IT is now almost a half-century since the end of regular steam-hauled trains on the main railway lines through Cumbria.

Back in 1968 there was no Cumbrian administrative region and Furness was very much part of Lancashire for railway passengers.

Those nostalgic last days of steam are brought to life in a book by Derek Huntriss called Lancashire Steam.

Its 112 pages are packed with colour images of a world which has largely gone – expect for a few summer “steam specials” and preserved lines such as the Lakeside and Haverthwaite.

The author notes: “In a county that saw the birth of Britain’s first passenger carrying railway it also saw the death throes of steam locomotive workings from the last three standard gauge depots on British Railways in 1968.”

On August 11 in 1968 a special excursion from Liverpool to Carlisle and back was the last passenger train hauled by steam before a British Railways ban was imposed the following day.

Lancashire Steam has pictures taken in the last few days of steam services, including the 6.25am service from Carnforth to Barrow which on Friday, August 2 in 1968 was pulled by the Stanier Class 5MT, number 45390.

You can still ride behind a preserved steam locomotive at Haverthwaite and the book includes pictures of the line – which used to link Ulverston with the Windermere steamers – when it was still complete and handing freight.

Two pictures from June 1963 show how single track sections were navigated in safety by the exchange of a “token” to make sure only one train could be on the line at a time.

Also featured is a picture from July 1968 of freight train passing Grange where tourists could sleep in a camping coach parked near the station.

The book notes: “Coaches of this type could be found at locations in or near the Lake District, including Bassenthwaite, Coniston, Grange, Hest Bank, lakeside, Ravenglass and Seascale.”

Lancashire Steam by Derek Huntriss is published by Capital Transport at £19.95.