A unique library will get its official opening this week at a train station in Cumbria.

Kents Bank Station near Grange is on the Furness line between Barrow and Lancaster.

Its 'Railway Library' is home to more than 3,000 titles devoted to the topic and is said to be the only publicly accessible library in the UK at a train station dedicated to the subject.

Paul Salveson, who runs the library and is the current occupier of the Old Station Masters house at Kents Bank, said: "I wanted to make my collection publicly accessible so the idea came about of developing a unique kind of library.

"If somebody wants to come and do research then they can come by and have a look through the collection on site."

The Mail: A glimpse inside at the unique libraryA glimpse inside at the unique library (Image: Paul Salveson)

The library will be opened at a special event on Friday, January 19 at 1pm, but that is not the only cause for celebration.

The team of trustees will also be unveiling the original Kents Bank station sign, which was recently procured having been in place at the site in the 1950s and 1960s.

"We raised over £2,000 to successfully bid for the station sign, with a small surplus that has gone into library funds," Mr Salveson explained.

"Nearly 30 individuals and organisations contributed so it is a fantastic achievement - this event is in large part a ‘thank you’ to them."

Mr Salveson has been developing his collection over the last 50 years whilst conducting his own academic research into Worktown Studies at the University of Bolton, as well as studying Transport at the University of Huddersfield.

Local MP Tim Farron visited the station last year and was the first public figure to offer to become a patron of the project.

Going forward into 2024, the station will be open to the public on the second Saturday of every month, with talks about railway history conducted on the second Wednesday of every month.