Threlkeld Quarry & Mining Museum

Posted by Chris Graham on 2nd August 2020

Threlkeld Quarry & Mining Museum: The 22-RB has been working hard recently on the new railway extension at Threlkeld. (Pic: Peter Love)

Work on the new railway extension at the Threlkeld Quarry & Mining Museum has re-started as a result of the easing of some of the Covid-19 restrictions. Making the most of the good weather, the main focus of recent work has been on the horseshoe curve. This has taken some 1,800 tons of material to construct, with the help of some of the vintage machinery that the museum is so well known for.

The delightful engine shed at Threlkeld looks so authentic, and echoes back to the 1930s. (Pic: Peter Love)

It’s been estimated that the total amount of material moved for the quarter-mile extension is in the region of 3,000 tons. Machinery used for this job included a 1953 Euclid R15 and a Muir 101 with a 1952 10-RB excavator, along with two face shovels – a 1960 19-RB and a 1955 22-RB.

Ian Hartland changes the points for Sir Tom. (Pic: Peter Love)

Sir Tom, the WG Bagnall No.2135, was steamed on June 3rd for footplate crew familiarisation, and to check that maintenance carried out over the winter period was satisfactory. This also provided the opportunity to assess how the railway could operate as and when restrictions are eased further. Since then, two further steamings have taken place, in order to collect data using alternative fuels

The dry spell at the end of May provided a window to start repainting the coaching stock, with four being completed over three weeks. The remaining two carriages are expected to be painted during the summer, too.

The Threlkeld railway is excellent and well worth seeing, along with the many other good things on site. (Pic: Peter Love)

Unfortunately, the annual steam gala event – which traditionally takes place over the last weekend in July, has been cancelled, but is planned for a return next year.

Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum is situated in a microgranite quarry, and the museum takes full advantage of its position within the Northern Lake District. It is close to many of the classic, well-documented sites used by geologists for their excursions. The quarry itself is a RIGS site and displays contacts between the “Skiddaw Slate” and the granite intrusion, as well as other fascinating features.You can find out more about it and its many attractions, by visiting the website at: threlkeldquarryandminingmuseum.co.uk