Rail line's Calendar Girls raise cash for charity

The 12 photos illustrating each month of the 2025 calendar. Image source, Settle-Carlisle Railway Development Company
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The group of caterers were inspired by Rylstone and District Women's Institute, who became famous after producing a charity calendar

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A group of women who serve refreshments on a scenic rail route have posed for a charity calendar.

The team, which works on the Settle to Carlisle line running through the Pennines, has marked the 20th anniversary of its trolley service with a series of creative poses.

Those who took part said they were inspired by the original Calendar Girls from a Women's Institute near Settle, who famously stripped to raise money for cancer research, leading to a film and stage show.

Ten percent of funds raised from the calendar will go to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service, with the rest used to buy new refreshment trollies.

Image source, Nikita Kayleigh Photography
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Preparing for the autumn harvest is Miss September

Susie Payne, operations manager for the Settle-Carlisle Railway Development Company, is one of those taking part and is appearing as Miss February.

She told BBC Radio Cumbria some colleagues were keener than others to disrobe for the shoot.

"Some of them are wearing clothes, some of them are wearing absolutely nothing. So it depends on how daring they were to how far they went with it," she said.

Ms Payne said some of the women were braver than they expected to be.

"It's quite funny, because on the actual day, some of them chose to wear certain outfits, certain bits of material to cover bits, but when it actually came to it they were kind of 'do you know what, let's just go for it!'"

Image source, Settle-Carlisle Railway Development Company
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The ladies who took park in the calendar have been selling it on board trains

Ms Payne had a personal reason for choosing the location for her photo, which was shot in front of a steam train being filled with water at Appleby station.

"Appleby is where I started my career, so I'm always drawn back to Appleby," she added.

Image source, Nikita Kayleigh Photography
Image caption,

Bee Reynolds, who posed as Miss January, spoke of her positive experience taking part

Pictured as Miss January is the manager of the Ribblehead Tearoom, Bee Reynolds.

She said taking part had been a positive experience.

"Well, it was very liberating to be perfectly honest, to be with a group that celebrates all ages, all different shapes [and] sizes," she said.

"No airbrushing, no makeup artists, just turn up and this is us."

The calendars are being sold online and trains that run on the line.

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