Why is there a much-loved statue of a dog at Garsdale station? The station straddles the Yorkshire/Cumbrian border and is on the famous Settle Carlisle Railway CRP line (described as '72 miles of scenic splendour'). It was originally called Hawes Junction but changed its name to better reflect its location. The twelve arches of Garsdale Head viaduct stretch over the moor, built in place of an embankment after construction materials kept sinking into the boggy mire.
Nowadays Garsdale's biggest claim to fame isn't the train line itself but a life-size statue of an incredibly loyal dog.
Graham Nuttall was one of the founding members of the campaign to save the Settle to Carlisle line and his Border Collie dog, Ruswarp, printed his paw on the petition to save the line.
On 20th January Graham went walking in the Welsh Mountains and disappeared. On 7th April his body was found, with Ruswarp still standing over his owner's body, 11 weeks later. Ruswarp died shortly after.
The sculpture by Joel Walker was erected 20 years after the line was saved, to commemorate both Graham and Ruswarp.
The station waiting room was refurbished and is now well-kept. Apparently it was once used for Anglican church services! Train services to Garsdale station are regular but not particularly frequent, so perhaps passengers are appreciative of some extra reading material - there's a set of Encyclopedia Britannica in the waiting rooms!