My husband Simon and I have refurbished and restored over 10 heritage or historic properties over a period of 30+ years. We have secured planning permission for a café at the former Bassenthwaite Lake station site, and for a replica train which will be used for associated purposes. This venture should secure the future of the station building. We also have approval to restore the two signalmen's cottages, but not as dwellings. Our plans for these are not yet fully decided and will depend on planning approval. We will need an office, storage space, and an information room where we can display station artefacts and information, hold meetings and host local interest groups etc. We may ask planners for a Dark Sky viewing roof as the area has been give Dark Sky Status. We would like to be able to showcase local produce and artists, and bring some real community spirit into the whole business values and operations. Whilst not railway-related, we will be having a real focus on wildlife and habitat creation (there is a nature reserve opposite) and we will make sure that accessibility to all areas will be a key priority – everyone will be welcome.

Much clearance of vegetation has taken place. The old platform hedge had grown to over 50 feet high, and the trackbed had disappeared altogether, with only occasional glimpses of the other platform edge. Much damage had taken place over the years, with almost all original fittings and features removed, vandalised or stolen. We have retained most of the original trees but removed seedlings and saplings, as well as rejuvenating the original hedges which have become unstable due to shallow root structures along the platform. The original track bed has been excavated, and we have re-laid the sandstone platform edge. Featured on Channel 5s Lost Railways of Britain series, the site has attracted much interest and further visitors, for which we are grateful

We have taken delivery of a replica train which is the filmset used in the 2017 film 'Murder on the Orient Express', released in 2017. We have the Buffet Car, Salon, Baggage Carriage, Locomotive and Tender.

Please note that uninvited visitors who remain outside the perimeter fence are welcome; some of them will be our future customers! Unfortunately there have been some unwanted visitors, including some who have entered the site at night. We have therefore significantly upgraded our security, and are now living on-site in the former Station Masters house. This we are currently upgrading, and will be a holiday let property in due course.

I continue to work in construction Health and Safety in Cumbria and will continue to do into the forseeable future, until the business is fully operational. Simon will run the day to day operations and I will be more involved with the branding and marketing of the enterprise. We intend to add details to this page as we progress, thanks to the co-operation of The Cumbrian Railways Association.