Corkickle Railway Path In 1853 the company promoting the railway issued a prospectus. The proposed the line was to run for four and a half miles from a junction with the Whitehaven and Furness Junction Railway at Mirehouse. Then two miles south of Whitehaven to Egremont via Moor Row, and the iron ore mines at Bigrigg and Woodend. A two-mile branch was to run from Moor Row to Frizington, serving an ironworks in Cleator Moor, and assorted ore mines in the district. There was some concern the incline for braking purposes, with only braking on the Engine, would be a problem from Mirehouse to Moor Row as it was, but it was successfully achieved at a rate of six miles per hour. By December 1855 it was possible to run a trial train on the Mirehouse to Frizington section and it was proven that trains could be stopped safely on the gradient. The Egremont branch was completed in 1856. Passengers service had been in operation at the start of July 1857 and at the end of the month the Formal opening took place. Closures came as the mines closed and by 1980 the final mine closed followed by the railway that served it. The route we have followed is almost 8.5 miles between The Whitehaven Bowling Club, Whitehaven on NCN 72, then taking up the NCN 71 at the Moor Row junction heading to Frizington and terminating at Rowrah. As far as we could research it is free of equestrian obstructions. The ground looks to be tarmac all the way with plenty of greenery. We think NCN 71 could be followed further to its end on a minor country lane if wished passing by the boundary of the Nature reserve. Grid Ref: NX9752 1761 Near Corkickle Parking possible by The Whitehaven Bowling Club CA28 9DD Grid Ref: NY 0600 1851 Rowrah Parking North Cumbria NNR team on 01697 352819 Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway - Wikipedia Cumbria's National Nature Reserves - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)