The spectacular scenery of the Settle & Carlisle line around Garsdale gave COLIN FISHER all the inspiration he needed to develop this impressive ‘OO’ gauge loft layout which models the route in the days of corporate blue. Photography, Mike Wild.
Above: A Class 47 leads a mixed Speedlink working across High Gill viaduct.
WHEN I began looking for an idea for my model railway project I wanted to create a railway that would capture the spirit of the Settle & Carlisle railway – one of the world’s great railway journeys. Fortunately I visit the route several times a year to go hill walking and to photograph the trains which use the line. My photographic ventures have become very useful in researching the topography of the region. The layout is based on the Garsdale area and the period I concentrate on is the late 1970s/early 1980s, but I am also able to run into the 1990s and, with the use of my son’s rolling stock, the 2000s. To add an extra dimension to the running of my model I have kept the branch line to Hawes operational, although in reality this closed in 1959. As the railway and its environment are on a grand scale, to recreate this area faithfully in ‘OO’ gauge it would require something …
