The wish to establish a direct route from London to the north, independent of its rivals, motivated the Midland Railway Company to undertake the construction of a line through the high fells and dales of Yorkshire and Cumberland. By 1876, the line connecting Settle with Carlisle, 73 miles to the north, had been completed to exacting mainline standards, thus establishing a through-route between London and Scotland.

The Settle & Carlisle is well known for its many tunnels, bridges, cuttings and embankments, and for the stations and their ornate buildings, but the eye of the casual observer is drawn to the viaducts. First among these is Ribblehead which has become a honeypot for tourists, its 24 arches rising magnificently 104ft above Batty Moss. Other such constructions are of note, Dent Head, Artengill and Dandry Mire viaducts, all major edifices built with considerable difficulty in hostile locations. In fact, the whole route has left an indelible mark, its bold man-made structures contrasting with and enhancing the natural beauty of the Yorkshire Dales.

Surviving the threat of closure during the 1980s, the line has seen the popularity of steam-hauled rail tours grow in recent years. Today, two or three workings may be observed each month, and during high summer it's no longer unusual to see two or more steam tours each week. It's these trains and their locomotives which are the subject of this book as we take a pictorial journey along the spectacular 33 miles of route which lie within the Yorkshire Dales National Park between Langcliffe in the south and Crosby Garrett in the north.