Engine Lonning’s hidden history

It was a full house for our first talk of the day with a whistle stop tour of this important site’s history from the Romans to the Railways and a discussion of the plans in progress to improve access onto and around the site, to increase seating and resting places and to provide on-site interpretation to reveal the site’s colourful past. We also welcomed ITV Border who featured the event in its evening news programming. 

Black and white images kindly provided by the Cumbrian Railways Association from its Stan Buck and Herbert White collections.

Engine Lonning is just a stone’s throw from Carlisle City Centre but a stroll through its green spaces will be disturbed by little more than the sound of its abundant wildlife and the River Eden meandering by. But look more closely and you’ll discover signs of an industrial past. Amongst the greenery, you may stumble across a raised area of earth encircled by brick foundations; remnants of a turntable built to manoeuvre the giant steam engines of the London & North Eastern Railway. Because, despite appearances, and for over a century, Engine Lonning served as a busy rail yard with sidings, engine sheds, a coaling tower, and a watering station until the rails were finally removed in the 1960’s.

We’d love to hear your stories and see more of your pictures of the engine yard. Contact [email protected] or call on 01768 866788. The Engine Lonning project is supported by the Access to Eden: breaking barriers, building bridges partnership project led by Eden Rivers Trust with a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks also to Cumberland Council and the Ernest Cook Trust for their support.