Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway runs on the Furness Branch Line and offers visitors a unique step back in time. The steam train rides trundle passengers along through the spectacular Lake District scenery at a sedate pace, allowing for some serious sightseeing.
Take a ride on the spectacular old Furness Branch line in a steam train from Haverthwaite to Lakeside where you can board a Windermere Lake cruise or visit the Aquarium.
The Furness Railway was developed during the 1850's and 1860's, at the height of the Industrial Revolution, in order to transport the coal and iron ore deposits from mines in the coastal areas of Cumberland and the Furness district of Lancashire to the heavy industries of the North West and North East of England.
When the various companies had completed a railway system around the coast from Carlisle to Lancaster, the Furness Railway Company quickly realised that there was a potential for personal travel and tourism because, for the first time, here was a fast and easy mode of transport for the masses. In fact, as early as 1847, the Kendal and Windermere Railway Company had opened a branch line from the new Lancaster and Carlisle Railway; this branch from Oxenholme terminated at Birthwaite (which was later to develop as the modern town of Windermere), and by 1850, four passenger steamers plied the length of the lake from Waterhead to Newby Bridge (a distance of about 11½ miles).
After years of problems with the rights to the line in the 20th century, it was eventually closed down for a long period of time, until Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway Co. was formed.
The re-opening of the line on the 2nd May 1973 was a proud day for the Society members who had worked so...
hard to repair and restore the railway to the necessary operating standards and for the Company's directors, its shareholders and friends it was a dream realised. A moment to be savored by the now Chairman, Mr. Austin Maher, was when he asked Britain's best known railway photographer, the Right Reverend Eric Treacy, LLD, Bishop of Wakefield, to cut the tape linking the lake steamer to locomotive 42085, which was at the head of the inaugural special train, together with its sister engine 42073. En-route to Haverthwaite a stop was made at Newby Bridge Halt, where the Bishop planted a copper beech tree to commemorate the beginning of a new life.
Why not take a break from your travels and relax in the comfortable and friendly surroundings of our licensed 'Station Restaurant', just off the platform at Haverthwaite Station.
Whether it's breakfast, morning coffee or lunch, you'll love our selection of homemade speciality dishes from our ever changing menu, including homemade pies, locally sourced Cumberland Sausages, over baked jacket potatoes, sandwiches, soup, Flookburgh shrimps and a traditional roast on Sundays.
Haverthwaite Restaurant
We also serve locally brewed Ulverston beer as a great accompaniment for your meal.
We are a family run business who enjoy using excellent quality food supplied by local people, such as Peter Hutchinson of Greenodd for our sausages, beef and cheeses, Doug Sanders for our free range eggs and milk, fresh fruit and vegetables from McClure's of Windermere, and ice-cream from 'English Lakes Ice-Cream' in Kendal.
Step into our new and exciting Gift Shop to find the perfect souvenir of your day or the ideal gift for someone...
We stock traditional books, Bachmann & coal model locomotives as well as souvenirs of your day, and toys for the children. These sit alongside locally made perfumes, cards, handbags, jewellery and many more exciting locally produced arts and crafts.
In our book corner, you can browse through a diverse collection of factual and fictional books, including many on local and railway history and the Lake District, including our own new guide book on the railway, past and present.
We also stock an extensive collection of official "Thomas the Tank Engine" merchandise.
Take a walk around our large engine shed, where we keep and maintain our collection of steam and diesel locomotives.
Cross over the footbridge from the platform to reach our Picnic area, with a raised view of the whole station you can relax in these scenic surroundings and watch the trains go by.