A FAITHFUL dog who came to symbolise the long battle to save the spectacular Settle and Carlisle Railway back in the 1980s is to be immortalised at one of the highest stations on the route.

During the anti-closure battle, a paw-print of fare-paying cannine Ruswarp on an Objection to Closure document helped draw national attention to the threatened 72–mile line.

Now a bronze statue of the famous hound is to be un-veiled when the restored Garsdale station reopens on Saturday 11 April, to mark the 20th anniversary of the route being saved from closure.

The unveiling will be carried out by former British Rail manager Ron Cotton, who is famously associated with the S and C. Having been charged with closing it down, he ultimately helped save it by marketing it more strongly.

Ruswarp, who belonged to co-founder of the Friends of the Settle and Carlisle line, the late Graham Nuttall, again hit the headlines in 1990 when he stayed with his master’s body for 11 winter days following Graham’s death while hill walking. The dog survived long enough to attend the funeral.

FoSCL chairman Mark Rand said: “Ruswarp came to symbolise both the fight to save the line and the amazing loyalty of man’s best friend, so it is fitting that the statue by sculptress Joel Walker is placed at what was owner and dog’s favourite place.”  

Network Rail’s route director Jo Kaye said: “With help from, amongst others, the Friends of the Settle and Carlisle Line and the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company, the line has gone from strength to strength.

“From something of a ‘Cinderella’, it is now a major route for coal traffic from Scot-land to Yorkshire and Mid-lands power stations, has a regular and growing flow of passengers, and comes into its own as a diversionary route for the northern section of the West Coast main line.”

Network Rail is carrying out a £60 million track replacement programme and has invested a further £18 million in additional signalling to improve train performance.