Settle Carlisle Railway calendar girls raise £1k for air ambulance

Settle Carlisle Railway refreshment trolley staff have raised £1,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

To celebrate 20 years of service, the team shed their uniforms to feature in a charity calendar for 2025.

They also embarked on sponsored walks along the railway line.

The Settle Carlisle Railway, named the best scenic route in Europe by Lonely Planet, provided the backdrop for the calendar, with views such as the Ribblehead Viaduct.

The project, inspired by the Rylstone and District Women’s Institute’s Calendar Girls, was the brainchild of Susie Payne, the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company’s operational manager.

She began her career as a trolley service operator on the same line.

Ms Payne, who is ‘Miss February’ in the calendar, said: “We are delighted to have been able to raise £1,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance service.

“Our trolley service provides a little extra to our customers, and we are very proud of our team.

She added: “The calendar was a fun way to celebrate our 20th anniversary, and now we look forward to celebrating the Settle Carlisle line’s 150th anniversary this year.”

The team intends to feature the scenic line in their 2026 calendar.

A limited number of calendars are still available for purchase at a discounted price of £6.

These can be bought from the trolley service and the Settle Carlisle Development Company’s online shop at settle-carlisle.co.uk/shop.