Arlesdale Mines

Arlesdale Mine is an old mine located south of the town of Arlesdale and west of Kirkleas.

The Railway Series
The mine was originally operated by the Mid Sodor Railway as a lead mine, opened in October 1880. The mine was later closed down in 1945, being stripped of many of its assets to assist in the war effort.

Its spoil heaps later became of interest to the North Western Railway when it was discovered that they made for good weed-killing ballast. Following talks to The Owner of the Skarloey Railway, the Arlesdale Ballast, Granite and Gravel Company was formed in 1967 and the Arlesdale Railway constructed in the same year to fetch ballast from the mines, to be taken to the processing plant at Killdane.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Small Railway Engines - Ballast and Mike's Whistle
 * Duke the Lost Engine - Granpuff

Companion Volumes

 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection
 * -|Television Series=

Thomas & Friends

 * Season 4 - Granpuff
 * Series 18 - Toad's Bright Idea

Minas de Arlesdale