Many Years Ago Michael Portillo Saved The Settle To Carlisle Railway Line,

when he was Minister for Transport in 1989, its 72 miles of track were built in the 1870s through some of Britain’s wildest country, up steep gradients, across broad valleys and through long tunnels, the cost of construction in terms of human life was enormous, but by the Eighties, the line was largely unused, its towering viaducts were crumbling and in need of expensive repair, I do not know anything of politics, to be honest I did not know what party he represented until I read that he had to get the plan to save the line past Margaret Thatcher, what a task that must have been! but thanks to him the line is still there, if you want to read the full story of when he retraced his steps and some of his memories of that time, have a look here, the story will be on Great British Railway Journeys that begins on January 4 on BBC2 at 6.30pm, (I think this is the prelude to a book coming out, but then I am a cynic!), but still enjoyable reading never the less, bring back steam!