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Cumbrian main line steam back on track

The popular excursions, which ran between West Coast’s Carnforth base and Ravenglass, were stopped in August 2011 because they could no longer turn around at Sellafield.

Sellafield Ltd restricted access to the turning triangle at the site because of 'security improvements'.

Plans are now being drawn up for replacement turning facilities for locomotives at the port of Workington.

Brian Hough from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority which runs Sellafield said: "We all understand the kind of benefit that those excursions bring to West Cumbria. However there's always a programme of continuous improvement as regards to security at Sellafield.

"Because of that there has been the need to restrict access to the site for a range of individuals and a range of users and unfortunately the steam train excursions have been caught up in that programme."

The authority says it wants to see the steam trains return, and a new turntable could be provided at Workington instead of having to use the Sellafield site.

However, the authority said that there are several hurdles to overcome, and that steam operations must not affect the port’s existing trade.