THE Cumbria train and railway community welcomed a successful book launch in

In 1979, one of the exciting developments focused on for the community was a new book called The Pilling Pig by Dave Richardson for the Cumbrian Railways Association.

The book was a history of the Garstang & Knott End Railway tells the story of a line built to serve the extensive farming community around Garstang and extended to carry salt from workings at Preesall. The book was launched from the railway association’s stand at the Preston Model Railway Exhibition.

The county group, whose membership now stands at 500, is holding its annual meeting and spring lecture day at Kendal Rugby Club on Saturday, March 16. Presentations include Mike Taylor on Steam Cameramen in Cumbria and Ken Harper with a selection of Cumbrian railway videos from the 1980s and 1990s.