2750Papyrus Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Sidney Weighell, General Secretary of the NUR from 1975 to 1982 and previously a footplateman in the Northallerton area, included a chapter on the Wensleydale Branch in his 1984 book A Hundred Years of Railway Weighells. (His brother was also a driver, his father a signalman and his grand father a guard.) One of his more amusing anecdotes concerns an occasion during the war when his 16 year old fireman neglected to fill the tank of their G5 at Northallerton. Arriving at Ainderby, Weighell checked the tank to find it was nearly empty. He chose to drive on to Leeming Bar and persuaded the driver of the D20 on a train in the other direction to swap locomotives. The shed master was left nonplussed as to how he had a tender engine at Leyburn where he should have had a tank engine, and vice versa! I have a great liking for the North York Moors and coast and it is a shame the lines in this area were closed. However, Weighell was an advocate of reintroducing a tourist service on the Wensleydale line, which had lost its passenger service prior to Beeching. His intimate knowledge, combined with the successful re-opening of the lower part of the line to passenger traffic, the continuing (military) freight traffic to Redmire, and the reinvigoration of the Settle and Carlisle, lead me to the conclusion that closure of the Wensleydale branch was the biggest mistake in this area of the country. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold jollysmart Posted March 1, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 1, 2021 Scarborough to Whitby for me, both towns get locked solid with traffic and the scenic route between could be the answer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium great northern Posted March 1, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted March 1, 2021 A close one this time, but Stainmore came out on top with 6 votes. Today, let's try the rest of Yorkshire. I bet that will trigger some requests for clarification. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted March 1, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 1, 2021 The other end of the Woodhead route. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 The Leeds Northern from Harrogate through Ripon to Northallerton. How can a town the size of Ripon not have a railway line? And would be a useful diversionary route for when Northallerton to York is blocked. (I originally nominated the ex-GNR line over the hills through Queensbury to Keighley - but then I reminded myself we are supposed to be nominating stupid and short-sighted closures!) 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Metropolitan H Posted March 1, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 1, 2021 My vote goes to Scarborough To Whitby and points north, via Robin Hoods Bay - closely followed by Malton to Grosmont. I suppose I should also give a mention to the "Methley Joint Railway" - as paternal Grandfather was sent by the GNR to work at Stanley on the MJR in 1912 - so Father was born a Yorkshire man. Regards Chris H 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Market65 Posted March 1, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 1, 2021 For myself it’s back to the long gone Beverley to Market Weighton, Pocklington, Stamford Bridge and York line. I can only give a few details here, I’ve books about the line and various websites. Briefly, in the Beeching Report it was stated there were, on average, 57 passengers per two car DMU. Level crossings were a serious issue, with 19 of them. It had been proposed, under the Centralised Traffic Control scheme, of the late 1950’s to modernise the line. It was to have been made single track, with passing loops at Market Weighton and Pocklington, with the level crossings being converted to AHB operations. It was estimated that the line would have broken even by the late 1960’s. Of course, Beeching abandoned all of that. So, a main cross country line was closed down on 29th November, 1965, all to save some £81,000 per annum. Everyone has to go round via Selby and Church Fenton, at a greater journey time too. I recall my Grandmother asking how people from Market Weighton were supposed to go to York by train via Selby. She never received an answer from BR. Rob. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted March 1, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 1, 2021 Agree with the Leeds Northern. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post great northern Posted March 1, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted March 1, 2021 Jolly good, back to full size. To celebrate, another shot of a shiny Haymarket A4. I know you like those. It is also under the roof, and people seem to like those images too. 25 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 12 minutes ago, great northern said: To celebrate, another shot of a shiny Haymarket A4. I know you like those. It is also under the roof, and people seem to like those images too. Particularly if cropped a little to increase impact (if I may be so bold?) Loco front, as the focal point of the image, now in the bottom left 'golden section' area. The impression of 'turning heads' viz-a-viz the people on the right hand side works really well (nothing to do with my cropping!) 17 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted March 1, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 1, 2021 I'll go for the Leeds Northern from Harrogate to Ripon and Northallerton as well. I was living in Harrogate when it closed, it was a sad day. David 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium figworthy Posted March 1, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 1, 2021 7 hours ago, great northern said: Today, let's try the rest of Yorkshire. I bet that will trigger some requests for clarification. That's cruel, you could have least done it by Ridings. So many to choose from, methinks the Wensleydale route. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon4470 Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Lots to chose from .....the York-Beverley is a worthy contender, Wetherby to Leeds would be a great commuter route now. In the end, though, it’s the Leeds Northern for me as well! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
manna Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 G'Day Folks The Leeds Northern. manna Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium thegreenhowards Posted March 1, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 1, 2021 Leeds Northern for me too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzer Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 9 hours ago, Market65 said: For myself it’s back to the long gone Beverley to Market Weighton, Pocklington, Stamford Bridge and York line. I can only give a few details here, I’ve books about the line and various websites. Briefly, in the Beeching Report it was stated there were, on average, 57 passengers per two car DMU. Level crossings were a serious issue, with 19 of them. It had been proposed, under the Centralised Traffic Control scheme, of the late 1950’s to modernise the line. It was to have been made single track, with passing loops at Market Weighton and Pocklington, with the level crossings being converted to AHB operations. It was estimated that the line would have broken even by the late 1960’s. Of course, Beeching abandoned all of that. So, a main cross country line was closed down on 29th November, 1965, all to save some £81,000 per annum. Everyone has to go round via Selby and Church Fenton, at a greater journey time too. I recall my Grandmother asking how people from Market Weighton were supposed to go to York by train via Selby. She never received an answer from BR. Rob. One of the overlooked tragedies of Beeching was that the majority of bus services that replaced rail closures were far slower, and as a result lost custom and were themselves withdrawn in less than two years leaving rural communities totally isolated. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Wright Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 12 hours ago, great northern said: The Elizabethan now appears, but 60012 is running a little late. It is timed to come through just before the Grimsby leaves. A splendid A4 Gilbert, However, what has gone wrong with the 'Lizzie's' formation? Where's the leading BG? And, the catering cars are the wrong way round. New couplings? Also, when these splendid cars were in maroon in 1958, they carried the BR roundel. Regards, Tony. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post great northern Posted March 1, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted March 1, 2021 Next is the 1.45pm FO KX-Newcastle, a slightly unusual relief service for the soon to follow 2.00pm Down. It features among its 13 cars a triplet set for some reason, but we shall look at the formation in detail later. Mons Meg has the task today. 22 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium great northern Posted March 1, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted March 1, 2021 27 minutes ago, Tony Wright said: A splendid A4 Gilbert, However, what has gone wrong with the 'Lizzie's' formation? Where's the leading BG? And, the catering cars are the wrong way round. New couplings? Also, when these splendid cars were in maroon in 1958, they carried the BR roundel. Regards, Tony. I think I mentioned when we chatted the other day that the Elizabethan rake needs attention, and that the bogies will be going off to be rebuilt. The BG is in fact already without bogies, hence its absence. However, up it came on the sequence, so I just posed it for photography, not bothering to get things in the correct order. Laziness rules as always. The roundels? Another example of my not giving a detailed enough specification to the builder. I'm afraid their lack just isn't irritating enough to me to cause me to do anything about it. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted March 1, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 1, 2021 Hi All I am afraid my knowledge of Yorkshire's railways is quite limited so today I will not be nominating a line. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robmcg Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 (edited) 6 hours ago, Clive Mortimore said: Hi All I am afraid my knowledge of Yorkshire's railways is quite limited so today I will not be nominating a line. My knowledge is likely even less but I have always liked the Scarborough-Whitby-north coastal line (Robin Hood's Bay?) so it gets my vote. Gives me an excuse to show a picture.... Isn't Hornby wonderful? Edited March 2, 2021 by robmcg typo 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Barry O Posted March 2, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 2, 2021 The climb from Robin Hoods Bay to Ravenscar like most of the Whitby to Scarborough line, has fantastic views and must have taxed the crews of the engines going up to the tunnel at the summit. Baz 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post great northern Posted March 2, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted March 2, 2021 The other side of Mons Meg this morning. I will refrain from comment about the difference between her green coat and Hornby's version. 28 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2750Papyrus Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 From a personal point of view, I would enjoy a trip along the coast line from Scarborough to Whitby. However, participation in the poll sometimes makes me undertake some basic research and the Leeds Northern line does seem to have a strong case. I suppose what we should do is to examine details of passenger bookings and goods traffic - would railwaymen such as Fiennes and Hardy have supported closure or would they have considered traffic adequate to support a rationalised basic railway? But for today, the Leeds Northern has my vote. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium great northern Posted March 2, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted March 2, 2021 Leeds Northern the runaway winner with 7 votes. How about lines between Leeds Bradford and Manchester, including all those around Queensbury? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now