The Settle and Carlisle line was an extraordinarily expensive venture built by the Midland Railway to compete for traffic between England and Scotland via Carlisle. In a sense it was similar to the ill fated USA venture of the Milwaukee Road's Pacific extension.
The London & Northwestern had a much more favorable route along the west coast and served Manchester as well. I've always felt that the L&NW was the British equivalent of the Pennsylvania RR.
In any event, in 1923 the railways of the UK were rationalized and 4 great systems were created--LMS, Great Western, London & Northeastern and the Southern.
The LMS included the old L&NW and Midland. Following the merger, the Settle and Carlisle became a secondary main line and over time lost most of what little traffic it had. There were several attempts to abandon some or all of it but they failed. Because of its fierce grades and tunnels it has always been a railfan's favorite.
Lew Schneider
