HERE are the latest announcements from our community news correspondent Adrian G Faulkner for Bowness and Windermere.

On 3rd June 1846, the first steam train ran on the Furness Railway carrying iron ore from the mines at Kirkby in Furness to the boats at Barrow, replacing many years of carriage by horse and cart.

Not long after, in August the same year passenger services started.

Over at the Lakes Line, Oxenholme station was inaugurated on the 21st of September 1846 when the first service to Kendal ran.

The following April the service opened from Kendal to Windermere.

The Community Rail Partnerships of Furness and Lakes Lines are working with station adoption groups and rail industry stakeholders on the celebrations for the 175th anniversaries.

The two committees - Furness Railway (FR175) and Lakes Line (LL175) – are leading on a programme of exciting events.

The committees are hoping to launch in mid-July 2021 in conjunction with the Barrow Festival of Transport.

On the Furness Line, FR175 a series of road shows are taking place in July and August at which you can; hear about the history and development of the railway; hear how a locomotive fell down a hole and is still there; talk with the station adoption groups about their work at their station; see a range of gifts, books and postcards.

Over at the Lakes Line, LL175 will celebrate their 175th anniversary at Oxenholme station with speeches, music, entertainment and the opening of an Anniversary Railway Memorabilia Exhibition at Kendal Museum which will run from September 2021 until April/May 2022.

During this time there are smaller events planned at Burneside, Staveley and Windermere, interspersed with talks and guided walks.

The anniversary celebrations finish in late April 2022 with a large celebratory event in Windermere, courtesy of Booths using their porte-cochère.

The public are welcome to connect via their Facebook page which they are developing with photos, stories and more information on our events as dates are firmed up.

https://www.facebook.com/Lakes-Line-Furness-Rail-175th-Anniversary-Cumbria-1 04391281738419

FR175 and LL175 are heartened by the support they have already received from train operators, stakeholders, local businesses, and organisations.

The committees are hoping that the Anniversary will give businesses the opportunity to sponsor and support events and gain additional visibility for themselves during the anniversary celebrations.

Merchandise and promotional items are being looked at.

If you would like to know more, please contact:

David Stubbins stubbins.dr@btinternet.com 015395 58453 – Furness – chair FR175 committee

Ian Conway on ianconway90@yahoo.com 01539 733844 – Lakes – chair LL175 Committee.

Adrian Faulkner on a.g.faulkner@gmail.com – Lakes - LL175 committee merchandise.

Kerstin Esbjornsson kerstin.esbjornsson@cumbria.gov.uk – Furness & Lakes CRP Officer

The committees have had to consider both existing Covid restrictions and appreciating future limitations.

Celebrations will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Most, if not all, events are planned to be outside except in the case of Museum exhibitions.

There are back-up plans for talks to be virtual when needed.