Garsdale Train Station, Garsdale Head
Getting Around
Garsdale station sits high on the Settle-Carlisle line at the top of the dale, where the railway crosses from Dentdale into Mallerstang. Originally called Hawes Junction, it once connected to a branch line running six miles down to Hawes in Wensleydale.
The Station
Garsdale is the only station on the Settle-Carlisle line with a fully operational signal box. The line opened on 1 May 1876, and the station served both as a transport hub and a focal point for the small community that grew up around it.
Sixteen Midland Railway cottages were built for the railway workers and their families. These are now in private hands. The station's waiting rooms served double duty in the community. The northbound platform waiting room hosted church services, while the ladies' waiting room contained a lending library of around 150 books. Even the stone base of the water tower was pressed into service as a makeshift village hall.
The turntable that once stood here has been removed and restored at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.
Getting There
The station is reached via the Coal Road from Garsdale village, which continues over to Dent station. There is a car park at the station.
The Little White Bus runs a shuttle service between Garsdale station and Hawes, timed to meet certain trains. Check their website for current timetables.
The Ruswarp Statue
On the platform you will find a bronze statue of Ruswarp, the Border Collie who helped save the Settle-Carlisle line from closure. Read the full story.
The Settle-Carlisle Line Today
The line runs 73 miles through some of the most dramatic scenery in England, crossing the famous Ribblehead Viaduct and climbing to over 1,100 feet. Regular services run from Leeds to Carlisle, and it is one of the great railway journeys of the north. Visit settle-carlisle.co.uk for timetables and information.