Matt Ditch Photography Blog

 Howe & Co Sidings and Cocklakes Works Tramway © Bill Watson https://ironroad.smugmug.com/ History & The Route Located several miles south of Carlisle lies the site of Howe & Co Sidings and Cocklakes works tramway. The short but steeply graded tramway connected Howe & Co sidings on the famous Settle & Carlisle railway with the Gypsum works at Cocklakes. It was in  operation from the 1880s until the 1970s when it was put on "Care & Maintenance" and subsequently closed. However, Gypsum had been mined in the area since the 1680s. But, things did not fully take off till during the second world war when there was an increased demand.  John Howe opened and operated the mines till around 1910 when the Carlisle plaster & Cement company took over. They were later taken over by British Gypsum.  Today the majority of the 1-mile tramway can be walked. And, in places there are some reminders of its previous life as an industrial railway. Starting at the site of

  Bideford, Westward Ho! And Appledore Railway One of the 3 Hunslet 2-4-2's at Bideford quay, Devon in 1905 . Author Mr Dicker This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or fewer. History & Route A map of the line dated 1919 . Detail from en:Ordnance Survey "New Popular Edition" Sheet 118. Colour highlighting by uploader The Bideford, Westward Ho! And Appledore Railway was a 7½-mile standard gauge (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)  tramway located in the south-west of England. Although standard gauge the railway was not connected to the national network. The nearest mainline station was Bideford located on the other side of the River Torridge from the railways Bideford Quay terminus. The mainline station at Bideford survives to this day as a heritage centre. Planning permission to build the railway was granted in May 1896. But, this wasn't the first scheme to bring a railwa