In the 1980’s Britain’s most scenic railway line, the Settle to Carlisle, was under threat of almost certain closure. There were just two trains a day and no freight at all. Today, the line is busier than ever in its history, open 24 hours a day and about to have its capacity doubled to cope with demand. An amazing turn around.
The two people most widely credited with forming the group that was to save the Settle - Carlisle railway line from closure were David Burton and Graham Nuttall, two remarkable Lancashire men who shared with a growing number of people a sense of outrage that the S&C seemed condemned. They were the first Chairman and Secretary of the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line (FoSCL). David Burton is still around. Graham Nuttall’s tragic story cast a shadow over FoSCL’s early days, but inspiration too.
He and his faithful Border Collie dog Ruswarp (pronounced ‘Russup’) were inseparable. Ruswarp had the distinction of being the only canine objector to the line’s closure. He was deemed to be a ‘fare paying passenger’, about to suffer ‘hardship’ as required by the men from Whitehall, should the line close. Ruswarp was soon to suffer hardship indeed. FoSCL were trouble makers - a thorn in the sides of the powers-that-be. Undaunted by the odds they campaigned and won. Graham lived just long enough to see the line’s reprieve in 1989 for on 20th January 1990 he went missing. He and Ruswarp bought day return tickets from Burnley to Llandrindod Wells, there to go walking in the Welsh Mountains. But Graham never returned.
Neighbours raised the alarm. Searches by police and mountain rescue teams in the Elan Valley and Rhayader found nothing. The case aroused national interest for a time. FoSCL produced Missing Person posters as did police in Lancashire and Dyfed Powys.
Then on 7th April 1990, lone walker David Clarke found Graham’s body, by a mountain stream. Nearby was Ruswarp, so near to death that the 14 year old dog had to be carried off the mountain. He had stayed with his master’s body for eleven winter weeks.
Ruswarp was cared for by local vet Bertie Ellis of Beulah - fees paid by the RSPCA, who quickly decided to award Ruswarp their Animal Medallion and collar for ‘vigilance’ and their Animal Plaque for ‘intelligence and courage’, on the nomination of Superintendent Ralph Rees of Dyfed Powys Police.
Coroner Alfons van Hees recorded an open verdict and heard evidence from Home Office pathologist Professor Bernard Knight. Ruswarp lived just long enough to attend Graham’s funeral, having been lovingly cared for by Graham’s aunt and uncle, Gerry and Edith Maden of Clowbridge. The RSPCA had been overwhelmed with offers to re-home Ruswarp.
Ruswarp’s devotion to Graham has resonances of Edinburgh’s Greyfriars Bobby - the Skye Terrier who remained at his master’s graveside for 14 years until his own death in 1872. There are a number of similar stories on record but this level of devotion is rare. Through Ruswarp, the plight of the Settle to Carlisle railway leapt back into the public mind - for though reprieved, the line needed massive investment if it was to recover from years of neglect. A plaque was put up at Burnley railway station and there is a dedication on a platform bench at Garsdale - Graham’s favourite place. And life went on.
Garsdale station - remote and lovely - is about to be restored to its former glory by Network Rail. Their decision to do that restoration coincided with a letter appearing in the local press suggesting that FoSCL should consider a more permanent memorial to Ruswarp - at Garsdale.
So it is that we have decided to commission a life size bronze statue of Ruswarp, to be placed at Garsdale Station, under the watchful eye of the signaller. Graham Nuttall would have been delighted that the signal box is now operational 24 hours a day, so busy is the line he fought to save. We have a number of photographs of Ruswarp as well as colour film of him crossing the line at Dent in a documentary about the then doomed S&C, narrated by Alan Bennett no less. We have located a sculptor who specialises in dogs - in Wales as it happens. Network Rail have given approval for the statute to be placed in a prominent location at the refurbished Garsdale, there to add its chapter to the history of the place and the line.
We have decided to launch an appeal for the work - the sculpture will cost around £8,000 but we believe that it could come to symbolise the heroic struggle to save the S&C and the sacrifice and effort made by so many to build it, to save it and to restore it.
If you would like to contribute to the Ruswarp memorial fund, you can do so below, or by sending a cheque, payable to The Ruswarp Memorial Fund, to FoSCL’s Ruswarp project officer Josie Perriman, at Foresters Cottage, 2 Howson’s Yard, Settle BD24 2EG. Should the fund be over subscribed, extra monies will go towards the Garsdale restoration scheme with a preference to enhancing the Ruswarp aspects. |
