Horton in Ribblesdale webcam launch
Unique new views of life on the Settle-Carlisle Railway available on webcam.
Horton in Ribblesdale station has witnessed some fabulous new developments in the life of the famous Settle-Carlisle Railway line and now you can see firsthand the activity, live from your living room, with the introduction of three new webcams at the station.
June saw the first stone train in almost 50 years leave the recently reconnected Horton Quarry. The new link will enable the quarry to increase production but will reduce the transport of stone by road through the Dales village and is a reminder of the efficiency of the railway for moving vast quantities of heavy freight. The newly installed webcam will capture the ‘ins and outs’ from the quarry as well as other freight movement on the line including timber and gypsum and of course the stunning steam trains as they thunder up and down the line coupled with the second camera which has a view North along the line.
A third camera focuses away from the line and out into the beautiful Dales area with scope to zoom in on one of the famous Three Peaks, Pen-y-Ghent – if you’ve got friends out walking you can have a peek to see if you can spot them, get them to give you a wave!!
The cameras are part of a major refurbishment project by The Settle Carlisle Railway Trust at Horton Station building, which now also houses a stunning holiday let and a fabulous café-bar (open Friday and Saturday) providing a warm welcome for weary walkers, visitors coming by train and locals alike. Both these ventures are operated by the organisations caring for the Settle Carlisle Line and all profits made are used to fund further improvements and developments along the railway.
Commercial Manager for the Settle Carlisle Trust, Anna Jackson, is particularly excited about the timing of the new Railcam launch. ‘2025 is an important year for the line as we celebrate 150 years since it first opened for freight traffic in August 1875. To launch these new webcams now, having just made such a valuable reconnection to Horton Quarry, combines 150 years of history on the railway with the wonderful new technology that allows us to have a unique view of life on the line and feels like a fitting tribute to the value of this special railway that so many people fought hard to save in the 80s’
‘Next year will see another milestone anniversary as we celebrate 150 years of passengers travelling on the line and activities such as the café and ‘Stay at a Station’ opportunities showcase how we are working hard to make the railway a great place for visitors and locals alike as we seek to make our stations hubs for the communities that they serve.’
The webcams, a joint venture between the Settle Carlisle Trust and Railcam UK Ltd will go live for public viewing on Wednesday 2nd July at 10am.
Working in partnership with organisations is critical for the continued success of the line and our link with Railcam is a prime example. We have worked together since 2015 with Railcam offering their skills and expertise to provide views up and down the Settle Carlisle line including Ribblehead viaduct, Garsdale and Helwith Bridge.
To view these and over 100 other mainline Railcam sites you can sign up for a free to view account at https://railcam.uk.
Notes to Editors:
The Leeds Settle Carlisle Association (known informally as the Settle Carlisle Partnership) is a newly formed group bringing together all the existing organisations that play a role in caring for and delivering services on the line.
The LSCA family comprises The Settle Carlisle Railway Trust (SCRT), Settle Carlisle Railway Properties (SCRP), The Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company (DevCo) and Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line (FoSCL). The family works closely with Network Rail (infrastructure) and The Northern Railway (train operator). The railway is known as the Settle-Carlisle line, but in fact it runs from Leeds to Carlisle and the group is aiming to increase awareness of this to introduce a much wider audience to the line.
For more information about Horton Station or other developments on the Settle Carlisle line or to arrange a visit please contact Anna Jackson on anna@settlecarlisletrust.org.uk
Railcam UK Ltd has worked closely with the Settle and Carlisle “family” since 2015, initially providing technical assistance and internet streaming services for the four cameras installed by FoSCL members on buildings managed by the Settle & Carlisle Railway Properties Limited at Kirkby Stephen, Ribblehead Station Master’s House, Ribblehead Station and Horton-in-Ribblesdale Station.
In 2018, FoSCL transferred ownership of the four cameras, together with the responsibility for regulatory compliance to Railcam UK Ltd. Once under Railcam control, the Horton and Ribblehead cameras were updated with better quality units.
The recent building works at Horton, the installation of fibre broadband and the launch of the café created an opportunity to review the coverage at the site. A new camera now overlooks the recently connected siding into the Heidelberg Materials quarry and the familiar vista of the railway to the north of the station is covered from a new vantage point in the station garden. The scenery to the east of the station is captured by a pan, tilt, zoom camera which is configured to scan above the rooftops of the surrounding properties to the spectacular panorama of Pen-y-Ghent and the surrounding fells.
In addition to more than 100 UK main line cameras and a similar number of Heritage Railway cameras, Railcam also operates cameras in other locations along the Leeds to Carlisle Railway at Apperley Bridge, Keighley, Helwith Bridge, Ribblehead and Garsdale to complement those at sites belonging to Settle Carlisle Partnership.
To view these and over 100 other mainline Railcam sites you can sign up for a free to view account at https://railcam.uk or for a more comprehensive insight into railway operations, enrol as a supporter to gain access to live signalling diagrams and Railcam’s unique rail data bundle.
Supporter membership packages start from as little as £5, so why not take a look?