BACK in 1971 a group of enthusiasts had a station full of locomotives, wagons and coaches at Haverthwaite but no authority to give rides for paying customers.

The Mail, on Tuesday, April 13, in 1971 noted: "Members of the Lakeside Railway Society are planning to reopen the Lakeside railway between Haverthwaite and the terminus at Lakeside.

"They are working hard on their preparations while continuing to negotiate the purchase with British Rail and the granting of the necessary light railway order."

By June Haverthwaite had been cut off from the national railway network as the lines were lifted on the branch line from Plumpton Junction, near Ulverston, to beyond Greenodd.

Services returned to the line from Haverthaite to Lakeside in May 1973.

An opening ceremony was led by the Right Reverend Eric Treacy, bishop of Wakefield and railway photographer.

A company had been formed in 1970 to negotiate with British Rail for the purchase of the closed line.

It faced a struggle against the Lake District National Park — which wanted the line for footpaths and parking — and transport chiefs who wanted A590 road improvements on part of the railway route from Greenodd towards Newby Bridge.