Michael Portillo travelled from Carlisle to Ribblehead, then on to Settle, on Monday 23rd January.
He is making a radio documentary on the post-Beeching closures. The S&C is of course a shining example of one that didn't happen.
He was met at Carlisle by FoSCL Chairman Richard Morris and Edward Album, veteran of the campaign to save the line from closure and former Chairman of the Settle-Carlisle Heritage Trust. It was to Edward that Michael Portillo, then Transport Minister, wrote the now famous letter announcing the reprieve of the line.
The programme is scheduled to go out on BBC Radio 4 on 5th May, though the date is still to be confirmed.