In the autumn of 1865, two Victorian gentlemen set off on foot from the Yorkshire town of Settle. They walked north through moorland haunted by the lonely cry of rooks, struggled through marshes, scaled mountains, skirted lethal potholes, were lashed by shrieking winds and stinging rain and, for most of their walk, never saw another living soul. This was, and still is, one of the remotest parts of England.
All the way as they crossed this wild country, they made notes.
When they finally reached the northern English cathedral city of Carlisle, they contacted the directors of The Midland Railway Company and said something along the lines of "Sorry chaps. Build a two-way express railway over all of that? Can't be done."