Smardale Railway Track

One of our researchers has been looking at some back numbers of the Kirkby Stephen Grammar School Magazine and in 'Phoenix 1974' came across some poems about the railway by students including this one about a visit to Smardalegill 

Interesting to realise that even thirty six years ago to local teenagers the Stainmore line was already something from history ...

We ran up the banking at top speed

On the top, lay gasping

Hearts beating fast

There’s the sound of a tractor

Spreading manure!

In the distance were the blue hills near Kirkby Stephen

On the track was a decayed rabbit

Bones whitened in the sun

Myxomatosis or dinner for a fox?

On rushed Form 2I

Past bridges, ditches

On to the cottages

They put on their brakes

Stopped!

In days gone by these were nice homes

And snug

Now – empty broken windows

Holes in the roof

Snails on the wall

Hay on the floor

No more fires to keep the house warm

Slowing

Moving on to the blackened Lime Kilns

Gathering Speed

Round the mossy viaduct

Through the ferns, past the silver birches

Down the long sloping valley

And on to the crossing

David Hunter 2^nd Year KSGS 1975