Updated 26/02/2010
Like all good stations, Kirkby Stephen East is home to a number of cats, the oldest and longest serving of which was 'Rabbit' and we have a young cat called 'Quaker'. There was also third cat called 'Gresley' who is no longer at the station. A rather elegant ginger tom who has been given the name 'Marmalade' visits ocassionally - he wears a blue collar and likes being picked up. 'Quaker' has decided that she owns the station and tends not to let 'Marmalade' into the building.
'Rabbit' went missing from the station in November 2008 having shown increasing signs of kidney failure. Her last day at the station was a very happy one and, despite an extensive search, we have failed to locate her remains. She had been an ever present part of the volunteer workforce at KSE since the start of the project and was treated like a member of the family.
To commemorate 'Rabbit's' life, we have dedicated a table in our disabled-access picnic site to her memory. The area is a suntrap and we are sure 'Rabbit' would have approved. 'Quaker' has already been spotted sunbathing on several occasions and the site is proving to be a popular extension of the Buffet car seating area on sunny days.
Rabbit We estimate that 'Rabbit' was at least 17 years old when she died in 2008. She was at KSE when SPL bought the site in 1997. She was very keen to appear in any publicity shots that we had. She has appeared in the 'Northern Echo', on BBC Television, the BBC Radio Cumbria Website and local newspapers. Her greatest triumph was as a character in the 'Jack the Station Cat' book: 'Jack and the Midnight Mice'. 'Rabbit' had her own food cupboard in the mess room and all donations are gratefully received. This cupboard has been taken over by 'Quaker' who received excellent training in the role of a station cat from 'Rabbit'. |
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Quaker This cheeky black and white character appeared on the Darlington platform. Having overcome the loss of 'Rabbit', 'Quaker' has now taken on the role of senior station cat, but is still a little bit shy with strangers. She is an excellent 'mouser' and likes to let everyone know when she has caught one. She is a very different character to 'Rabbit' and does not like being picked up, but does like being stroked. She spends a lot of her time underneath the ramp leading to TTO 60505. |  |
| Marmalade This is the latest member of staff in the cat division at KSE. He is very friendly, but a little bit unsure of 'Quaker'. He used to sleep on the old railway desk adjacent to the buffet car at the south end of the Darlington platform. He has now taken up residence in the Croglin Castle Public House at the entrance to the site. |  |
Not all cats are as lucky as 'Rabbit', 'Quaker' and 'Marmalade' and find a home and as much affection. Cat's Protection is the UK's leading welfare charity, re-homing and reuniting 55,500 cats and kittens a year through its nationwide network of 29 adoption centres and 253 volunteer-run branches. They promote resposible cat ownership through education and information and run comprehensive neutering programmes involving 150,000 cats every year. 'Quaker' and 'Marmalade' are happy to support this charity. If you want to know more, please click here.
The album below contains a number of photos of 'Rabbit' & 'Quaker' at work and at play:
