5 disused and abandoned railways across Cumbria

Trains are getting faster ad new rail routes being built every year to keep the country better connected.

However, in order to progress some railway stations and routes have had to be abandoned.

You might be surprised at just how many abandoned railway stations and tracks there are in England.

Some Cumbrian stations were forced to shut for practical and economical reasons.

We've taken a look at some of the train stations in Cumbria from years gone by.

Barrow Strand Railway Station

Barrow Strand Railway Station. (Photo: Barrow Railway Station (site)cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Nigel Thompson - geograph.org.uk/p/3562688)

This place made history as the first permanent railway station to be built in Barrow.

It once operated on St George’s Square, close to the docks.

The terminus opened up in 1863, replacing a wooden structure that previously stood adjacent to Rabbit Hill before.

However, its life was relatively short lived closing almost 20 years later.

The Strand was forced to close after a new loop line and bigger station at Abbey Road was introduced, which covered a larger area than this one ever could.

However, the Grade II listed building wasn’t demolished. It was later used as the offices for the Furness Railway Company.

The Bolton Loop

Carlisle - Maryport Railway.

In 1862 the Maryport and Carlisle Railway Company secured an act to construct the "Bolton Loop" from Aspatria to Aikbank Junction.

When you look at the map it appears to be an alternative to the main line but it was in fact the Mealsgate Branch running from Aspatria to Mealsgate and a branch from Wigton meeting at Mealsgate and was always regarded as two lines and not one.

The Bolton Loop section of the Maryport and Carlisle Railway line started at Aikbank Junction (GR217465), immediately west of the River Waver, the line headed south turning SW at High Blaithwaite.

Barbon Railway Station

Barbon Railway Station. (Photo: cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Ben Brooksbank - geograph.org.uk/p/1753683)

This railway station was located in Westmorland and primarily served the town of Barbon.

It was situated on the Ingleton Branch Line and first opened in 1861.

The track had a relatively good lifespan, serving customers right up until 1954.

However, the line was still used on occasion for weekend excursions and to transport pupils to and from boarding schools.

After this, it continued to transport goods to passengers for another decade before the station officially closed.

After 1967, the tracks began to be lifted with plans to be converted into a housing scheme.

Port Carlisle Railway

Old Port Carlisle and Bowness on Solway

The 11-mile Carlisle - Port Carlisle Canal opened in 1823 but 31 years later it was converted into a railway to Port Carlisle thus becoming one of several railways in Britain built over a canal.

The Route Today - A short section of embankment can be walked from the point where it passed under the road at Drumburgh and about a mile near the end of the line can be followed along the shore. Part of the Roman wall and vallum alongside the line between Drumburgh and Glasson is an Ancient Monument.

Coniston Railway

Coniston Railway. Picture: (Photo: Coniston station back in 1951.cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Walter Dendy, deceased - geograph.org.uk/p/5203475)

The station was originally called 'Coniston Lake' but the name was changed in 1882 to Coniston station.

The station was opened for over 100 years before being completely closed by British Rail in 1962.

It its heyday, this was a pretty significant station.

he station was extended between 1888 and 1892 at a cost of over £4,000- which is the modern day equivalent of £440,000.