Leslie Gilpin Railways


Hi, I'm Les Gilpin.
I'm a lifelong railway enthusiast now based in Carlisle and a railway historian. I'm spending more and more time recording videos in Carlisle and on the lines radiating from there. Diesel, Electric or Steam - if it looks good I'll record it! I do get out and about from Carlisle to other places on the national network and to heritage lines.

I'm also a keen railway modeller. I'm currently modelling Canadian and US railroads freelance in 1:160 n scale: a new version of my Canuck Union lines. You'll find videos of some of the smaller model railway exhibitions I've attended and occasionally of my own layout.

My railway history interests are mostly the railways of Cumbria (UK) for which I've written 4 books. I'm also interested in the history of railways in Canada and the USA including for some of the more obscure places I've visited. I record hours of video for YouTube when I go,

Broken Rail causes Chaos on WCML at Carlisle 22 Nov 25

Broken Rail causes Chaos on WCML at Carlisle 22 Nov 25
Caledonian Sleeper Highlander FAILED at Carlisle 21 November 25

Caledonian Sleeper Highlander FAILED at Carlisle 21 November 25
Blue Pullman and more at Cold Bright Carlisle 19 Nov 25

Blue Pullman and more at Cold Bright Carlisle 19 Nov 25
How Dirty can a Class 37 be? Fantastic Carlisle Train Variety 17 Nov 25

How Dirty can a Class 37 be? Fantastic Carlisle Train Variety 17 Nov 25
37s, 56, 90s: Two Fantastic Days at Carlisle. Mostly Freight 14 & 15 Nov 25

37s, 56, 90s: Two Fantastic Days at Carlisle. Mostly Freight 14 & 15 Nov 25
Lumo Meridian and Poppy Pendolino pass Carlisle: Pluss TWO 37s! 12 Nov 25

Lumo Meridian and Poppy Pendolino pass Carlisle: Pluss TWO 37s! 12 Nov 25
Class 37s Shunting Snow Ploughs at Eastriggs: Preparing for the Winter Season 10 Nov 25

Class 37s Shunting Snow Ploughs at Eastriggs: Preparing for the Winter Season 10 Nov 25
LSL Black 90 and Freightliner Anniversary 66 at Carlisle 07 Nov 25

LSL Black 90 and Freightliner Anniversary 66 at Carlisle 07 Nov 25
Carlisle At Last - The Duke of Gloucester joins the Carlisle Train Variety 06 Nov 25

Carlisle At Last - The Duke of Gloucester joins the Carlisle Train Variety 06 Nov 25
IMPACT of the Shap DERAILMENT and very Wet Weather at Carlisle. Class 37, 56, 57, 66, 70 04 Nov 25

IMPACT of the Shap DERAILMENT and very Wet Weather at Carlisle. Class 37, 56, 57, 66, 70 04 Nov 25
Fantastic Class 90 Action at Carlisle! 01 November 25

Fantastic Class 90 Action at Carlisle! 01 November 25
Big Blue and White! Surprise Kirov 1200 Crane joins the Carlisle Station Variety 29 Oct 25

Big Blue and White! Surprise Kirov 1200 Crane joins the Carlisle Station Variety 29 Oct 25
WCML Chaos & Jacobite and Pullman Stock Vacate Fort William 26 10 25

WCML Chaos & Jacobite and Pullman Stock Vacate Fort William 26 10 25
Fantastic Saturday Carlisle Train Variety with Tangmere and the 90s 25 Oct 25

Fantastic Saturday Carlisle Train Variety with Tangmere and the 90s 25 Oct 25
The Fuel Train to Grain, the West Highland Pullman and a loco convoy at Carlisle 24 October 25

The Fuel Train to Grain, the West Highland Pullman and a loco convoy at Carlisle 24 October 25
Carlisle and Ribblehead Train Variety The Worst Paintwork on a 56! 22 & 23 Oct 25

Carlisle and Ribblehead Train Variety The Worst Paintwork on a 56! 22 & 23 Oct 25
Thirty Sevens Brighten a Dank Carlisle Station 21 10 25

Thirty Sevens Brighten a Dank Carlisle Station 21 10 25
Тоннель Уайтхейвен закрыт уже не в первый раз! 18 окт. 2025 г.

Тоннель Уайтхейвен закрыт уже не в первый раз! 18 окт. 2025 г.
Heavy Freight and More! Mostly Rocks at Carlisle Ribblehead and Skipton 15 & 16 Oct 25

Heavy Freight and More! Mostly Rocks at Carlisle Ribblehead and Skipton 15 & 16 Oct 25
Rail Head Treatment Trains at Damp Carlisle: 56s, 66s, 70s 14 Oct 25

Rail Head Treatment Trains at Damp Carlisle: 56s, 66s, 70s 14 Oct 25
The Most Fantastic Loco Variety at Carlisle 11 October 25

The Most Fantastic Loco Variety at Carlisle 11 October 25
37s, 56s, 70s and more: Carlisle and district train variety 09 Oct 25

37s, 56s, 70s and more: Carlisle and district train variety 09 Oct 25
Unexpected 37s. Route Learning and RHTT Around Carlisle 06 Oct 25

Unexpected 37s. Route Learning and RHTT Around Carlisle 06 Oct 25
Calm before Storm Amy: Carlisle Train Variety at Kingmoor and the Citadel. 03 Oct 25

Calm before Storm Amy: Carlisle Train Variety at Kingmoor and the Citadel. 03 Oct 25
Class 60 Aggregates: Three days at Skipton and Ribblehead 24 & 29 Sept - 01 October 2025

Class 60 Aggregates: Three days at Skipton and Ribblehead 24 & 29 Sept - 01 October 2025
Nocturnal Nineties and Spooky Steam: Carlisle after Dark 22 Sept 25

Nocturnal Nineties and Spooky Steam: Carlisle after Dark 22 Sept 25
Andania and Clun Castle join Tangmere, two 37s and Class 90s & a MISSING train: Carlisle 27 Sept 25

Andania and Clun Castle join Tangmere, two 37s and Class 90s & a MISSING train: Carlisle 27 Sept 25
Fantastic Heaton 150 Open Day and Newcastle: When ECML closed north for Engineering 21 Sept 25

Fantastic Heaton 150 Open Day and Newcastle: When ECML closed north for Engineering 21 Sept 25
Azumas, 37s, 90s and a VERY Delayed Northern Belle - nearly 3 hours late at Carlisle 20 Sept 25

Azumas, 37s, 90s and a VERY Delayed Northern Belle - nearly 3 hours late at Carlisle 20 Sept 25
Blue Pullman and an Oddly Routed Nova 1 (TransPennine Class 802): Carlisle Train Variety 19 Sept 25

Blue Pullman and an Oddly Routed Nova 1 (TransPennine Class 802): Carlisle Train Variety 19 Sept 25