Barton-upon-Humber Branch

[freightliner_bond]

Hi all,

Apologies but first a little context.

 

My dad worked 42 years at Cleethorpes and we lived 5 minutes walk from his work for my young childhood years, so I have many memories from back in the day such as being there at silly o'clock in the morning for when first HST service to London Kings Cross, riding the cab of the HST on a Sunday for a run through the wash plant, the day that the Grimsby Town team took a class 150 for the match in Sheffield.

 

I also have a small number of photos that he acquired over the years (I must find them again as they've not yet been relocated after a recent house move).

 

As a child we used to regularly have day trips on the train using his privs, and I can just about recall trips to Hull on both the ferries and latterly via Barton-upon-Humber and the Bridge. For this reason I've always had a fascination with the Barton-upon-Humber branch. A couple of years ago I discovered this site:

http://www.davesrailpics.bravehost.com/bartonloco/bartonloco.htm

 

I recall this period as I was 13 at the time and I remember my dad getting lots of overtime as a shunter as he travelled on the loco hauled DMU substitutions. In fact the fifth photo down with 31458 arriving at Goxhill is in my collection of photos as it is my dad just visible stood in the cab doorway.

 

I find this period really interesting and I've had thoughts of modelling the period and the branch - the problem is I can find scant further details. There is another site on Daves Rail Pics which contains photos of one day of the Albright and Wilson working:

http://www.davesrailpics.bravehost.com/newholland/bartonfreight.htm

 

This is useful information as the loop for the factory was where the 31 and Mk1s propelled back to in order to run around before propelling back into the station again for the return working - this was a substantial distance.

 

I've got the AJ Ludlam book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Railways-Holland-Humber-Ferries-Locomotion/dp/0853614946

 

I also note the recent branchlines North of Grimsby book:

https://www.middletonpress.co.uk/books/railways/branch-lines/branch-lines-north-of-grimsby.html

 

Looking at Google Earth it is not even easy to tell where the fertiliser factory was located as there are now numerous ponds in the area.

 

So, I've pretty much found everything that I can that's obvious, but can anyone help shed light on this further such as the details of the workings to / from Albright and Wilson and especially any additional photographs.

 

Many thanks in advance

Alan

[DaveF]

There are some photos taken between Cleethorpes and Barton on Humber on my flickr site in a collection at:

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/albums/72157626154348241

 

There are also other collections (albums) on my flickr site with Lincolnshire photos.

 

There are also photos of the line in my thread of my (and Dad's) photos on here at:

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85326-dave-fs-photos-ongoing-more-added-18th-april/page-1

 

The photos are not in any order on RMWeb so you have to search using the RMWeb search facility   It works best by place name.

 

I do know that I don't have any of freight workings on the branch.

 

David

[ColinK]

Interesting thread, I’ve had a few short holidays camping near the line.

[freightliner_bond]

Extract from this Wikipedia page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry_of_the_South_Humber_Bank

 

BritAg fertilizers

A fertilizer works was established at Barton, near the river bank east of the Haven in 1874 by "The Farmers Company". In 1968 the owner A.C.C. (Associated Chemical Companies) established new chemically based fertilizer production at the site including a 180t per day Nitric acid plant, a 317t per day ammonium nitrate plant, plus a 475t per day fertilizer plant. In 1965 A.C.C. became a full subsidiary of Albright and Wilson, including the Barton plant.

The fertilizer business of Albright and Wilson was acquired by ICI in 1983, Loss of UK market share caused ICI to close the plant in the late 1980s, as well as other fertilizer production facilities.

Subsequently, the site was sold to Glanford borough, and later redeveloped together with former brick yards as a park Water's Edge.

 

I've also found the OS 1:25,000 1937 - 1961 map shown here:

http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=53.6962&lon=-0.4402&layers=10&b=1

 

This seems to suggest that the chemical works was on the site now occupied by the Water's Edge Visitors Centre. Information from here also seems to suggest significant reclamation work hence why I can't find a trace of the branch on Google Earth:

http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/tourism-museums-and-the-arts/waters-edge-visitors-centre-and-country-park/waters-edge-visitor-information/history-of-waters-edge/

 

One of the pics from Dave F, shows a view of the yard at Barton station:

https://flic.kr/p/9qPzwR

 

Many previous pictures I've seen are taken from beyond the buffers but this shows a little more detail of the yard. I do have a plan in my head which saw this track layout continue into the 1990's with the yard being used for TBC traffic. This would allow me to run a Dec 1989 / Jan 1990 layout with some freight traffic too. Perhaps in the absence of information about the Albright and Wilson traffic this is my best bet.

 

Cheers

Alan

[PaulCheffus]

Perhaps in the absence of information about the Albright and Wilson traffic this is my best bet.

 

Hi

 

Anhydrous Ammonia was delivered by rail via Woodhead until 1981 I don't know what route it took after then.

 

There are a few pictures of the wagons on Paul Bartletts website  here

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/eurlammonia

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/stsammoniabogie

 

I've built a few of the wagons using Farish 100T tankers as a basis with scratchbuilt chassis. Photos can be found here if interested

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/75679-kensington-olympia-in-n-scale/?p=3133627

 

Cheers

 

Paul

[Poggy1165]

Quite fascinating to see short diesel-hauled trains (two Mark 1 corridor coaches.) If I'd seen that at an exhibition, I'd have thought it highly unprototypical.

 

This line has massive modelling potential.

[freightliner_bond]

Quite fascinating to see short diesel-hauled trains (two Mark 1 corridor coaches.) If I'd seen that at an exhibition, I'd have thought it highly unprototypical.

 

This line has massive modelling potential.

Hi,

yeah there's another thread about DMU substitutions on here, from which I've got quite a bit of info:

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/70991-information-on-loco-hauled-dmu-replacement-services-in-the-80s/?hl=%2Bdmu+%2Bsubstitutions&do=findComment&comment=1023500

 

I also have an article somewhere from possibly traction that has some nice pics on the Tyne Valley / Sunderland Coast including a 47 + BG (Blue / Grey) + 2 x Mk2s (Transpennine livery) and it looks superb.

 

Also, had some information provided on the DEMU forum with class 31s and blue grey MK1s (with NSE small branding) working Darlington to Middlesbrough.

 

There were lots of improvised workings out there at the time.

 

Cheers

Alan

[Mark Saunders]

Hi,yeah there's another thread about DMU substitutions on here, from which I've got quite a bit of info:http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/70991-information-on-loco-hauled-dmu-replacement-services-in-the-80s/?hl=%2Bdmu+%2Bsubstitutions&do=findComment&comment=1023500I also have an article somewhere from possibly traction that has some nice pics on the Tyne Valley / Sunderland Coast including a 47 + BG (Blue / Grey) + 2 x Mk2s (Transpennine livery) and it looks superb.Also, had some information provided on the DEMU forum with class 31s and blue grey MK1s (with NSE small branding) working Darlington to Middlesbrough.There were lots of improvised workings out there at the time.CheersAlan

The correct terminology was “Pacer Replacer” and the working units were reserved for the Saltburn/Bishops as there was no run round for them!

[freightliner_bond]

And although outside of this branch there is this lovely picture which I have saved as a favourite:

http://www.hondawanderer.com/20095_20227_Beeston_1990.htm

 

Probably not much use for Barton on Humber unless I really do push the "it's my train set rule."

 

Cheers

Alan

[freightliner_bond]

Hi all,

I've spent a bit of time today re-starting my blog:

https://alansmodellingblog.wordpress.com/

 

I've also written a page about the Barton upon Humber branch and my interest in the Winter 1988 / 89 period:

https://alansmodellingblog.wordpress.com/my-modelling/modelling-winter-1988-89/

 

Hopefully I'll be able to add more details soon and upload a few pictures of current projects.

 

Cheers

Alan