Kirkby Stephen East, Stainmore and Belah Viaduct site

This trip started with a visit to Kirkby Stephen East station, the base of The Stainmore Railway Company, where we were shown around the site and heard of the plans which are in place to develop the site and restore various buildings, locomotives and items of rolling stock.

From there, the trip was led by Mark Keefe to Stainmore Summit and back to the site of Belah Viaduct, passing Bleathgill Cutting and the remains of Mousegill viaduct en-route. The abutments, footings of the last set of piers to be demolished and various other relics of Belah Viaduct were still clearly visible, as was the tranquil setting for such a masterpiece of civil engineering.

The challenges in constructing and operating this line were readily appreciated, having viewed these locations.

Belah Viaduct remains, looking from the Barras end abutments to the Kirkby Stephen end abutments.