Askrigg Bank

The route of the line: the fictitious Lancaster and Durham Railway ran south-west to north-east. Heading out from the former Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway's Penny Street Station in Lancaster, the railway headed up the Lune valley through Ingleton and began climbing up Chapel Le Dale and across Batty Moss, where the Midland built a long viaduct crossing the line 24 years later.

Several of the structures on the layout were constructed before the history was written, one of these was the viaduct, it has the date 1854 inscribed on it so that became the date of construction.

Askrigg Bank was widely exhibited around the country and in Europe.

See Askrigg Bank on youtube

And here and here

The line passed through two small tunnels then climbed Askrigg Bank and through Askrigg Road station, this is the section modelled. The line emerges in to Swaledale from Askrigg Common Tunnel and continues northward past Reeth station to a connection with the North Eastern Railway at Richmond. In 1865 a branch was extended northwards up Arkengarthdale to a junction with the South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway near Bowes this gave through running via Barnard Castle and Bishop Auckland on to the East Coast Main line.

A Brief History of the Line:

Askrigg Bank represents a section of the 'might have been', Lancaster and Durham Railway which opened in 1854 between Lancaster and Richmond, and eventually connected with other lines at Ingleton, Hawes and Bowes. The line was eventually taken over jointly by the North Eastern and London and North Western Railways, with the Midland Railway enjoying running powers.
The section of line modelled represents the 1 in 40 bank up the northern flank of Wensleydale. The line carries a heavy traffic of both freight and passenger across the northern Pennines. Many of the trains up Askrigg Bank frequently require the services of either bankers or pilots. In addition the line's location makes it a favoured route for abnormal loads which can sometimes be
seen traversing the line.