotel adjacent to the Heritage Centre entrance.

 

There will be very limited parking available on site reserved for disabled badge holders only, all other visitors should park in one of the following locations
  • The Auction Mart Car Park 1000 yards away in Faraday Road behind Kirkby Stephen main street.
  • Overflow car park at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School
  • Coaches should park in the Rugby Club Car Park in Westgarth Road
  • If Faraday Road is full stewards will direct to overflow car parking
All these car parking areas are illustrated on the map below. There will be a fleet of Will Hamer's Cumbria Classic Coaches and Buses providing a free bus service between these sites and the Kirkby Stephen East Station site. There will also be a free bus service connecting with trains arriving and departing on the Settle-Carlisle line for visitors who wish to travel to Kirkby Stephen by train.

 

map

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Connections with trains

Cumbria Classic Coaches will be running a shuttle service between the Kirkby Stephen East Heritage Centre and Kirkby Stephen West Station on the Settle-Carlisle line to meet the arriving trains and to take passengers for the departing trains shown in the table below. If you are planning to use the bus to catch a returning train please be at at the bus pick-up point opposite the Croglin Castle Hotel no later than 30 minutes before the train departure time. For full service details consult National Rail Enquiries. Kirkby Stephen West Station is about a 25 minute uphill walk from Kirkby Stephen East Heritage Centre, there is an off-road all weather footpath that is signposted near to the entrance to Jubilee Park.

 

On Sunday 28 August Cumbria Classic Coaches will provide free bus connections between Kirkby Stephen East Heritage Centre and Kirkby Stephen West station with the following trains
TRAINS TO KIRKBY STEPHEN TRAINS FROM KIRKBY STEPHEN
From arrives Kirkby Stephen West departs Kirkby Stephen West To
Carlisle (dep. 09:25) 10:21    
Leeds (dep. 09:00) 10:56    
Blackpool North (dep. 08:36) 11:20    
Preston (dep. 10:00) 12:02 12:02 Carlisle (arr. 13:05) 
Carlisle (dep. 13:51) 14:47 14:47 Leeds (arr. 16:34)
Leeds (dep. 13:15) 15:03 15:03 Carlisle (arr. 16:00)
    16:34 Preston (arr. 18:50)
    17:34 Leeds (arr. 19:21)
To catch departing trains please be sure to  be waiting for the bus on the main road opposite the Croglin Castle Hotel no later than 30 minutes before the train's departure time. For full details of all services to and from Kirkby Stephen West see the rail timetable.

 

 
 
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