CARLISLE CITY

Carlisle, a historic garrisoned town on the Scottish boarder, developed a new frontier role between the railways of England and Scotland. By the dawn of the "Railway Age" it had already become an important textile manufacturing centre, linked to the outside by the Carlisle Canal, opened in 1823.With the trains of seven companies operating into Carlisle Citadel station from 1876 to 1922, Carlisle became perhaps the most interesting and varied of Britain's railway centres.
  

 

 

 

 

Despite its important location on two of the Anglo-Scottish trunk route systems, Carlisle's first railways were of regional origin. The *Newcastle & Carlisle Railway opened into the city in 1836, and the *Maryport & Carlisle in 1843. The former was the successor to a proposal for a cross-country canal that dated back to the 1790s. All goods brought into Carlisle were liable to a toll levied by the Corporation which was commuted to a fixed annual payment by the railways. (The Oxford Companion to BRITISH RAILWAY HISTORY)

 

In summary, the inadequate layout lead to the various systems becoming acutely overloaded. When the Midland Railway's "Settle to Carlisle" line opened in 1876, a major reorganisation of Carlisle's railways became necessary.  The Citadel station was greatly enlarged with a new island platform and seven acres of roof. Also goods avoiding lines were put into place along with new passenger approaches. This was largely paid for by the Midland, as the price for its entry to Carlisle, although the benefits were mainly to the west-coast partners, the London and North Western, and the Caledonian.

 

For the sake of the model railway, it is that after Grouping the territory was mainly LMS - London, Midland and Scottish. The magic that allows for the FANTASY  goes back to the beginning with the Newcastle and Carlise railway, which came under the London and North Eastern railway's umbrella after Grouping: - thus the East Coast had a crucial link bridging the country from east to west. Furthermore, the LNER had a back entrance to Edinburgh via the Waverly route, more of which anon.

 

 

 

  Carlisle Citadel Station as it is today.

 

 

 

Second draft. To be continued.