As part of the celebrations for the 200th Anniversary of opening of the first railway to take paying passengers, members of RPHG and Upper Eden History Society were asked to research and write previously unrecorded stories of women who worked on local railways for the Stainmore Railway’s West Side Story lottery-funded project.
RPHG had responsibility for “our” line which ran from Kirkby Stephen to Tebay Junction for 100 years. Jackie and Judith spent many hours collecting information and family photographs from relatives and friends of local women who worked for this railway in both paid and unpaid roles. These ranged from Station Halt Attendant at Smardale (i.e. stationmistress), to telegraph clerks, refreshment room staff and level crossing keepers. Free copies of the book funded by the Lottery have been distributed to the volunteers who helped discover these stories, and to the copyright libraries.
Further copies of Railway Women Across the Northern Pennines at £10 each (plus postage if necessary) will be available from October from RPHG at talks and from the Archives Room at Ravenstonedale High Chapel on Thursday afternoons when we are open to visitors. Please fill in a Comment form on the website if you would like to purchase a copy by post and we will get back to you by email to arrange it. RPHG will receive the small profit from these sales.