New Ratty carriage delivered for Christmas
RAVENGLASS & Eskdale Railway’s (R&ER) latest new carriage was delivered to the 15in gauge line a few days before Christmas.
Named Ruth, the bogie vehicle has padded seating, extra headroom, fold down tables, built-in USB speakers and has two wheelchair accessible compartments separated by sliding partitions reached via double opening front doors on each compartment. It has inside seating for eight people with semi-open seating for two at each end.
Ruth is the last of three new R&ER carriages built under a European Regional Development Fund project which commenced in 2016 to upgrade the line’s rolling stock. It follows the new observation carriage Joan and first-class saloon No. 140, all three having been constructed by Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway’s Boston Lodge works.
The new carriage is named in memory of the Honourable Mrs Ruth Adorian, former company director and local campaigner for disabled access to public spaces. She was the youngest daughter of Lord Wakefield of Kendal and a director of Lake District Estates for over 50 years.