I found the song in the EFDS publication Folk Song Today Volume 5, which was published in about 1968. It was written by Mike Donald. The town names mentioned are Appleby, Inkerman, Batty Wife Hole, Leas Moor, Chapal, St Leonards, Ribblehead Viaduct, Mallerstang, Aisgill, and Dent's Dale.

There is a brief commentary you may be interested in:

'Mike Donald wrote this song about the Settle to Carlisle railway line while actually on the train at Appleby – after he had carefully traced the history of the line from old records. It is intended as a tribute to the line which may finally close in a few years time.

(The Settle/Carlisle line is the highest main line in England. Aisgill summit is 1,169 feet above sea level, Wild Boar Fell 2,324 above sea level.)'

Stewie, In an earlier posting you mentioned that you were putting to together a collection of songs about railways. I see that in the preliminary program for the Australian National Folk Festival this coming Easter there is a session also about railways. Is this your show ?

Are any other Mudcatters attending the National ?

Phil