Askam railway station

Infobox UK station

---

caption = The north-bound platform
name=Askam
manager=Northern Rail
code =ASK
locale=Askam-in-Furness
borough=Barrow-in-Furness
lowusage0405 = 46,956
lowusage0506 = 49,306
lowusage0607 = 53,589
platforms=

Askam Railway Station is a train station serving the villages of Askam-in-Furness and Ireleth in Cumbria, England. It is a stop on the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line. Some through trains to the Furness Line stop here. It is operated by Northern Rail who provide all passenger train services. Originally, the station was built here to transport the iron ore being mined in Askam out of the village.

History

The line

The railway along the Cumbrian coast was completed over many years by numerous small firms, who often would refuse to work together. However, eventually 'Grouping' forced the companies to work together on the railway, instead of constantly competing.Further problems were encountered when the people building the railway ran out of money, and so the proposed Duddon Viaduct, from Askam to Millom, was abandoned. Instead, a different route, going by way of Foxfield, was planned. This saved £37,000. [cite book
last =
first =
authorlink =Richard Kirkman and Peter zan Veller
coauthors =
title =Rails Around the Cumbrian Coast
publisher =Dalesman Books
date =1988
location =
pages =Page 3
url =
doi =
id = ]

The plans were drawn up in 1843, and shortly afterwards, sections of the Furness Railway were built. The original section through Askam, coming from Millwood Junction, and going on to Kirby Slate Warf was part of the original railway line. This was officially opened on June 3, 1846. A passenger service then began operating on August 24 of that same year. [http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~mbemdm/Ireleth_Askam_history.pdf A Short History of Ireleth and Askam-in-Furness] , by Mark Maclean.]

The station

Originally, there was a simple stop in Askam. This was abolished in 1859; the later growth of Askam meant that it soon deserved a full sized station. The station that was built was actually originally designed for Millom, by Paley and Austin. The chalet-style station was opened on April 1, 1868. [cite book
last =
first =
authorlink =Richard Kirkman and Peter zan Veller
coauthors =
title =Rails Around the Cumbrian Coast
publisher =Dalesman Books
date =1988
location =
pages =Page 49
url =
doi =
id = ]

Along with the station, sliding sheds were built next to the station. These were to store a banking locomotive, to aid trains with more than 16 wagons with the difficult climb to Lindal summit.

As well as carrying ore, there were dozens of smaller lines to practically every mine, furnace and factory in the area. For example, the Askam brick works had a 2ft gauge line to transport clay. This line was operational until 1968. [cite book
last =
first =
authorlink =Richard Kirkman and Peter zan Veller
coauthors =
title =Rails Around the Cumbrian Coast
publisher =Dalesman Books
date =1988
location =
pages =Page 53
url =
doi =
id = ]

ervices

Askam is one of the few mandatory stops on this section of the line (along with St Bees, Sellafield, Ravenglass & Millom) and as a result all trains call here. The current 2008 timetable has fourteen trains per weekday in each direction, although only eight run all the way through to Carlisle northbound (the remainder terminating at either Millom or Sellafield). Some southbound trains continue beyond Barrow to Lancaster.

There is no Sunday service.

Gallery

ources

External links