Lives along the Line

The story of the Settle-Carlisle Railway is a microcosm of the history of the rail industry in Britain.

It began in the Victorian era, when industrialisation and private enterprise were rampant and there was seemingly no limit to the ambition of engineering projects. The line was built through challenging terrain, in inhospitable weather by thousands of workers – the navvies – many of whom did not survive the challenging conditions.

It opened to passengers in 1876, during the golden age of steam, an age which slowly tarnished during the first half of the twentieth century under the stress of two world wars and the need for significant investment. A need which was never fulfilled; the railways, nationalised post-World War 2, were increasingly neglected as road travel became increasingly popular and the road lobby more influential.

Much of the British Rail network was closed down in the sixties and seventies – the Beeching era. The David and Goliath fight to keep the Settle-Carlisle Railway open represents a rare success.

The play was written and directed Joan Barnard who has done a wonderful job in explaining the full story of this wonderful railway line. The Vagabonds are very grateful to the to the Settle-Carlisle Railway Company for commissioning this play.

The play was excellently done by the cast who were playing different people throughout the story, I really enjoyed the live music which made the play even more powerful.

I thoroughly enjoyed the play and the story it told, a very big well done to all the cast and crew but mostly to Joan Barnard for bringing this story to life.

Well done to all.

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