APPENDIX 1: More from the Millom Gazette article:

Millom Gazette, 21 Apr 1922

THE RAVENGLASS AND ESKDALE RAILWAY
 The mishap recalls many curiosities of what is claimed to be the smallest railway in England, and which has been for many years locally known as the "rat trod."
[A brief and imperfect summary of Owd Ratty's history follows, concluding:]
As long as the rolling stock could be used the train made periodical visits to and from Boot, in connection with the arrival of the Furness trains at Ravenglass. Subsequently the metals became so defective and the rolling stock depreciated to such an extent that there was no alternative but to discontinue the service altogether. Before this was done, however, the old engine, which was practically falling to pieces, rarely made a trip up the valley without leaving the rails on some portion of the line.
Many curious incidents are related of the railway during the earlier days of the passenger trafic. It was the custom at one time to stop the train for a passenger on any part of the line, and more than once a farmer's wife from one of the farms adjoining the line "held it up" to ask whether any of the passengers could change a shilling. When there was ample time the driver would willingly stop the train in order that passengers might gather wild flowers, which grew in abundance along the route.
On one occasion a Millomite had business at Eskdale, and, misjudging the time the last train was due to leave, just arrived at Eskdale Green a few minutes after the last train had departed for ravenglass in connection with the last train by which passengers could reach Millom. Nothing daunted, the passenger set off after the train, and came in sight of it as it slowed down to round "Spion Kop" bend- (at one time many of the parts along the line had South African names allotted to them). The Millomite kept in the trail of the little train the whole way, and, much to the surprise of the engine-driver, arrived at Ravenglass a minute or two after the Eskdale train and in ample time for the Furness connection.
Both goods and passenger traffic were for some years discontinued until some ten years ago, when the present company undertook the work. The little line has on many occasions formed the subject of numerous articles in both newspapers and magazines.


APPENDIX 2: Whitehaven News items shortly before & after the Greenly appointment:

Whitehaven News, 10 May 1923:

HEADS OF THE L.M., AND S.R.
Inspect Eskdale Miniature Railway
The executive officers of the London, Midland, and Scottish Railway, who are attending conferences in the North-West, visited the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway on Tuesday afternoon. The party, which numbered about forty, travelled from end to end of the railway in a special train. They inspected the recently installed works for the transportation and crushing of stone- the barrel roller tipping machine at Ravenglass, the crushing and screening plant at Murthwaite, and witnessed blasting operations at the quarry at Beckfoot. Tea was served in the railway tea-rooms at the Dalegarth terminus.

Whitehaven News, 24 May 1923:

"Miniature Railway's Busy Time": Report on Whit holiday etc., including note that the line
"had its carrying capacity strained to the utmost on Monday, when two miniature engines had to be coupled to some of the trains of tiny open carriages, and the trucks used for carrying stones from the quarries had temporary seats put across them, and were pressed into service."